Bikkie baking helps Blind Foundation train guide-dog puppies

Vet nurses Kirsten Wiffin and Emily Young sold biscuits to raise vital funds for the Blind Foundation yesterday. PHOTO / Paul Taylor

People of all ages were out in force yesterday selling biscuits in an attempt to raise vital funds for the Blind Foundation.

All proceeds from Red Puppy Bikkie Day are being donated towards the breeding and training of Blind Foundation guide dogs.

Blind Foundation's fundraising general manager Cherie McClintock said "some of this year's guide-dog graduates will go to people who haven't had a guide dog before, while others will replace retiring guide dogs.

"We don't charge people to receive a guide dog - all the costs for breeding and training are met by public donations. The continued generous support of the New Zealand public enables our puppies to succeed in their vital work," McClintock said.

CareVets Napier vet nurses Kirsten Wiffin and Emily Young decided to get on board the worthy cause for the first time this year.

"It's a good thing to do for the community. Fundraising for charities makes you feel good about yourself," Ms Wiffin said.

It took the whole weekend to bake 200 chocolate and shortbread biscuits shaped as a labrador and 150 Hill's Canine Bikkies as well as ice them all.

"Our clients are usually very generous. We fundraised for SPCA cupcake day and last week we fundraised for the SPCA; there is always something on."

By the end of the day, the vet nurses had sold almost half of the biscuits and were hoping to have sold the rest by the end of the week.

Clients coming in for vet consultations and grooming were their main source of sales, but they also had friends and family coming in and buying a biscuit or two.

Blind Foundation guide-dog puppies need up to two years of thorough training and support from specialist trainers, and volunteer puppy walkers to teach them.

Ms McClintock said guide dogs went on to help Kiwis who were blind or had low vision live an independent life with confidence and carry out day-to-day tasks such as going to and from work, visiting the shops and using public transport.

As of yesterday, $32,000 had been raised.

For more information visit: www.bikkieday.org.nz

Where the funds go:
$200 could pay for a new guide-dog's harness
$500 could pay for a starter kit for a new guide-dog handler and their guide dog. The starter kit includes a harness, food bowl, whistle, brush, toys and much more.
$1000 could help cover the vet-care costs of a guide-dog puppy in training.