A MAN who lost his sight has spoken of getting his life back after being partnered with a guide dog.

Terry Quinn of Baildon, lost his sight two years ago due to diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye.

He struggled with everyday life and admitted it got him down.

Terry would often worry about leaving the house for fear of bumping into things and people with his cane. His level of sight loss meant that he wasn’t always able to get around safely on his own, often having to wait for someone sighted to accompany him.

But things took a dramatic upturn when Terry was partnered with guide dog Spencer. “While 2020 was a terrible year for many people, getting my guide dog turned it into one of the best years of my life,” he said. “Having Spencer meant I got my life back.”

Terry was due to start training with the black Labrador cross golden retriever in March 2020, but when the pandemic hit this was not possible.

The charity Guide Dogs allowed Spencer to remain at home with Terry so the pair could bond and get to know each other until it was possible to restart his training safely some months later.

The delays meant that although Terry and Spencer were originally partnered in March 2020, they didn’t qualify as a partnership until last September.

For Terry, having Spencer to guide him felt like life was just beginning - the loyal dog gave him his independence and freedom back.

“Now when I am out and about I don’t have to hit something to know that it is there - Spencer will guide me around it,” said Terry. “I can go out whenever I want, just me and Spencer.”

He added: “I would have been very lonely and isolated without Spencer. During the last lockdown I was out with him every day for exercise. He absolutely turned things around for me, it is just awesome”.

Terry has started to learn braille and embrace technology to the full, using various apps on his mobile phone to help him on his travels. But his partnership and unbreakable bond with Spencer has been the best thing to help him reclaim his independence.

*Such life changing partnerships from Guide Dogs would not be possible without donations. As a puppy Spencer was part of Guide Dogs Name a Puppy scheme. This allows people to choose the name of a puppy and then receive updates on the pup’s progress. as he or she grows.

Money raised by schemes like this allow partnerships to become a reality. Spencer was named by staff at Marks and Spencer at York’s Designer Outlet. For more information visit guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/name-a-puppy/