Guide dog first for Fife school

Eamon has given Stuart greater independence

A Fife pupil has become the first in Scotland to use a guide dog in mainstream education.

Stuart Beveridge is accompanied to Lochgelly High School every day by his Golden Labrador, Eamon.

The 18-year-old has been blind from birth and Eamon has helped him to get up the stairs and along the corridors of school since the start of this term.

He said that having Eamon at his side had enabled him to develop a lot more freedom.

Stuart has been a pupil at Lochgelly for five years and is starting sixth year. Eamon joined him about five weeks ago.

The young Labrador has adjusted quickly to his new surroundings and Stuart said Eamon had already improved his life at school.

He said: "Before I had Eamon, I would have had to sit and wait for my friends to come and get me and guide me to rooms, so it's made me a bit more independent."

Having a guide dog is all about a working relationship

Choosing a dog with the right temperament was crucial and the school has worked closely with Guide Dogs for the Blind to help Stuart and Eamon make the partnership a success.

The schoolboy was helped by classmates to raise money after applying to the organisation last year.

Eamon has proved a popular addition to the school, but as with all guide dogs he is a working dog, not a new pet.

Headteacher Brian Blanchflower said: "The pupils have been very, very responsive, they have taken on board the fact that this is a working dog.

"They have basically ignored him, which is very difficult, given that it is a dog that most people would simply want to pat at all times."

Guide Dogs for the Blind said a lot of preparatory had been done and that they were delighted at how Stuart and Eamon's progress.