A volunteer has been honoured after giving 25 years’ service to Guide Dogs.
Sue Forte, 68, says she was proud to receive the silver service award for her outstanding contribution as a volunteer to the charity for the blind and partially sighted.
However, Sue said her Guide Dog journey began more than a quarter of a century ago.
She said, “When I was in primary school, I started collecting foil milk bottle tops for Blue Peter’s guide dog appeal. Honey was the first guide dog puppy that Blue Peter raised and I was so inspired.”
When Sue was made redundant in 1995, she applied to become a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs.
Her first puppy, Larry, arrived in 1996 and had six more pups; Folly, Pammy, Tumble, Arthur, Babs, and Lassie.
Sue loved every moment and although it was hard work and daunting to start, it was incredibly rewarding.
She said: “All the pups I raised qualified as guide dogs. I’ve never got 100 per cent at anything before. I loved it. I would do puppy raising again if I could.”
In 2004, Sue moved from Hexham to Keswick with husband Dave to run a bed and breakfast business.
She said: “We named it Larry’s Lodge after our first pup. Larry retired as a guide dog before we came to Keswick and became our pet dog. It was great that he started this new venture with us. Larry enjoyed five happy years of retirement with us.”
Sue was unable to continue puppy raising as the charity does not have a scheme in Cumbria but she is involved with Guide Dogs Penrith and looks after 18 collection boxes in and around Keswick.
She has become a dog fosterer, looking after guide dogs that need respite care and she trained as a Guide Dog’s speaker.
Her current dog is Lawrence, a golden retriever cross, who was withdrawn from training for chasing birds.
Janet Harper, from Guide Dogs, said: “Twenty-five years of volunteering is an incredible achievement. We are so grateful for Sue’s time, energy and enthusiasm.”
