Agency's urge to help turns to puppy love

Rodney and Ruby were only eight weeks old when they went to kindergarten. At 14 months they will finish primary school and will attend college, hopefully graduating after six months - entering the workforce aged 20 months. It cost $22,500 each to pay for Rodney and Ruby's 18 months of education and they weren't entitled to student loans. In fact, they received no Government-funded education assistance whatsoever.

These two "students" are typical of 65 puppies that are trained and "graduate" each year as guide dogs to assist the blind and vision-impaired.

From next Friday to Sunday a national appeal for Guide Dog Services operated by the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) will be held, with a target of raising $800,000.

During the three-day campaign, hundreds of Bayleys agents throughout the country will join others on the streets looking for money. While chasing dollars is not an unusual pursuit for real estate agents, on this occasion they will be volunteering their time to solicit contributions for guide dog training.

The partnership between Bayleys and Guide Dog Services was forged a year ago when the real estate group became the service's principal sponsor.

Bayleys committed to finding $1 million over three years to train 45 dogs and $600,000 has already been raised in one year - enough to train 26 dogs.

Discussion over the sponsorship programme started about three years ago, says Jeff Davidson, managing director of Bayleys Realty Group.

A company conference discussed "cause-related marketing" and the need for a single major corporate activity.

Coincidentally, RNZFB had employed Ted Brandli from international fund-raising consultants DVA Navion, who approached Davidson about sponsorship.

Davidson says he also identified with the cause because his grandmother went blind at 81 and was helped by RNZFB services.

Sponsoring Guide Dog Services dovetailed with Bayleys desired community strategy. "We didn't want to give handouts but hand-ups," said Davidson. "Guide dogs appealed because they assist blind people to live normal lives and remain independent."

A slogan used in guide dog training was also applicable: "Before guidance comes trust."

A person must trust their dog to navigate streets and avoid hazards to arrive at a destination. "Similarly we want our clients to trust us and accept our guidance to maximise the value of their properties."

Bayleys initial three-year commitment to Guide Dog Services involves financial support, fundraising, promotional and marketing activities. At present there is a waiting list for 45 guide dogs.

"Our aim is to help reduce or eliminate that waiting list," said Davidson.

In the past year Bayleys' 46 offices have donated numerous items for auction at company conferences, including a three-day Fiji cruise, including air fares. An innovative fund-raiser by the St Heliers office involved burying 200 numbered ping-pong balls at a beach, each corresponding to a prize donated by local businesses. An entry fee of $10 allowed competitors to dig for prizes for three hours.

Over 270 guide dogs trained by RNZFB's Guide Dog Services work in New Zealand. The service, which relies on public donations has celebrated its 30th anniversary.

"We breed up to 110 puppies every year," said Joe Walker, national manager of Guide Dog Services. Twenty pups are deemed unsuitable for training for physical, medical and behavioural reasons.

Around 90 pups enter the initial phases of the programme, with around 65 graduating as guide dogs after learning up to 200 commands.

"They want to be dogs first and people-guiders second," Walker said.

"We try to change their natural behaviour and make them act as guides for the blind first and dogs second."

Participation by Bayleys regional offices is reflected in the names of some new puppies. Rodney is sponsored by offices in the Rodney District while Saint is sponsored by the St Heliers office.

"Offices which commit to sponsoring their own dogs are immediately under the gun to raise $22,500," Davidson said.

Offices are encouraged with regular Pupdates from Guide Dog Services about how their dogs are doing.

Nine-month-old Bayley, for example, was reportedly doing well on the puppy development programme: "He's no longer just a playful little pup.

"His legs are longer as he grows into that gangly teenage phase. Like most teenagers, he's pushing the boundaries. It's not exactly 'attitude', but a vigorous curiosity and the need to explore everything that's typical of his age.

"Bayley goes to puppy class where he learns about the importance of ignoring distractions like food scraps and other dogs.

"He has to thread his way around a line of other puppies and doggie treats without becoming distracted.

"That's quite a test for a young pup. Those early command words 'sit' and 'wait' are second nature to him now.

"He is still questioning 'no', though, but that's a teenage thing."