Father of two, Nathan Foy, has worked with a guide dog since he was 17 years old.

Nathan explains the profound loss the accompanies the end of a partnership, as well as the gratitude he feels every time he steps outside his house with his guide dog partner.

It is also a fascinating insight into the human guide dog partnership and its evolution over time. Nathan explains the efficiencies that mark out a veteran dog and how non-verbal communication takes over from verbal commands over time. Each of his (very different) dogs have accompanied him through various stages of life, according to their personalities and strengths:

• Hughie, his best mate saw him through his teens into his twenties, with many firsts experienced together;
• Bessie, whose intelligence and sociability made work trips all over the UK an adventure;
• Mason, whose steadiness guided Nathan, a toddler and a baby in a buggy safely across town every day and through Covid; and now
• Joey, who sits at the heart of family life, while supporting Nathan with the challenges of blind parenting.

Nathan works for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs)

Connected episodes on assistance dogs

• Ralph, the owner-trained, multi-tasking assistance dog - perfect for a Rogate teenager
• Darcey, the Canine Partner: an assistance dog relationship in full bloom
• Benjy, the trainee guide dog's first five weeks on the job
• Daisy, the autism assistance dog - practical, psychological and emotional support
• Breck, the retired guide dog

Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs.

Do you work your dog or dog?

Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you work your dog/dogs and are interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024

Photo credit: Designed by Wannapik

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"Oh, be a fine girl, kiss me!", or, if you prefer, "Oh, be a fine guy, kiss me!" That may sound like a Valentine's message, but for us stargazers it's a handy mnemonic. Find out why in February's Sky Watch and take a tour of the 'Winter Hexagon' asterism.

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield’s night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

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It has been five years since the idea of holding a dementia choir in Petersfield. The choir is going from strength to strength and is quite a community now.

This milestone was a time to reflect, celebrate and sing all the choirs favourite songs from the last five years.

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Portsmouth Hospital has a formal group called the Patient Family and Carer Collaborative.

This group does many things to collect people's views that hospital can staff can learn from.

They are involved in many groups at the Hospital and they also sit on staff recruitment panels and other work around it.

Gill Bailey, a retired GP based in Emsworth, whose grandchildren attend schools in Petersfield, chairs the group.

She spoke to Mike Waddington about the wide ranging role of the Collaborative, Martha's Law, (the right to a second opinion), their audit of transport for the Renal Unit and is seeking people who might want to help.

They recently attended the Petersfield Veterans Festival too.

Gill says people should cotact PALS (see below) with comments and also if you'd like to be involved with their work.

From their weboste:

PALS are available to answer questions, help resolve concerns and provide information and advice about our services. More information on PALS can be found here.

The team are available 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and can be contacted by phoning 0800 917 6039 or emailing PHT.PALS@porthosp.nhs.uk.

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In the local news today, it is a fond farewell to longstanding park manager after 30 years. Speedwatch volunteers are working with police for safety around schools. Meanwhile EHDC are making it easier to keep an eye on proposed developments. Finally, we finish off with the local sport report.

To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.

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PVCG - Petersfield Voluntary Care group, with its 40 volunteer drivers, takes people to medical appointments, last year 1,141 times, with 137 in the last month.

They also help over 100 people with shopping trips.

It's a free service but they ask for a donation of, for example £17.50, for a trip to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

Mike Waddington spoke to Alison Gauld, a trustee and a driver herself, and also to Mags and Caroline, both with severe sight loss, about the service:.

If you want to volunteer as a driver or know more about the service, call them through Winton House on 01730 266046

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Volunteers have been using very large nets to take up to a thousand fish - mainly carp - out of the 22 acre Heath pond over a couple of days at the end of January.

It’s about reducing the biomass in the pond; this helps other species to come through and reduces the growth of algae in the water.

The volunteers, usually anglers, also take measures to safely transfer the fish to the Cotswolds.

Money raised from fishing licensing at the Pond goes to the upkeep of the water and surrounding land.

Volunteer Bailiff Richard Welsh tells us more:

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In the local news today, we have an update on Pulens Lane and Heath Road East improvements. There are a couple of anniversaries with the Dementia Choir celebrating a five-year milestone and out Town Crier celebrates two years in the job. Finally, and we have a roundup of local job opportunities.

To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.

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