Disability advocate Jennifer Doherty from Buncrana has begun a fundraising and awareness campaign to celebrate the freedom she gained with her first guide dog.
Jennifer, who was born blind, had assistance from guide dog O.J. for more than seven years as she gained her independence in her 20s. After the sad passing of her companion last year, Jennifer has decided to raise funds to change someone else’s life with the gift of a guide dog.
Jennifer has started a fundraising Facebook page called ‘OJ the Life Changer‘, with plans to host local events and raise €5,000 for Irish Guide Dogs to name a future puppy in his memory. The goal of the campaign is to ensure another person with impaired vision or autism will get the support to achieve all the possibilities that come their way.
With OJ by her side, Jennifer was able to have the same experiences as her friends growing up – she moved out on her own, worked in Letterkenny, travelled, volunteered, and now runs her own business.
This week Jennifer told DonegalWoman.ie about that many adventures she and O.J. shared and why she wanted to honour his service:
“I wanted a guide dog for as long as I can remember. I got OJ in July 2007. I had just finished college and started working. My friends were becoming more independent and getting jobs but I didn’t have as much independence to get out and about on my own,” she said.
Jennifer had been using a cane up to this point, but OJ gave her a renewed freedom to pursue her passions in work, education and volunteering.
“I moved into my own house six years ago, that wouldn’t have been possible without him.
“With OJ, I was able to move to a new job in Letterkenny, do volunteering and do courses, even if none of my friends or family were going along. When you have a dog you’re not alone,” she said.
O.J.
OJ was a companion to Jennifer that also opened doors for new friendships.
“He was an ice-breaker. People would come up talk to me because he was there and he’d be the first topic of conversation,” she said.
After seven years together, OJ retired and was fortunate that Jennifer’s parents were able to keep him.
Jennifer said: “It was ideal that we didn’t have to give him away. Sybil took over from O.J. and has allowed me to have the same independence. She’s a lively golden retriever, a very different character.”
Jennifer and Sybil
Jennifer made the difficult decision to put O.J. to sleep in July 2017, and is now hoping his memory will live on with another pup in training. She is aiming to raise €5,000 this year to support the care of a future puppy and have it named after her first ‘life changer’.
Each litter of pups that are born to be Guide Dogs or Assistance Dogs are given names starting with the same letter of the alphabet. All of O.J.’s siblings had names beginning with ‘O’, and there has never been another O.J. since.
Jennifer said: “They are guessing that the new O.J. will be born later this year. I’m just hoping it’s a boy! The puppy will be raised by a volunteer before it does its training, so I’m hoping to meet it in Cork and present the cheque with my fundraising total.”
“There is a chance the pup will be better suited as an Assistance Dog for a child with autism, depending on their temperament. I’m aiming to raise awareness for all types of support dogs.”