An ex-plumber is helping to highlight the services provided by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which is seeking to raise funds through its ‘Name a Puppy’ scheme.

Click here to visit the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association website.

The charity is an organisation founded in 1934 whose mission is to help blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility, and other rehabilitation services. 

Alex, a former plumber from Somerset, is just one of many recipients of dogs brought through the charity’s programme. After 24 years as a plumber, Alex’s sight began to fail him and he had to leave the trade, but today he owes much of his independence to Homer, his guide dog.

Alex’s story
For over 20 years, Alex worked as a plumber. This was a profession he loved and as a very practical person, Alex found it difficult to give it up once his health made it impossible to continue in the plumbing trade.

He has a rare condition called mitochondrial cytopathy, which affects the muscles and nervous system. The condition causes muscle weakness so Alex tires quickly. This condition first showed itself in Alex’s eyes, his eyelids began to droop over his eyes so he could not see. The eye condition is called Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia. As a teenager Alex had issues with his sight, but in adulthood this worsened.

From leaving school at the age of 16 Alex really enjoyed practical things and was lucky enough to land a plumbing apprenticeship with a local company called G.A. Doble (Skillbuild) Ltd in South Petherton, Somerset. He spent 24 happy years working for this company and at the age of 39 had to stop working because of his sight and degenerative muscle condition, which was causing him huge amounts of pain.

Alex worked in domestic plumbing, renovating bathrooms, and installing heating systems. The general level of dust and debris from this type of work took its toll on his eyes, leading to more surface damage. It also took its toll on his body. Alex says: “My body was telling me enough was enough. I did however work 10 years longer than the doctors predicted.”

Dogs make the difference
Leaving work and having nothing to do was a difficult time for Alex. He felt like he had no purpose, but them things changed when he applied for his first guide dog.

In 2013, not long after qualifying with his first guide dog, Alex found that he had a new sense of confidence. He was getting out and about independently, so he signed up for a pottery course at the local college.

Alex says: “My guide dog gave me the confidence to do the pottery course and I loved it.” Once again Alex, was utilising all those practical skills that a career in plumbing had given him.

After working in a practical job as a plumber it takes some adjusting to have no work to go to, so pottery has been an enjoyable focus to keep Alex busy.

Alex now has a guide dog called Homer, his his second guide dog. Homer has an unusual name as he was named by Guide Dog’s ‘name a puppy scheme’. The partnership qualified in November 2019. Alex says that “having a dog has given me a purpose again. Like having a job, I have routine and a reason to go out each day. Homer is a great companion and I trust him entirely.”

If you donate to the Guide Dogs charity, you too can take part in the Name a Puppy scheme. Find out how to give by clicking here.