As the people who are matched with Seeing Eye Dogs (also known as “handlers”) come from all walks of life, it’s important that Seeing Eye Dog puppies are familiarised with a range of environments and lifestyles.
“There's not one type of carer because there's not one type of handler. We're all different and unique, the dogs are all different and unique, and the handlers are all different and unique. So, the more varied experiences and environments those dogs can be exposed to will help to create more well-rounded dogs that can be matched in the future with people who are blind or have low vision.”
Tamara knows from her own experience that different lifestyles are no barrier to entry, as each of the three Seeing Eye Dogs puppies came to her at very different times in her life.
“Jenna [the first puppy] was a bridesmaid at our wedding, Hubble [the second puppy] was literally at the hospital alongside me when I was pregnant, and now Dixie [the current puppy] has grown up with our baby.
“So they’ve experienced three very different lifestyles, and we're really lucky that we've got photos of each of the pups at key milestones in our lives.”
Like all volunteer puppy carers, Tamara is supported by a Seeing Eye Dogs puppy development trainer, who is available to answer questions and help each puppy to adapt to the carer’s lifestyle. As such, after Tamara’s baby was born, she received individualised training to ensure a safe environment for both baby and puppy.
“We got a lot of support from Seeing Eye Dogs with home behaviors around the baby,” says Tamara. “Now, Dixie absolutely fits in with the baby. She's calm, she's resilient and since she's a month younger than the baby, they've literally grown up together. They learned to roll over at the same time and both enjoy time at the park.
“She's just best mates with the baby.”
Reflecting on what drew her to Seeing Eye Dogs in the first place, Tamara explains she and her now-husband were motivated by personal loss.
“We had a senior dog who passed away, and we couldn't really imagine a house without a dog.
“At the same time, my husband's grandma passed away, and at her funeral, there were a lot of people from the community as she had been a volunteer, she was part of the local golf club, and she’d just always helped out.
“This really got us to reflect, what are we doing? How are we giving back to the community? What's our generation doing? How can we commit to volunteering in amongst our already busy lives?”
This search led Tamara to Seeing Eye Dogs, and her now-beloved community of fellow dog lovers and puppy carers.
“We're not from Melbourne originally, so we didn’t have as many close friends down here, but [puppy caring] has provided us with a broader community of people with a mutual purpose.”
As Tamara explains, even though she is now an experienced puppy carer, she’s still constantly learning: from her trainer, from her fellow volunteers and from Dixie.
“At the end of the day, they’re all still puppies. Everything's new to them. So, I think the carers’ network is incredible for sharing experiences as it shows you that you're truly not alone.
“We've been able to gain a lot of friends as part of the program, which is really lovely. I think that's what keeps bringing us back. We're already having conversations about what our volunteer role could look like next year. It's not just about a dog, it's that community.
“If we weren't part of the puppy carers’ program – you know, going out on a Sunday every few months and meeting up with some people – I think we could really miss that.”
You can hear more about Tamara and her husband’s experience as a volunteer puppy carer on the Vision Australia podcast.
