Royal Canin Türkiye and the Guide Dogs Association have signed a meaningful collaboration to contribute to the training of new guide dog candidates that will support the independent lives of visually impaired individuals. Within the scope of the collaboration inspired by the strong bond between humans and animals, a multifaceted support model in the fields of nutrition, health and education that will support the healthy development of guide dog candidates is being implemented.
While Royal Canin Turkey, which is the "Nutrition-Health and Training Sponsor" of the Guide Dogs Association's new guide dog candidates, provides long-term contribution to the training journey of new guide dog candidates, the cooperation aims to support the independent lives and participation of visually impaired individuals in social life. The cooperation includes a multi-faceted support model, ranging from the supply of two candidate puppies in the first stage, to their nutrition, from health insurance to the financing of their training processes.
The parties will also carry out social responsibility projects, training activities and communication activities in order to increase social awareness about guide dogs. The activities to be implemented in this context aim to increase the visibility of guide dogs in society and raise awareness about independent living. Starting from the first days of the guide dog candidates with the foster family, their training processes, meetings with the individuals they will guide and their adaptation periods will also be recorded. Thus, it is aimed to convey the life-touching journey of guide dogs to a wider audience.
“Each guide dog candidate means more freedom for visually impaired individuals.”
Tuba Güven Saraçoğlu, Royal Canin Eurasia Region Corporate Relations Director, said in her evaluation of the collaboration: "As Royal Canin, our aim is a Better World for Animals. Because we know that every positive change in the lives of animals also touches the lives of people. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of the relationship between humans and animals, based on trust, love and mutual bond, to transform lives. This cooperation we have established with the Guide Dogs Association is one of the most meaningful reflections of this belief. Every guide dog candidate we support today will be just a visually impaired individual tomorrow." "It will not be a companion, but the strongest supporter of independence, self-confidence and participation in life with more confidence. Each of them means more freedom for visually impaired individuals. We are proud and happy to be a part of this journey, and we continue to make a permanent difference in the lives of both animals and people with our science-based expertise and right collaborations."
“Awareness about guide dogs is increasing day by day”
President of the Guide Dogs Association, Atty. In her assessment of the importance of cooperation, Nurdeniz Tunçer emphasized that guide dogs are not only safe guides for visually impaired individuals, but also one of the most important supporters of freedom, independence and safe participation in social life. Tunçer stated that important steps have been taken to popularize guide dogs in Türkiye and strengthen social awareness in this field, and stated that the collaborations implemented support visually impaired individuals' access to guide dogs and increase the awareness of the society on this issue.
Stating that the collaboration with Royal Canin Turkey will not only contribute to the healthy development of guide dog candidates, but will also enable more people to get to know the life-changing role of guide dogs, Tunçer said, "Each new guide dog will enable an individual to take more free steps, to integrate into life more safely and to live his life more independently. We wholeheartedly believe that more guide dogs will change more lives with the support of institutions that share the same values. Every step we take together increases awareness about guide dogs day by day and thus is an important contribution to a more accessible and inclusive future." contributes." he said.
The first guide dog candidates will unite their lives with the visually impaired individuals they will guide, after a training period of approximately 15 months, during which they will spend with their temporary families.