Week 31 - Quella meets Richard

Recently there was a Guide Dog fun day at Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, North Wales,UK.and we went along to support Guide Dogs. There were lots of Guide Dog puppies, and also a lot of working Guide Dogs with their owners.
During the day there was a Guide Dog demonstration, by a gentleman called Andy, who sets out an obstacle course, and using a lovely 'Guide Dog' called Delphi, then demonstrates with Delphi in harness, how a Guide Dog negotiates obstacles and guides a Guide Dog owner around them. It is amazing to watch Delphi guiding Andy around the course. Andy will then throw soft toys around the course and Delphi will guide him around them, 'amazing'. Andy will then invite a spectator to take part, by being blindfolded and letting Delphi guide them around the course, and Delphi is very good at adapting to different handlers. Then the public can realise just how frightening it is to be visually impaired, but also how a Guide Dog can be invaluable to the people that are impaired, and how much we need to raise and train Guide Dogs.
I have recently had a boarder staying with me while his Puppy Walker was on holiday, he is 15 weeks old, and a German Shepherd x Golden Retriever, he is all black and does not resemble a German Shepherd at all, he is gorgeous and a good little boy. Quella and him got on really well, and they both came along to Penrhyn Castle. They both behaved really well around all the other dogs that were there. He stayed with us for ten days, he was a joy to have and good company for Quella, who loved him and played well together. He is coming back for another short stay next week. 
While at Penrhyn Castle I managed to have the good fortune to meet Richard Leaman, who is Guide Dogs Chief Executive. Richard very kindly allowed me to take his photograph holding Quella. I explained that I was writing this Puppy Diary, and it was for the purpose of the diary that I wished to take his photograph, and he was happy to oblige.