September 4, 2025 • 27 mins
On this Father's Day special of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by Seeing Eye Dogs handler and dad Mitch Barri who will talk about his life, story and partnership with Seeing Eye Dog. Mitch is a man, dad of 2, and first-time handler. Happy Father's Day to all of the dads and wonderful father figures in our community!
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Episode Transcript
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S1 (00:29):
On Vision Australia Radio. You're listening to the Seeing Eye
Dog show with me, your host, Harriet Moffatt. Today, in
recognition of Father's Day on September the 7th, I'm going
to be sharing a profile of a handler who is
a dad. So I'm going to be joined by seeing
eye dogs handler Mitch Berry, who's going to come and
(00:50):
talk to us about his life, his story, and his
partnership with seeing eye dog Yogi. We're going to be
talking about how Yogi fits in with Mitch's life as
a father in their family at work, and the life
of a seeing eye dog in a family. Without further ado,
here is my interview with Mitch.
S2 (01:18):
Hi, Mitch. Thank you for joining me on the show today.
S3 (01:20):
Thanks for having me, Harriet. It's exciting to, uh, to
join you.
S2 (01:23):
Well, I'm looking forward to hearing a bit of your story.
Could you please start off by introducing yourself?
S3 (01:28):
Yeah, certainly. Um, yes. My name is Mitch Barry. I'm
a Bendigo man. Um, uh, what am I on, 40
years old? I've got, uh, retinitis pigmentosa, and, uh, I've
got a seeing eye dog by the name of Yogi
who I've just ticked over five years with.
S2 (01:46):
Oh, congrats.
S3 (01:47):
Yeah. Thank you. Uh, he's a good fella. He's a big,
handsome blond boy. Um, and, yeah, he's a, you know,
a really welcome part of our family.
S2 (01:58):
Do you have a family and and work or have
any hobbies, interests you'd like to share?
S3 (02:02):
Yeah. So I've got, uh, I've got a couple of children.
I've got a wife and two kids. Jess, my wife and, uh,
my young fella's birthday today. Actually, Remy is six and junior,
my little daughter just turned four a couple of weeks ago,
so I remember, yeah, you know, during training and stuff, um,
that Remy was only a I'm sort of thinking maybe
(02:22):
12 months. Yeah. Yeah, 12 months old. Almost almost to
the month. Um, so he's, you know, both the kids have, um,
have known Yogi their whole lives pretty well.
S2 (02:33):
I mean, that's crazy to have really grown up with
the dog. Like, they've never kind of really known anything different.
And was Yogi your first dog?
S3 (02:41):
He was. Yeah. So, um, he was definitely my first dog.
It's been a learning curve. You know, there's been a
lot to learn and those sort of things, but, um. Yeah,
he's fantastic. He's an amazing boy. I was lucky enough
to have Brooke as the trainer, um, back then. And
it was it was during Covid, so it was all
done a little bit differently. This was 20, 20, uh,
(03:01):
kind of around this time, maybe July 2020. So there
was lockdowns in place. So Brooke did a lot of
traveling to Bendigo, coming to, uh, to my place, which
was kind of good because we got to do it
in my local area. I'm in Bendigo, so 150km north
of Melbourne in a large regional centre. And so we
sort of, you know, I think there's only one place
(03:23):
in Bendigo at the time that had escalators, but it
was good. But yogi's uh, you know, he's such a
confident boy. Like, it's, um it's great. I can, you know,
take him to the MCG or a busy Southern Cross
station or something like that. And he, uh, he just. Yeah,
he's really confident, leaning into his harness, pulling forward, and he's,
you know, so it's not like he missed out in
training or anything. He's nature. He's great. You know, whether
(03:45):
it's the busy city or quiet sort of country Bendigo. Yeah.
S2 (03:49):
I guess he must have he would have done his
kind of puppy development in 2019 then and then only
kind of John's training and then matched with you in Covid.
S3 (03:58):
Yeah. Yeah. So he was about 22 months old I
think when I got him. Yeah. Uh, it was actually
Yogi's birthday last week as well. Um, so he just
turned six six. Yeah. Yep.
S2 (04:08):
So really, everyone's birthday, all your children and your dogs
are all at the same time.
S3 (04:14):
Yep. Spot on. Yeah. I feel incredibly guilty. But we
miss Yogi's birthday. I didn't realize until today.
S2 (04:20):
Oh, no. Oh, no. Well, you'll have to. You'll have
to owe him. Owe him one? Yeah, but maybe not today,
because I don't know how much Remy would like it.
S3 (04:28):
Yes.
S2 (04:28):
Sharing his birthday with the dog.
S3 (04:30):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But, uh. No, he's a good fella. He, uh. Yeah,
he he comes obviously into the office I work for, uh,
for Powercor citipower. So I've got, um, offices in Bendigo
and Melbourne, so I travel between the two. Um, so
he joins me on the train and, you know, cabs
to work in Bendigo, you know, and that's where I
think for me, he, uh, his real strengths are, you know,
(04:53):
pushing through the crowds of a busy Southern Cross station
or a busy, jam packed Collins Street, you know, peak
hour traffic. Uh, yeah. He's, um, he really comes into
his own in those sort of those settings. I think he's, um.
It's his confidence. Uh, he's just a, you know, he's
he's not timid. He's a strong natured boy with a
(05:13):
big personality. Um, so, you know, at different times that's
brought challenges. But, um, it's also, you know, probably really
his biggest strength as well.
S2 (05:24):
I guess it's one of those things that's like, you
take the kind of the, not the good with the bad,
but you know what I mean? It's like the type
of dog that's going to be like, great, this is
where we're going. It's straight through. This crowd here is
not the type that's going to shy away from being
a little bit sassy to you at other times as well.
S3 (05:41):
I'll never forget one night we left a a packed
MCG after a footy game and um, all the street
lighting was out along like the, uh, the walk back
along the Yarra. Um, and it was just chock a
block full of people, and everyone was just walking incredibly slowly.
And I had two mates with me, uh, and they
ended up basically holding on to my shoulder, and, uh,
(06:01):
and Yogi just charged through the pack. So we ended up,
you know. Yeah. Quicker than, uh, than sighted people, I suppose,
just because he was just so confident pushing his way
through the crowd. Um. He's great.
S2 (06:15):
I think that's so funny. I'm a puppy carer, and
I've had a few puppies that are kind of like that,
and you have to kind of say like like, dude,
you can, you can, you can, you can chill. She'll
kind of try and, like, get right in front of people.
I'm like, it's not a race, but it has its advantages.
And I love you. Yeah.
S3 (06:31):
Well, that's what I, you know, that's that's what I
didn't like about a cane, you know, was, um, was
kind of. Yeah. You don't necessarily see an obstacle until
you hit it. Uh, and so with with Yogi's, um,
you avoid them and so you can walk at a,
at a better pace and. Yeah, it's, it's that ability,
I suppose, for me to just power on at a,
(06:52):
at a good walking pace. That's probably probably the best
part about our pairing, I suppose. Our matching.
S2 (06:58):
And how long were you using a cane for and
then like kind of what made you decide to apply
for a dog, I guess.
S3 (07:05):
Yeah. On and off. Not not not on and off,
but not full time. Um, for. Well, yeah. For 20.
20 odd years. So. Yeah. Say, uh, 20 odd years,
am I right? Yeah. So. Yeah. From about age. Age 16. Um,
I'd probably got a cane, um, and would have, you know.
With RP, primarily, I was using it at night. Um,
(07:28):
then I was using it in busy places. But I always,
always kind of had a little bit of self-consciousness about it.
Didn't like the cane and like, felt in some settings.
As an example, if I arrive somewhere without the cane.
That I couldn't then introduce it later that day when
I needed to, if people hadn't seen me arrive with it. Because,
you know, it was that whole, um, is your vision impaired,
(07:52):
is he not? And all that sort of stuff that
goes with, uh, with RP. Um, and also just, I
suppose being a young, insecure sort of adult male and
that I'm a lot more confident now and that's I
put a lot of it down to Yogi as far
as like there's no hiding it. If you've got a
seeing eye dog, You, um, you just lean into it.
You just accept it. It's really helped me now. Um,
(08:12):
so even if I don't have Yogi now, I just
quite comfortably, um, share or present or, you know, own,
own it basically that I've got a vision impairment. But yeah,
you don't you don't, you know, you can't put Yogi
in your back pocket and pretend it's.
S2 (08:28):
Not so.
S3 (08:28):
Much. Uh, so yeah, he's been really, really good at
sort of helping me, um, just lean into that and
just own the fact that, um, that I've got a
vision impairment. I suppose in the end, I didn't kind
of really have a choice. I was using a cane, um,
a bit more full time, but still always really self
conscious about it. And, um, so that's, that's been a
barrier that he's helped me break down, I suppose. Um,
(08:50):
you know, the, the odd time that I don't have
Yogi with me, I've got no hesitation now about using
the cane.
S2 (08:57):
That's kind of it's fascinating that that's kind of come
through even now. Like with without him. It's like that
kind of it almost like destigmatized it in your own mind?
S3 (09:08):
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, absolutely. So, um, yeah, he's had, you know, many, many, uh,
value adds to our life, um, you know, primarily around, uh, mobility.
But it's also that's been another peripheral sort of benefit
is just that he's helped me own it. Um, but, yeah,
I like he's just the independence that, um, that I got, like, I'm,
(09:31):
I've always been reasonably confident to, like to, to navigate
even without, uh, being able to see like it's Bendigo.
It's not, you know, where I'm talking, um, for me
to go for a stroll at night time, it's never
something I would have done for leisure. But like in
a quiet little street in Bendigo, I could always, you know,
navigate if I needed to go somewhere with the cane.
(09:54):
But it was just difficult and slow, and I would
never do it for leisure sort of thing. But I
remember like, when, uh, my wife was pregnant with, uh,
with our daughter, uh, you know, it could be 9
or 10:00 at night. And she's like, I feel like chocolate.
I'm like, yo, we're off, you know? Yeah. I just
gave you that independence to just to just to quite
happily go for a stroll. Um, you know, we, um, often,
(10:16):
you know, can get the kids to bed, and then
Yogi and I can go for a walk. I've got
a pub just a few KS up the road. Um,
gives me a little bit of exercise, gives him a
little bit of exercise. Um.
S2 (10:27):
And then you get a beer. He gets.
S3 (10:29):
Yeah. I'm off the.
S2 (10:30):
Beers.
S3 (10:31):
For the best part of this year, but, um, so, yeah,
that's probably, uh, faded out a little bit. The pub
actually closed for six months this year, so that's probably, uh. Yeah,
been part of it, but, um, yeah, we still, you know,
we still just go for strolls as well as our, um,
actual commute. Um, so it's good. Couple of days a week,
I get dropped halfway to work, um, in Bendigo at
(10:54):
a lake, uh, Lake Waroona and then take the The
Creek Trail, which is about A5K trek, uh, into work,
which is good. Gives him a bit of a chance
to get some exercise. Yeah.
S2 (11:07):
And I guess like kind of coming into it, you
kind of said you I guess got Yogi when your
son was one. And then I guess pretty soon before
you had your daughter. How was that kind of transition
with a, I mean, having I don't know, they're not
called a newborn, I guess, at one, but having a
pretty young baby and then having a newborn later in
(11:29):
an early stage of partnership.
S3 (11:31):
Yeah. So we, um. Yeah, I mean, Yogi was a very,
very welcome addition. We had a really, really beautiful pet dog. Uh,
he was a a lab kelpie sort of rescue pup, um,
that we got young. Um, his name was Judd, and
he was just, you know, after Chris Judd. He was
just such a a beautiful boy. And so he welcomed Yogi,
(11:52):
and those two became best mates very, very quickly. Um,
and I'm sure you know that JD imparted some, um,
some good sort of qualities on Yogi and vice versa, Uh, but, um, yeah. Yogi,
from the kids perspective, you know, I'm pretty sure if
you ask my daughter, she would tell you that yogi's hers.
S2 (12:12):
Um, yeah.
S3 (12:14):
Yeah. Like, she, you know, um, I think the message,
you know, that we always share is that, you know, well,
that the general public believe is that they're very much
working dog working dog, working dog. But, you know, around
the house, Yogi is, um, is, you know, he's absolutely
just the family dog as well. Now he's, um, the
kids just love him, you know? Um, I'll be at
(12:37):
the gate leaving, about to jump in a cab, and
I'll hear Junie, um, screaming that she hasn't said goodbye
to Yogi and come down to give him a cuddle.
S2 (12:44):
And not to you, but just to Yogi.
S3 (12:46):
Yeah, yeah. So, you know, he's, um. Yeah, he's had
the kids climbing all over him since since the day
he's been at our place, basically. Um, they, they love
him to bits, so.
S2 (12:58):
And do they kind of understand? I guess especially like
Junie the younger one. Just. Do they understand when he's
in coat and or when he's, you know, sorry, not
in coat. In harness and working.
S4 (13:10):
Uh, yeah.
S3 (13:12):
Yeah, I think they do. Um, I probably, I probably
find quite often now that, uh, that if I am
with the wife and the kids that I probably don't
always work Yogi like this is, this is kind of,
I suppose, where I've, um, I've found I use Yogi
where he adds value for me now, so sometimes he'll
(13:34):
just be on a lead if we're just going for
a walk as a family. Um, maybe I've got a
pram or something like that. Um, he's probably not really
in a pram these days as much, but, um, you know,
sometimes we just walk him as a pet. Um, you know,
when we're a family during the day and that sort
of stuff. If we're just going for a stroll. Um,
but yeah, certainly they know like that when he's. When
(13:55):
he's in harness, he's working. But I, I wouldn't have
total confidence that they still wouldn't distract him and pat
him and.
S2 (14:00):
Yeah.
S3 (14:01):
They, they really do just love him to bits. So, um,
probably my boys. He's six. He's. Yeah, he's probably a
little bit more aware that, you know, not to distract jokes, but, um. Yeah,
they're they're all pretty close.
S2 (14:14):
Yeah. Well, how nice. I mean, yeah, they really, I guess. Yeah.
Their world has been with you guys together and.
S3 (14:21):
Exactly.
S2 (14:22):
Um. Yeah. I do love you said about kind of
that thing of people think sometimes the dogs are working
24 seven and I have had, you know, I've had
people ask me or I've had heard people ask it
like are care events or do they use them around
the house? It's like no.
S3 (14:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
S2 (14:38):
I mean you don't do you. He just kind of
is a dog.
S3 (14:41):
Yeah. Yeah 100%. So I remember, um, we've got uh,
obviously some lawn in the backyard. And, you know, Yogi
just loves zoomies. Just ripping up the grass, just just
whizzing around as fast as he can, you know? And
he's he's got his eyes, you know, his favorite, uh,
soft plush toy, you know, with the with the squeaky
and stuff in it. And he just. Yeah, carries it
(15:02):
around the house all the time, And, um. Yeah, he's
he's very much at home. Just a dog. Um, and
he knows the drill. Like, as soon as, you know,
as soon as the, uh, I open the. I've got
a cupboard on the on the deck where he's harnessed lives. Um,
and as soon as I open that cupboard, he knows
and he just. Yeah, straight into to work mode sort
of thing, um, immediately comes around to my left hand
(15:25):
side and, um.
S2 (15:27):
Ready for work?
S3 (15:28):
Yeah. Ready for work, basically. Yeah. So.
S2 (15:31):
Um, so, so at least he's not like you're tearing
me away from, um, from my zoomies. He's kind of
keen to go.
S3 (15:36):
He's always keen to go. Yeah, definitely. Yep. So he, uh. Yeah,
he loves it. He absolutely loves getting out of the house. Um,
and then. Yeah, I mean, I work in an office,
sort of a setting, and it's, uh, it's quite common
to hear Yogi snoring for most of the day. Like,
I think it's a pretty good gig, to be honest.
S2 (15:53):
I like it. I like the story.
S3 (15:56):
Yeah, yeah. He always looks pretty comfortable at work and just,
you know, snoring. Uh, he's, uh, I've got an office here,
so he's got a little bed here. And yeah, he's
just always snoring away. And, you know, some days I,
some days I just, you know, come into the office
and he just jumps on his mat and goes straight
to sleep. Other days I take him out of his
harness and people can say g'day to him and stuff, but, um, but, yeah, he's, uh,
(16:19):
he's a very welcome addition at work as well.
S4 (16:22):
Yeah.
S2 (16:22):
I was going to say, I mean, what's a kind
of typical day in your life, but it sounds like
maybe you don't have one necessarily. Depends on where you're going.
S3 (16:29):
Yeah. So a couple of days a week I'm in Melbourne,
which is, uh, the training down. Um, uh, or Bendigo basically.
And Bendigo, just most of the time it's either door
to door. So, um, that's why I make that sort
of concerted effort to get dropped at the lake or
grab a coffee, and then we walk from there, um,
just to get the keys up, um, to make sure
we're still, you know, both him and I need to
(16:50):
keep our weight in check. Um, and so, yeah, we
try to walk, uh, try to do probably 10 or
15 K's just on top of our incidental walking each week. Um,
which is not not a heap, but it's just, you know,
a good little amount.
S2 (17:06):
10 to 15 k's of, like, steps or kilometers.
S3 (17:10):
Kilometers a week is what we would try to do.
S2 (17:12):
Oh, okay. Okay, okay. Per week. Oh is it. That's. Yeah.
S3 (17:15):
Yeah, yeah.
S2 (17:16):
It's not nothing though.
S3 (17:17):
No no it's not nothing. It's sort of like maybe
in a half an hour at lunchtime. Yeah. That sort
of thing. You know, you might just roll to a half,
two and a half, three k's over lunch and stuff
like that.
S2 (17:26):
So yeah. So if you need to, you just kind
of make that time, get that drop, do that stroll.
S3 (17:32):
Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. And it's good for me too. And
I think, um, you know, particularly as a, as a
dad and stuff, I think not driving you come home
from work, I sort of often, you know, think about
people that get the luxury of jumping into their own
car and putting their own music on, listening to a
podcast or whatever, and just driving home and just decompressing
(17:52):
before they get inside after a day at work and, um,
or vice versa, you know, even on the way to work,
just clearing your head, getting yourself ready for the work day.
And you know, if you're in a cab and stuff,
particularly Benny. I know all the cabbies. So we chat,
you know? Yeah. Which is great, but it's it's different
to that, that little bit of time on your own,
in your own car or whatever. And so that's where
the walks, you know, really good as well. Yeah.
S2 (18:15):
And I feel like from, you know, what you said
about the obstacle avoiding versus like you using the cane,
at least with Yogi it's a little bit more of
a head clearing one as well. Like whereas if you're
doing that with a cane, I assume you probably wouldn't
feel quite that rested going into it.
S3 (18:29):
Absolutely. Yeah, 100%. It's it's totally different. The um, yeah.
And particularly now, like, you know, with, with five years
under our belt. But um, the confidence I suppose, really
to just relax and switch off. And just when I
say switch off, like, you know, I, I trust that
I'm not going to walk into something and it's not
(18:51):
the big one for me. And this is. And people
that use a cane would be able to relate. You know,
obviously the cane sticking, even if you use a big
rural ball or a super ball and stuff, they still
grab and stuff like that. And particularly if you're trying
to walk fast. Trying to follow a path. Um, I
know like this morning walk that we do, it's into
the sun. So we're sort of walking north. It's into
(19:13):
the sun if it's foggy and glary straight into the sun. Um,
basically blinded by the sun. Black asphalt in shadows as well. Um,
cast by trees. I can't see the path necessarily. And
then using a cane, you kind of like touching the path,
touching the grass, touching the path, touching the grass. And
it's really slow and tedious. And you, I just it's not,
(19:35):
not enjoyable. Um, and. Yeah, like you said, with yoga,
it's just stroll along. Um, not a worry in the
world sort of thing. It's nice.
S2 (19:46):
So in your kind of time together, are there any
favorite outings or memories that you would like to share?
S4 (19:53):
Um.
S2 (19:54):
Coming up to five years, I guess, or past five years.
S3 (19:58):
There's definitely been some big saves. There's been like some
big saves where I was like, oh, what has he
stopped for or whatever, like, you know, um, yeah, there's
I can't like, yeah, there's there's definitely been times where
I was like, wow, you just earned your keep ten
(20:19):
fold sort of thing. But look, probably, probably no one
individual moment, like maybe the one that comes to me is, uh,
I thought I knew I was, uh, at a dentist,
and I knew the layout pretty well. And, um, this
one particular time, there was a chair in the middle
of the waiting room, and I was like, just ready
to stroll from the seat I'd been called. I was
(20:40):
just ready to dart straight across the middle of the room, and, uh,
and he just sort of pulled it up, and I
was like, what are you doing? You know, and and
I was.
S2 (20:47):
Like, I know this.
S3 (20:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he's just like, nope, not. I'm like, mate.
And then just sort of feeling around, I was like, oh, okay. Yeah.
And I would have absolutely sent that flying and tripped
and like that's happened, you know. Um. Um. I've got
myself a bit sort of lost on, uh, at night
(21:09):
time as well, even in, like, in my own local neighborhood,
just sort of testing my limits, I suppose, when I
say lost, like, just disorientated as far as not knowing
precisely where I am on a particular street or something
like that. Um, and, you know, yogi's just so confident
and comfortable just dealing with that. Um, and he, I'm
(21:29):
certain that he knows when I'm, like, really unable to
see like I'm. He definitely feels it through the harness
for sure. Um, because you know, with RP, I've got
some usable central vision a lot of the time. Most
of the time, um, and it's, you know, it's certain circumstances,
different lighting when it's busy. My reduced visual fields make
(21:51):
it difficult and stuff, but, um, yeah, as soon as
I'm sort of like, I feel a bit more hesitant
or like, I'm like, oh, okay. Actually, you know, like
really relying on him. He just steps right up. Um,
so I know that he he can definitely sense when
I can't when I really need him, basically, um, you know, like,
(22:12):
because I have times throughout the day where, you know,
if we're walking in a, in a well lit day
on a nice open footpath, I can see dead straight,
you know, with my central vision that there's no obstacles
and green, bright green grass on one side and a
white concrete footpath. You know, in that setting, in that
exact moment, I can see sort of thing. Um, and
we're just strolling straight, but then in a different setting
(22:34):
where I'm like, really a bit more stuck. That's where
he really steps up.
S2 (22:38):
And like you said, it's the the crowds and stuff or.
S3 (22:41):
Yeah, the crowds. Yep. I can literally feel him. You know,
he's like almost takes takes the lead, takes charge. Um, yeah.
I almost feel like he puffs his chest out and
he's like, I got you.
S2 (22:51):
It's like, I got it, man. We're we're fine.
S3 (22:54):
Exactly. That's great.
S2 (22:56):
So just to finish off, do you have any messages
that you'd like to share with, you know, either kind
of the general public or supporters, um, of singles or
other handlers about life at the Seeing Eye Dog?
S4 (23:07):
Um.
S3 (23:08):
I probably underestimated early days. How much work it would
be if I'm totally honest. Um, but I think the
payoffs there, um, and, and everyone's situation is going to
be different. But, you know, if you put the work
into the dog, like, the dogs are phenomenally trained, um,
and they come to you ready to sort of to
(23:30):
mold and fit into your way of life sort of thing.
And they'll do as much or as little as you
want sort of thing, like, um, like as an example,
you know, if you if you want to be consistent
and have them toilet on concrete or something like that,
they'll do all that. Um, you've just got to put
the work in as well. Um, you know, like, Yogi
doesn't like wearing his boots, uh, on a hot day
(23:52):
sort of thing. And so that's that's my fault. I
haven't sort of done that within consistently enough, Do you
know what I mean? Yeah, but I also know that
if I persevered, that he'd pick it up again. Like
they're so willing to to help. You've just got to
put in a little bit of work to, um, and yeah, they,
they really are, you know, just brilliant. They're amazing animals and, um,
(24:15):
you know, the support from from seeing eye dogs and, uh,
Justin's the my new trainer and stuff. They're, they're skilled and, um,
you know. Yeah. Always available. And, you know, I mean,
I don't have to touch base very often. Yogi's such
a good dog, but, um, you know, knowing that supports
there as well. Um, because I remember early days, I
was like, I would have been emailing or texting Brooke
(24:37):
really regularly. Um, just with, like, small questions. And it
was like nothing was too small. She was always happy
to help. Um, but now I'm just like, yeah, it's
yogi's just part of the family now.
S2 (24:50):
Yeah. I was going to say you kind of. You
speak the same language, and he's part of your family,
and it's five years together is a pretty solid amount
of time to kind of understand each other, I guess.
S3 (25:00):
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So it's a good it's a good relationship. Yeah.
S2 (25:06):
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show
and sharing your story today, Mitch.
S3 (25:09):
No, thanks for having me, Harry. It's been fun.
S2 (25:17):
You've been listening to the Seeing Eye dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with
Seeing eye dog handler Mitch, talking about his life and
his story and partnership with seeing Eye dog Yogi, as
well as life of a seeing eye dog in a
family and with a dad. If you are blind or
have low vision and are a dad, or are interested
(25:38):
in finding out if dog mobility is right for you,
we have handlers from all walks of life, and a
seeing eye dog might help you navigate the world more
safely and independently. If you'd like to find out about
becoming a seeing eye dog handler and your blind to
have low vision, head to our website at. Or email
(25:59):
us at info at. Or give our friendly team a
call on 1800Â 037Â 773 to chat about Dogwood Mobility eligibility or assessment.
If you'd like to find out about becoming a volunteer
or supporting us or anything else about seeing Eye Dogs,
head to our website at Vision Australia or go to
(26:24):
our social media like Facebook and Instagram for the latest news,
stories and good vibes from our community. So thank you
for listening to this show. Don't forget to tune in!
Same time next week for another episode of The Seeing
Eye Dog Show on Vision Australia Radio.
On Vision Australia Radio. You're listening to the Seeing Eye
Dog show with me, your host, Harriet Moffatt. Today, in
recognition of Father's Day on September the 7th, I'm going
to be sharing a profile of a handler who is
a dad. So I'm going to be joined by seeing
eye dogs handler Mitch Berry, who's going to come and
(00:50):
talk to us about his life, his story, and his
partnership with seeing eye dog Yogi. We're going to be
talking about how Yogi fits in with Mitch's life as
a father in their family at work, and the life
of a seeing eye dog in a family. Without further ado,
here is my interview with Mitch.
S2 (01:18):
Hi, Mitch. Thank you for joining me on the show today.
S3 (01:20):
Thanks for having me, Harriet. It's exciting to, uh, to
join you.
S2 (01:23):
Well, I'm looking forward to hearing a bit of your story.
Could you please start off by introducing yourself?
S3 (01:28):
Yeah, certainly. Um, yes. My name is Mitch Barry. I'm
a Bendigo man. Um, uh, what am I on, 40
years old? I've got, uh, retinitis pigmentosa, and, uh, I've
got a seeing eye dog by the name of Yogi
who I've just ticked over five years with.
S2 (01:46):
Oh, congrats.
S3 (01:47):
Yeah. Thank you. Uh, he's a good fella. He's a big,
handsome blond boy. Um, and, yeah, he's a, you know,
a really welcome part of our family.
S2 (01:58):
Do you have a family and and work or have
any hobbies, interests you'd like to share?
S3 (02:02):
Yeah. So I've got, uh, I've got a couple of children.
I've got a wife and two kids. Jess, my wife and, uh,
my young fella's birthday today. Actually, Remy is six and junior,
my little daughter just turned four a couple of weeks ago,
so I remember, yeah, you know, during training and stuff, um,
that Remy was only a I'm sort of thinking maybe
(02:22):
12 months. Yeah. Yeah, 12 months old. Almost almost to
the month. Um, so he's, you know, both the kids have, um,
have known Yogi their whole lives pretty well.
S2 (02:33):
I mean, that's crazy to have really grown up with
the dog. Like, they've never kind of really known anything different.
And was Yogi your first dog?
S3 (02:41):
He was. Yeah. So, um, he was definitely my first dog.
It's been a learning curve. You know, there's been a
lot to learn and those sort of things, but, um. Yeah,
he's fantastic. He's an amazing boy. I was lucky enough
to have Brooke as the trainer, um, back then. And
it was it was during Covid, so it was all
done a little bit differently. This was 20, 20, uh,
(03:01):
kind of around this time, maybe July 2020. So there
was lockdowns in place. So Brooke did a lot of
traveling to Bendigo, coming to, uh, to my place, which
was kind of good because we got to do it
in my local area. I'm in Bendigo, so 150km north
of Melbourne in a large regional centre. And so we
sort of, you know, I think there's only one place
(03:23):
in Bendigo at the time that had escalators, but it
was good. But yogi's uh, you know, he's such a
confident boy. Like, it's, um it's great. I can, you know,
take him to the MCG or a busy Southern Cross
station or something like that. And he, uh, he just. Yeah,
he's really confident, leaning into his harness, pulling forward, and he's,
you know, so it's not like he missed out in
training or anything. He's nature. He's great. You know, whether
(03:45):
it's the busy city or quiet sort of country Bendigo. Yeah.
S2 (03:49):
I guess he must have he would have done his
kind of puppy development in 2019 then and then only
kind of John's training and then matched with you in Covid.
S3 (03:58):
Yeah. Yeah. So he was about 22 months old I
think when I got him. Yeah. Uh, it was actually
Yogi's birthday last week as well. Um, so he just
turned six six. Yeah. Yep.
S2 (04:08):
So really, everyone's birthday, all your children and your dogs
are all at the same time.
S3 (04:14):
Yep. Spot on. Yeah. I feel incredibly guilty. But we
miss Yogi's birthday. I didn't realize until today.
S2 (04:20):
Oh, no. Oh, no. Well, you'll have to. You'll have
to owe him. Owe him one? Yeah, but maybe not today,
because I don't know how much Remy would like it.
S3 (04:28):
Yes.
S2 (04:28):
Sharing his birthday with the dog.
S3 (04:30):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But, uh. No, he's a good fella. He, uh. Yeah,
he he comes obviously into the office I work for, uh,
for Powercor citipower. So I've got, um, offices in Bendigo
and Melbourne, so I travel between the two. Um, so
he joins me on the train and, you know, cabs
to work in Bendigo, you know, and that's where I
think for me, he, uh, his real strengths are, you know,
(04:53):
pushing through the crowds of a busy Southern Cross station
or a busy, jam packed Collins Street, you know, peak
hour traffic. Uh, yeah. He's, um, he really comes into
his own in those sort of those settings. I think he's, um.
It's his confidence. Uh, he's just a, you know, he's
he's not timid. He's a strong natured boy with a
(05:13):
big personality. Um, so, you know, at different times that's
brought challenges. But, um, it's also, you know, probably really
his biggest strength as well.
S2 (05:24):
I guess it's one of those things that's like, you
take the kind of the, not the good with the bad,
but you know what I mean? It's like the type
of dog that's going to be like, great, this is
where we're going. It's straight through. This crowd here is
not the type that's going to shy away from being
a little bit sassy to you at other times as well.
S3 (05:41):
I'll never forget one night we left a a packed
MCG after a footy game and um, all the street
lighting was out along like the, uh, the walk back
along the Yarra. Um, and it was just chock a
block full of people, and everyone was just walking incredibly slowly.
And I had two mates with me, uh, and they
ended up basically holding on to my shoulder, and, uh,
(06:01):
and Yogi just charged through the pack. So we ended up,
you know. Yeah. Quicker than, uh, than sighted people, I suppose,
just because he was just so confident pushing his way
through the crowd. Um. He's great.
S2 (06:15):
I think that's so funny. I'm a puppy carer, and
I've had a few puppies that are kind of like that,
and you have to kind of say like like, dude,
you can, you can, you can, you can chill. She'll
kind of try and, like, get right in front of people.
I'm like, it's not a race, but it has its advantages.
And I love you. Yeah.
S3 (06:31):
Well, that's what I, you know, that's that's what I
didn't like about a cane, you know, was, um, was
kind of. Yeah. You don't necessarily see an obstacle until
you hit it. Uh, and so with with Yogi's, um,
you avoid them and so you can walk at a,
at a better pace and. Yeah, it's, it's that ability,
I suppose, for me to just power on at a,
(06:52):
at a good walking pace. That's probably probably the best
part about our pairing, I suppose. Our matching.
S2 (06:58):
And how long were you using a cane for and
then like kind of what made you decide to apply
for a dog, I guess.
S3 (07:05):
Yeah. On and off. Not not not on and off,
but not full time. Um, for. Well, yeah. For 20.
20 odd years. So. Yeah. Say, uh, 20 odd years,
am I right? Yeah. So. Yeah. From about age. Age 16. Um,
I'd probably got a cane, um, and would have, you know.
With RP, primarily, I was using it at night. Um,
(07:28):
then I was using it in busy places. But I always,
always kind of had a little bit of self-consciousness about it.
Didn't like the cane and like, felt in some settings.
As an example, if I arrive somewhere without the cane.
That I couldn't then introduce it later that day when
I needed to, if people hadn't seen me arrive with it. Because,
you know, it was that whole, um, is your vision impaired,
(07:52):
is he not? And all that sort of stuff that
goes with, uh, with RP. Um, and also just, I
suppose being a young, insecure sort of adult male and
that I'm a lot more confident now and that's I
put a lot of it down to Yogi as far
as like there's no hiding it. If you've got a
seeing eye dog, You, um, you just lean into it.
You just accept it. It's really helped me now. Um,
(08:12):
so even if I don't have Yogi now, I just
quite comfortably, um, share or present or, you know, own,
own it basically that I've got a vision impairment. But yeah,
you don't you don't, you know, you can't put Yogi
in your back pocket and pretend it's.
S2 (08:28):
Not so.
S3 (08:28):
Much. Uh, so yeah, he's been really, really good at
sort of helping me, um, just lean into that and
just own the fact that, um, that I've got a
vision impairment. I suppose in the end, I didn't kind
of really have a choice. I was using a cane, um,
a bit more full time, but still always really self
conscious about it. And, um, so that's, that's been a
barrier that he's helped me break down, I suppose. Um,
(08:50):
you know, the, the odd time that I don't have
Yogi with me, I've got no hesitation now about using
the cane.
S2 (08:57):
That's kind of it's fascinating that that's kind of come
through even now. Like with without him. It's like that
kind of it almost like destigmatized it in your own mind?
S3 (09:08):
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, absolutely. So, um, yeah, he's had, you know, many, many, uh,
value adds to our life, um, you know, primarily around, uh, mobility.
But it's also that's been another peripheral sort of benefit
is just that he's helped me own it. Um, but, yeah,
I like he's just the independence that, um, that I got, like, I'm,
(09:31):
I've always been reasonably confident to, like to, to navigate
even without, uh, being able to see like it's Bendigo.
It's not, you know, where I'm talking, um, for me
to go for a stroll at night time, it's never
something I would have done for leisure. But like in
a quiet little street in Bendigo, I could always, you know,
navigate if I needed to go somewhere with the cane.
(09:54):
But it was just difficult and slow, and I would
never do it for leisure sort of thing. But I
remember like, when, uh, my wife was pregnant with, uh,
with our daughter, uh, you know, it could be 9
or 10:00 at night. And she's like, I feel like chocolate.
I'm like, yo, we're off, you know? Yeah. I just
gave you that independence to just to just to quite
happily go for a stroll. Um, you know, we, um, often,
(10:16):
you know, can get the kids to bed, and then
Yogi and I can go for a walk. I've got
a pub just a few KS up the road. Um,
gives me a little bit of exercise, gives him a
little bit of exercise. Um.
S2 (10:27):
And then you get a beer. He gets.
S3 (10:29):
Yeah. I'm off the.
S2 (10:30):
Beers.
S3 (10:31):
For the best part of this year, but, um, so, yeah,
that's probably, uh, faded out a little bit. The pub
actually closed for six months this year, so that's probably, uh. Yeah,
been part of it, but, um, yeah, we still, you know,
we still just go for strolls as well as our, um,
actual commute. Um, so it's good. Couple of days a week,
I get dropped halfway to work, um, in Bendigo at
(10:54):
a lake, uh, Lake Waroona and then take the The
Creek Trail, which is about A5K trek, uh, into work,
which is good. Gives him a bit of a chance
to get some exercise. Yeah.
S2 (11:07):
And I guess like kind of coming into it, you
kind of said you I guess got Yogi when your
son was one. And then I guess pretty soon before
you had your daughter. How was that kind of transition
with a, I mean, having I don't know, they're not
called a newborn, I guess, at one, but having a
pretty young baby and then having a newborn later in
(11:29):
an early stage of partnership.
S3 (11:31):
Yeah. So we, um. Yeah, I mean, Yogi was a very,
very welcome addition. We had a really, really beautiful pet dog. Uh,
he was a a lab kelpie sort of rescue pup, um,
that we got young. Um, his name was Judd, and
he was just, you know, after Chris Judd. He was
just such a a beautiful boy. And so he welcomed Yogi,
(11:52):
and those two became best mates very, very quickly. Um,
and I'm sure you know that JD imparted some, um,
some good sort of qualities on Yogi and vice versa, Uh, but, um, yeah. Yogi,
from the kids perspective, you know, I'm pretty sure if
you ask my daughter, she would tell you that yogi's hers.
S2 (12:12):
Um, yeah.
S3 (12:14):
Yeah. Like, she, you know, um, I think the message,
you know, that we always share is that, you know, well,
that the general public believe is that they're very much
working dog working dog, working dog. But, you know, around
the house, Yogi is, um, is, you know, he's absolutely
just the family dog as well. Now he's, um, the
kids just love him, you know? Um, I'll be at
(12:37):
the gate leaving, about to jump in a cab, and
I'll hear Junie, um, screaming that she hasn't said goodbye
to Yogi and come down to give him a cuddle.
S2 (12:44):
And not to you, but just to Yogi.
S3 (12:46):
Yeah, yeah. So, you know, he's, um. Yeah, he's had
the kids climbing all over him since since the day
he's been at our place, basically. Um, they, they love
him to bits, so.
S2 (12:58):
And do they kind of understand? I guess especially like
Junie the younger one. Just. Do they understand when he's
in coat and or when he's, you know, sorry, not
in coat. In harness and working.
S4 (13:10):
Uh, yeah.
S3 (13:12):
Yeah, I think they do. Um, I probably, I probably
find quite often now that, uh, that if I am
with the wife and the kids that I probably don't
always work Yogi like this is, this is kind of,
I suppose, where I've, um, I've found I use Yogi
where he adds value for me now, so sometimes he'll
(13:34):
just be on a lead if we're just going for
a walk as a family. Um, maybe I've got a
pram or something like that. Um, he's probably not really
in a pram these days as much, but, um, you know,
sometimes we just walk him as a pet. Um, you know,
when we're a family during the day and that sort
of stuff. If we're just going for a stroll. Um,
but yeah, certainly they know like that when he's. When
(13:55):
he's in harness, he's working. But I, I wouldn't have
total confidence that they still wouldn't distract him and pat
him and.
S2 (14:00):
Yeah.
S3 (14:01):
They, they really do just love him to bits. So, um,
probably my boys. He's six. He's. Yeah, he's probably a
little bit more aware that, you know, not to distract jokes, but, um. Yeah,
they're they're all pretty close.
S2 (14:14):
Yeah. Well, how nice. I mean, yeah, they really, I guess. Yeah.
Their world has been with you guys together and.
S3 (14:21):
Exactly.
S2 (14:22):
Um. Yeah. I do love you said about kind of
that thing of people think sometimes the dogs are working
24 seven and I have had, you know, I've had
people ask me or I've had heard people ask it
like are care events or do they use them around
the house? It's like no.
S3 (14:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
S2 (14:38):
I mean you don't do you. He just kind of
is a dog.
S3 (14:41):
Yeah. Yeah 100%. So I remember, um, we've got uh,
obviously some lawn in the backyard. And, you know, Yogi
just loves zoomies. Just ripping up the grass, just just
whizzing around as fast as he can, you know? And
he's he's got his eyes, you know, his favorite, uh,
soft plush toy, you know, with the with the squeaky
and stuff in it. And he just. Yeah, carries it
(15:02):
around the house all the time, And, um. Yeah, he's
he's very much at home. Just a dog. Um, and
he knows the drill. Like, as soon as, you know,
as soon as the, uh, I open the. I've got
a cupboard on the on the deck where he's harnessed lives. Um,
and as soon as I open that cupboard, he knows
and he just. Yeah, straight into to work mode sort
of thing, um, immediately comes around to my left hand
(15:25):
side and, um.
S2 (15:27):
Ready for work?
S3 (15:28):
Yeah. Ready for work, basically. Yeah. So.
S2 (15:31):
Um, so, so at least he's not like you're tearing
me away from, um, from my zoomies. He's kind of
keen to go.
S3 (15:36):
He's always keen to go. Yeah, definitely. Yep. So he, uh. Yeah,
he loves it. He absolutely loves getting out of the house. Um,
and then. Yeah, I mean, I work in an office,
sort of a setting, and it's, uh, it's quite common
to hear Yogi snoring for most of the day. Like,
I think it's a pretty good gig, to be honest.
S2 (15:53):
I like it. I like the story.
S3 (15:56):
Yeah, yeah. He always looks pretty comfortable at work and just,
you know, snoring. Uh, he's, uh, I've got an office here,
so he's got a little bed here. And yeah, he's
just always snoring away. And, you know, some days I,
some days I just, you know, come into the office
and he just jumps on his mat and goes straight
to sleep. Other days I take him out of his
harness and people can say g'day to him and stuff, but, um, but, yeah, he's, uh,
(16:19):
he's a very welcome addition at work as well.
S4 (16:22):
Yeah.
S2 (16:22):
I was going to say, I mean, what's a kind
of typical day in your life, but it sounds like
maybe you don't have one necessarily. Depends on where you're going.
S3 (16:29):
Yeah. So a couple of days a week I'm in Melbourne,
which is, uh, the training down. Um, uh, or Bendigo basically.
And Bendigo, just most of the time it's either door
to door. So, um, that's why I make that sort
of concerted effort to get dropped at the lake or
grab a coffee, and then we walk from there, um,
just to get the keys up, um, to make sure
we're still, you know, both him and I need to
(16:50):
keep our weight in check. Um, and so, yeah, we
try to walk, uh, try to do probably 10 or
15 K's just on top of our incidental walking each week. Um,
which is not not a heap, but it's just, you know,
a good little amount.
S2 (17:06):
10 to 15 k's of, like, steps or kilometers.
S3 (17:10):
Kilometers a week is what we would try to do.
S2 (17:12):
Oh, okay. Okay, okay. Per week. Oh is it. That's. Yeah.
S3 (17:15):
Yeah, yeah.
S2 (17:16):
It's not nothing though.
S3 (17:17):
No no it's not nothing. It's sort of like maybe
in a half an hour at lunchtime. Yeah. That sort
of thing. You know, you might just roll to a half,
two and a half, three k's over lunch and stuff
like that.
S2 (17:26):
So yeah. So if you need to, you just kind
of make that time, get that drop, do that stroll.
S3 (17:32):
Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. And it's good for me too. And
I think, um, you know, particularly as a, as a
dad and stuff, I think not driving you come home
from work, I sort of often, you know, think about
people that get the luxury of jumping into their own
car and putting their own music on, listening to a
podcast or whatever, and just driving home and just decompressing
(17:52):
before they get inside after a day at work and, um,
or vice versa, you know, even on the way to work,
just clearing your head, getting yourself ready for the work day.
And you know, if you're in a cab and stuff,
particularly Benny. I know all the cabbies. So we chat,
you know? Yeah. Which is great, but it's it's different
to that, that little bit of time on your own,
in your own car or whatever. And so that's where
the walks, you know, really good as well. Yeah.
S2 (18:15):
And I feel like from, you know, what you said
about the obstacle avoiding versus like you using the cane,
at least with Yogi it's a little bit more of
a head clearing one as well. Like whereas if you're
doing that with a cane, I assume you probably wouldn't
feel quite that rested going into it.
S3 (18:29):
Absolutely. Yeah, 100%. It's it's totally different. The um, yeah.
And particularly now, like, you know, with, with five years
under our belt. But um, the confidence I suppose, really
to just relax and switch off. And just when I
say switch off, like, you know, I, I trust that
I'm not going to walk into something and it's not
(18:51):
the big one for me. And this is. And people
that use a cane would be able to relate. You know,
obviously the cane sticking, even if you use a big
rural ball or a super ball and stuff, they still
grab and stuff like that. And particularly if you're trying
to walk fast. Trying to follow a path. Um, I
know like this morning walk that we do, it's into
the sun. So we're sort of walking north. It's into
(19:13):
the sun if it's foggy and glary straight into the sun. Um,
basically blinded by the sun. Black asphalt in shadows as well. Um,
cast by trees. I can't see the path necessarily. And
then using a cane, you kind of like touching the path,
touching the grass, touching the path, touching the grass. And
it's really slow and tedious. And you, I just it's not,
(19:35):
not enjoyable. Um, and. Yeah, like you said, with yoga,
it's just stroll along. Um, not a worry in the
world sort of thing. It's nice.
S2 (19:46):
So in your kind of time together, are there any
favorite outings or memories that you would like to share?
S4 (19:53):
Um.
S2 (19:54):
Coming up to five years, I guess, or past five years.
S3 (19:58):
There's definitely been some big saves. There's been like some
big saves where I was like, oh, what has he
stopped for or whatever, like, you know, um, yeah, there's
I can't like, yeah, there's there's definitely been times where
I was like, wow, you just earned your keep ten
(20:19):
fold sort of thing. But look, probably, probably no one
individual moment, like maybe the one that comes to me is, uh,
I thought I knew I was, uh, at a dentist,
and I knew the layout pretty well. And, um, this
one particular time, there was a chair in the middle
of the waiting room, and I was like, just ready
to stroll from the seat I'd been called. I was
(20:40):
just ready to dart straight across the middle of the room, and, uh,
and he just sort of pulled it up, and I
was like, what are you doing? You know, and and
I was.
S2 (20:47):
Like, I know this.
S3 (20:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he's just like, nope, not. I'm like, mate.
And then just sort of feeling around, I was like, oh, okay. Yeah.
And I would have absolutely sent that flying and tripped
and like that's happened, you know. Um. Um. I've got
myself a bit sort of lost on, uh, at night
(21:09):
time as well, even in, like, in my own local neighborhood,
just sort of testing my limits, I suppose, when I
say lost, like, just disorientated as far as not knowing
precisely where I am on a particular street or something
like that. Um, and, you know, yogi's just so confident
and comfortable just dealing with that. Um, and he, I'm
(21:29):
certain that he knows when I'm, like, really unable to
see like I'm. He definitely feels it through the harness
for sure. Um, because you know, with RP, I've got
some usable central vision a lot of the time. Most
of the time, um, and it's, you know, it's certain circumstances,
different lighting when it's busy. My reduced visual fields make
(21:51):
it difficult and stuff, but, um, yeah, as soon as
I'm sort of like, I feel a bit more hesitant
or like, I'm like, oh, okay. Actually, you know, like
really relying on him. He just steps right up. Um,
so I know that he he can definitely sense when
I can't when I really need him, basically, um, you know, like,
(22:12):
because I have times throughout the day where, you know,
if we're walking in a, in a well lit day
on a nice open footpath, I can see dead straight,
you know, with my central vision that there's no obstacles
and green, bright green grass on one side and a
white concrete footpath. You know, in that setting, in that
exact moment, I can see sort of thing. Um, and
we're just strolling straight, but then in a different setting
(22:34):
where I'm like, really a bit more stuck. That's where
he really steps up.
S2 (22:38):
And like you said, it's the the crowds and stuff or.
S3 (22:41):
Yeah, the crowds. Yep. I can literally feel him. You know,
he's like almost takes takes the lead, takes charge. Um, yeah.
I almost feel like he puffs his chest out and
he's like, I got you.
S2 (22:51):
It's like, I got it, man. We're we're fine.
S3 (22:54):
Exactly. That's great.
S2 (22:56):
So just to finish off, do you have any messages
that you'd like to share with, you know, either kind
of the general public or supporters, um, of singles or
other handlers about life at the Seeing Eye Dog?
S4 (23:07):
Um.
S3 (23:08):
I probably underestimated early days. How much work it would
be if I'm totally honest. Um, but I think the
payoffs there, um, and, and everyone's situation is going to
be different. But, you know, if you put the work
into the dog, like, the dogs are phenomenally trained, um,
and they come to you ready to sort of to
(23:30):
mold and fit into your way of life sort of thing.
And they'll do as much or as little as you
want sort of thing, like, um, like as an example,
you know, if you if you want to be consistent
and have them toilet on concrete or something like that,
they'll do all that. Um, you've just got to put
the work in as well. Um, you know, like, Yogi
doesn't like wearing his boots, uh, on a hot day
(23:52):
sort of thing. And so that's that's my fault. I
haven't sort of done that within consistently enough, Do you
know what I mean? Yeah, but I also know that
if I persevered, that he'd pick it up again. Like
they're so willing to to help. You've just got to
put in a little bit of work to, um, and yeah, they,
they really are, you know, just brilliant. They're amazing animals and, um,
(24:15):
you know, the support from from seeing eye dogs and, uh,
Justin's the my new trainer and stuff. They're, they're skilled and, um,
you know. Yeah. Always available. And, you know, I mean,
I don't have to touch base very often. Yogi's such
a good dog, but, um, you know, knowing that supports
there as well. Um, because I remember early days, I
was like, I would have been emailing or texting Brooke
(24:37):
really regularly. Um, just with, like, small questions. And it
was like nothing was too small. She was always happy
to help. Um, but now I'm just like, yeah, it's
yogi's just part of the family now.
S2 (24:50):
Yeah. I was going to say you kind of. You
speak the same language, and he's part of your family,
and it's five years together is a pretty solid amount
of time to kind of understand each other, I guess.
S3 (25:00):
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So it's a good it's a good relationship. Yeah.
S2 (25:06):
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show
and sharing your story today, Mitch.
S3 (25:09):
No, thanks for having me, Harry. It's been fun.
S2 (25:17):
You've been listening to the Seeing Eye dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with
Seeing eye dog handler Mitch, talking about his life and
his story and partnership with seeing Eye dog Yogi, as
well as life of a seeing eye dog in a
family and with a dad. If you are blind or
have low vision and are a dad, or are interested
(25:38):
in finding out if dog mobility is right for you,
we have handlers from all walks of life, and a
seeing eye dog might help you navigate the world more
safely and independently. If you'd like to find out about
becoming a seeing eye dog handler and your blind to
have low vision, head to our website at. Or email
(25:59):
us at info at. Or give our friendly team a
call on 1800Â 037Â 773 to chat about Dogwood Mobility eligibility or assessment.
If you'd like to find out about becoming a volunteer
or supporting us or anything else about seeing Eye Dogs,
head to our website at Vision Australia or go to
(26:24):
our social media like Facebook and Instagram for the latest news,
stories and good vibes from our community. So thank you
for listening to this show. Don't forget to tune in!
Same time next week for another episode of The Seeing
Eye Dog Show on Vision Australia Radio.
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