Canine march in Wallasey to mark 80 years since the UK’s first guide dogs were trained in Wallasey

Oct 5 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Wallasey News

A CANINE march will mark 80 years since the UK’s first guide dogs were trained in Wallasey.

More than 80 guide dogs and their owners, along with puppies in training and their foster owners, will walk from the Cliff, Wallasey, which is considered the first real home of the Guide Dogs organisation, on Saturday morning.

They will make their way to the statue of Sid, the very first guide dog, outside the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton.

Following the walk, the celebrations will continue with a birthday party at the theatre, with guests including guide dog owners and trainers past and present.

The first four guide dog partnerships – with German shepherds Flash, Meta, Judy and Folly – qualified in Wallasey on October 6, 1931.

A spokesman for Guide Dogs – formerly known as Guide Dogs For The Blind – said: “Muriel Crooke, a young German shepherd enthusiast from Wallasey, was instrumental in bringing guide dogs to Britain.

“She found out about the pioneering work of American Dorothy Eustis, who had set up guide dog training schools in Switzerland and America during the inter-war years.”

Mrs Eustis travelled widely, lecturing about her work and in 1930, articles began to appear in British newspapers.

Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond, a breeder and exhibitor of German shepherds, wrote to Mrs Eustis and the three woman met in London on September 23, 1930.

Mrs Eustis said that she would lend a trainer to run a trial scheme near Miss Crooke’s home and a piece of land and a garage in Cardigan Road, New Brighton, were rented as a dog room and store.

The trainer arrived in England on July 1, 1931, followed by seven German shepherds which were acquired from various sources. The first class assembled that October.

One member of the first course, Allen Caldwell, wrote: “Not only has my dog given me glorious freedom and independence, never known since pre-war days, but delightful companionship.

“Flash has revolutionised my outdoor life.”

There are currently around 4,700 working guide dog partnerships in the UK.

The march starts at 10.30am on Saturday.