Cardiff Bus supports Guide Dogs with training during the pandemic

Trainee guide dogs are learning vital skills with the help of Cardiff Bus.

Due to lockdown restrictions, the charity Guide Dogs Cymru stopped using public transport to train dogs in a bid to keep staff members and the public safe.

It meant the dogs were unable to progress with a vital element of their training, as all guide dogs need to be able to use buses when they are paired with their eventual owner.

Guide Dogs approached Cardiff Bus, who offered to bring an out-of-service bus to the charity’s training centre in St Mellons on Friday (March 19). Trainers and dogs will take turns to board the empty bus while remaining socially distanced.

Jemma Dopson, Canine Assisted Services Head of Operations for Guide Dogs Cymru, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Cardiff Bus for providing the facility to help us train our future guide dogs.

“Learning to travel on a bus calmly and confidently is an important part of any guide dog’s training and helps to prepare them for their future role as a life-changing guide.

“Having access to an empty Cardiff Bus means our trainers and dogs can work in a safe environment and we can continue to provide our essential services to people with sight loss.”

The dogs will learn to negotiate the steps, find an empty seat and more. Cardiff Bus has also offered to take staff and dogs on short journeys to familiarise them with a moving bus.

Gareth Stevens, Commercial Director of Cardiff Bus, said: “We care about the community we serve and are delighted to help ensure this vital training continues.

“Many vision-impaired people rely heavily on public transport to get around. Guide dogs play such an important role in helping to transform someone’s life, so we were delighted to do our bit to support them.”