There are 4,000 working guide dogs in the UK, playing an important part in ensuring blind and visually impaired people are an integrated part of society. Each one needs to go through around two years of rigorous training, with the help of 14,000 volunteers who, between them, contribute 13m hours of their time each year.
For one such volunteer, Nimmi Whitelaw, training guide dogs was something that had sparked her interest since she was a child, and when she finally had the time and financial freedom, decades later, she knew she wanted to get involved.
‘I grew up in India and my parents were fond of animals. We always had pets, and my mum often took in and fostered other people’s dogs,’ Nimmi, 54, says. ‘I remember reading magazines from the UK, and one day, I learnt about guide dogs. The concept didn’t exist in India, and I thought it was wonderful. For a dog to be able to help a person like that, it warmed my heart.’
In 1995, Nimmi moved from Bangalore to Glasgow, after marrying her husband Stuart, now 54. Stuart was a dog lover too, and the couple got two flat-coated retrievers, called Kaala and Kajal, before having children in 1999 and 2003. Nimmi was busy raising her family, but the thought of volunteering as a puppy raiser wasn’t far from her mind.
‘A friend had started volunteering, and seeing it first hand, I fell in love with the idea. I knew at some stage in my life, I would do it if I could.’
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S WEEKLY ã® September 06, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S WEEKLY ã® September 06, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
GARDEN notes
Puffy peonies and a glam grass
From the altar, I see London buses go by'
I never know what's going to happen from one day to the next.
Actually, getting older can be a lot fun!'
Speaking exclusively to Woman's Weekly, Davina McCall tells us how she stays feeling young and why she loves a good night out
Podcasts TO PICK
Try our top suggestions for a spot of audio entertainment
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Simple bathroom UPDATES
Create a spa-like feel with these easy additions
Darling shrubs OF MAY
Floral fireworks for early summer
Pet perfect BREAKS
Treat yourself and your canine companion to a pampering escape
GARDEN notes
Vibrant annuals and fruit and veg