Japanese Guide Dog Helps Woman Regain Independence

A woman has stated that she attributes her newly restored independence to a guide dog that was brought to the United Kingdom from Japan. Two-year-old Labrador Yukiko began her life 5,000 miles away at the Japan Guide Dog Association, but she relocated to England in 2022 as part of an exchange initiative organized by the charity Guide Dogs. Yukiko has now been matched with Zena Meacham, who resides in Stourport-on-Severn. “She is really stepping up to the mark and giving me my independence back,” her new owner said. Ms. Meacham was born with retinoblastoma and is “totally blind,” but she mentioned that the new addition to her family has transformed her life. “Yukiko is my third guide dog and she’s no different from my last two dogs – you wouldn’t be able to tell that she’s travelled from Japan,” she added. “Now that I’ve got Yukiko, or Kiko as we call her, I’m able to get the bus into Stourport, without having to rely on friends or my husband to take me.” The black Labrador lived with a volunteer puppy raiser for a year before undergoing training at Guide Dogs’ Midlands regional centre in Leamington Spa, until she qualified. Ms. Meacham noted that Yukiko enjoys meeting people, particularly when they visit friends’ homes for coffee. Yukiko was one of four puppies transported from Japan in 2022 as part of the exchange program managed by Guide Dogs. Her sister, Yuko, has since become a guide dog mother, joining the charity’s breeding program. Tom Lewis, the breeding and genetics lead at Guide Dogs, explained that the scheme is an important method to “preserve genetic diversity” within the charity’s program. “When we do exchange dogs, their health and wellbeing is paramount,” he added. BBC Hereford & Worcester content can be accessed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright © 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external sites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.