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Tag Archives: guide dog

Vinson – A Much Loved Guide Dog Pup – 22 September 2000

September 22, 2015
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive), Polaroid Photobooth
15 Comments

photobooth22:09:2000

22 September 2000, Melbourne, Victoria

Another of my guide dog puppies, Vinson was adored by all children, but especially by two, Giosue and Francesco. Their adoration of this dog made giving him up more difficult than usual. Telling them that he would no longer be with me when they came to visit, was heart-breaking, such was their devastation at the news.

Vinson graduated and became a fully fledged guide dog. He was sent to Japan where he had to relearn all his commands in Japanese. Unfortunately he was unable to deal with the noise and frantic pace of life in Tokyo, so he was retired. He was adopted by a family from a smaller city, where, I hope, he lived very happily.

These come from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

University Dawg- 28 February 2000

August 12, 2014
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
6 Comments

photobooth28:02:2000

28 February 2000, Melbourne Central Station, Melbourne

One of the best aspects of having been a Guide Dog of Victoria puppy raiser was the ability to go anywhere with your dog, including restaurants, shops, the cinema and all public places animals would not normally be allowed.

I took this photo strip on the first day that my first graduate, Charlie, came to Melbourne University with me. I was studying for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education.

The Guide Dog Association is always very appreciative of the work volunteers do for them. Below are just two of the certificates they gave me during the three years I was involved with them.

When Charlie graduated, I was given a mounted portrait of him in his official working gear. I took it out some time ago to show a friend, as I am very proud of having been involved in his success, but didn’t put it back where it was supposed to be and thus was unable to find it to show you for this post. It is a beautiful professional photo and Charlie looked very proud of himself, I can tell you.

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These come from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

 

Polaroid Guide Dog Adam – March 1999

March 6, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive), Polaroid Photobooth
2 Comments

photobooth03-1999AdamGuideDogEditedMarch 1999,  Melbourne

This is guide dog puppy Adam in his second photobooth shoot. He is one year old in these photos.

Adam would be almost 14 years old, now. He was returned to his family in Tasmania, who had looked after him for the first 10 months of his life. He was found to have elbow dysplasia and was therefore unable to complete his full training, and thus fulfill his role as a working guide dog.

His family were very excited to have him back, so I assume he has lived a good life as a family pet.

This is another polaroid photobooth photo. I have recently discovered that I have more booth polaroids in my collection than I had previously thought. Nevertheless, they are still rare in the world of booth photos.

I have no idea where in Melbourne this photo was taken. Due to the polaroid format, (most of the back is black), I was unable to find the space to write any of the particulars of this day out.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

Guide Dog Adam – 19 February 1999

March 4, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
12 Comments

photobooth19:02:1999
19 February 1999, Museum Station, Melbourne

Soon after Hawkeye went to doggy heaven, I was offered another puppy to train.

Adam had begun his journey towards being a guide dog in Tasmania, but due to changes in that state’s dealings with the guide dog association, he was repatriated to his home in Victoria where he continued his work with me.

Adam came for his first photobooth photo shoot within days of arriving at my place. He was 11 months old in this first strip.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

Guide Dog Puppy – 6 November 1998

February 7, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
19 Comments

photobooth20:07:1998

6 November 1998, Luna Park, St Kilda, Melbourne

This is Hawkeye, my first trainee guide dog puppy. He was offered to me when I was a volunteer puppy-raiser, after he had made an “escape bid” from the Guide Dog Association’s kennels where he was born. It was such a drama that the fire brigade had to be called, resulting in a news article in The Sunday Age newspaper, below.

He was a precious little pup who worked very hard towards his goal of becoming a working guide dog but unfortunately that was not to be. More of his story to come.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

photobooth01:1999HawkeyeNewsClipping

The newspaper article from August 1998.

photoboothHawkeyeColour02

The original photo from the news article.

photoboothHawkeyeColour01

An unpublished photo of the escape drama.