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Pet News Roz crowned Guide Dog of the Year 2007 | Roz crowned Guide Dog of the Year 2007 |
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| Written by MyPetFriends | ||||
| Friday, 07 September 2007 | ||||
 Heroic Roz, a three-year-old guide dog who miraculously survived a vicious and savage attack by a large dog whilst out working with her visually-impaired owner Gary Wickett, from Birmingham, has been crowned Overall Champion Guide Dog of the Year 2007.- Dog-loving BBC presenters Peter Purves and Clare Balding made the announcement at a special ceremony being held by Guide Dogs at the Kennel Club headquarters in London. - Following a special feature on the Guide Dog of the Year Awards shown on BBC ONE’s morning news programme, BBC Breakfast, on Friday 31 August 2007, Roz went nose-to-nose in a public vote on Guide Dogs’ website with the winners of Exceptional Work and Life-changing Guide Dog of the Year. The voting decided the result; to decide which of the three special dogs should be crowned Overall Champion Guide Dog of the Year 2007. - The three guide dogs were:
The brave and moving story behind Roz, a Golden Retriever x Labrador, began on Tuesday 02 January 2007 when she was out guiding her owner Gary and was suddenly viciously and savagely attacked by a large dog, in a sustained attack. - Gary (aged 38) says: “Being totally blind, I felt completely powerless and could do nothing more than to hold tightly on to Roz’s lead.” - The owner of the attacking dog did not try to help or stop this happening and when the dog was eventually brought under control, the owners left the scene without offering assistance to Gary and Roz. - Despite suffering from horrendous injuries and bleeding heavily, Roz still managed to safely guide her owner Gary the half mile home. She was lucky to be alive, and it was thought that she would have to retire due to physical injuries which included four severe bite wounds, 13 smaller wounds and a badly damaged tail, as well as the mental trauma she would have suffered. - However after spending hours in surgery, having her injuries tended to, and many weeks rest and recuperation, she is now back guiding Gary to his workplace in busy Birmingham City Centre. Walking with confidence down the same road where the attack took place, loyally providing Gary with life-transforming independence and freedom. - Although a police investigation followed, the owner and dog involved in Roz’s attack have not been found. Dog on dog attacks are appalling, particularly when a guide dog or other assistance dog is injured. Guide Dogs is working with other like-minded organisations to encourage responsible dog ownership. It is testament to the courage and loyalty of assistance dogs like Roz that many have been able to return to their life-transforming work for their owners. - The search for the nation’s Guide Dog of the Year was launched in March by BBC Breakfast. The programme has been reporting on the progress of the awards, which attracted over 300 inspirational nominations for guide dogs from all over the UK. - The Guide Dog of the Year Awards aim to recognise the amazing and life-transforming work of the 4,600 guide dogs currently providing independence, confidence and freedom to their blind or partially-sighted owners around the UK. - Nikki Wright, a spokesperson for Guide Dogs, says: “We received over 300 amazing and heart-warming nominations about the ways in which guide dogs from all over the UK are making such an enormous difference to the lives of their visually-impaired owners. It’s a joy to be able to share these inspirational and life-changing experiences with the public, and for them to ultimately decide which of the three special dogs should be crowned overall champion.” - For ore information about the work of the guide dogs charity and to find out about events near you take a look at www.guidedogs.org.uk -  Add as favourites (0) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 360
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