Lions Club helps match S'ville resident with seeing-eye dog

The Stephenville Lions Club recently welcomed a new addition to their club - who is adding to the quality of life of one of its members.

Bergie, a black poodle dog guide trained at the Lions Dog Guide School in Oakville, ON, is the second dog guide for Lion Bruce Barrett, a legally blind Stephenville resident.

The club helped match Mr. Barrett with his first guide dog, Casper, in 2008. However, Casper was killed in a Piccadilly traffic accident in March.

After Casper's death, the Stephenville Lions made the request for a new dog for Mr. Barrett.

Bill Dunne, council secretary treasurer for the Lions Club of Atlantic Canada and Northern Maine, said the wait would normally be longer for another dog because the school only trains so many animals each year to work as seeing-eye dogs.

He explained that Bergie was originally matched with a young woman, but the poodle proved too large for the woman to handle.

Bergie was then made available for Mr. Barrett, who said bonding with the dog happened immediately.

"Training was good, and a totally different experience," said Mr. Barrett. "This dog comes back [when called]. The other one didn't. And he's more affectionate."

Mr. Barrett thanked the local Lions Club for their help in acquiring a new dog guide, which he said would help him be mobile within the community.

Mr. Dunne said Bergie was named by the St. John's Lion's Club, who chose the name to honour the province's icebergs.