Blind Cork woman Lena Gourley hopes to get ‘eyes’ back

A Cork woman is hoping to have her “eyes” back soon after her guide dog’s weight forced a charity to remove her for intensive training.

Lena Gourley, from the city’s northside, was distressed about the decision of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to take lab retriever Elsa to its Ballincollig headquarters as part of its dog welfare programme three weeks ago.

The charity sometimes brings guide dogs into its Cork headquarters to undergo a health and fitness programme. However, it is hoped that Elsa could be back with visually impaired Lena in another few weeks as she progresses well towards the 8kg weight-loss target.

Ms Gourley disputes the amount of weight Irish Guide Dogs say she needed to lose. She says Elsa has always been “big-boned” compared to her previous guide dogs, but she had got her weight down when the issue was flagged to her in the past.

“She’s my eyes and my companion, she’s usually here all the time with me and I’m depending now on my neighbours to get around,” said 70-year-old Ms Gourley.

“The long cane doesn’t get the obstacles as quickly as she would, and the footpaths and the roads are terrible. If I get a fall and break my hip she’ll be no good to me for the next two and a half years.”

That is the length of time that Irish Guide Dogs expect a dog like Elsa could expect to continue working and it is hoped that Elsa can be returned to Lena once she gets through the weight-loss programme.

Head of client services David McCarthy said there was never any suggestion about a dog not being returned.

“The whole purpose is to get a dog to a fit and healthy state so it can continue to work,” Mr McCarthy told the Irish Examiner.

“The quandary was that if we didn’t do it, the dog would have to retire in a few months. While it’s a difficult situation for a certain number of weeks, the consequence of not doing it could have been a much more significant wait for a replacement.”

Ms Gourley’s case got mixed reaction when she highlighted her difficulty on RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline yesterday. Some comments sent to the show and on Twitter said Ms Gourley should be allowed to have her neighbours walk Elsa, but others stressed the need to ensure the dog remains fit enough to continue working with her.

Ms Gourley has been a fundraiser for Irish Guide Dogs for many years and regularly attends its functions. She has been getting assistance with mobility and independence issues during Elsa’s absence.

The dog welfare programme initiated earlier this year has seen more than 20 dogs receive special attention to get them on track to their proper health and weight. In most cases, they have been able to remain with their owners throughout the process.