Nestled in the heights of Eze, within the natural park, the Pierre Aicard education center will hold an open day this Sunday, September 28. The goal is to raise public awareness of visual impairment and reveal the behind-the-scenes of guide dog education.
The French Federation of Guide Dog Associations is hosting these open days across France. On September 28, 14 federated education centers will open their doors: Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Brittany/Pays de la Loire, Paris/Ile-de-France, Center/Rhône Alpes, Grand South-West and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Guided tours, fun workshops, awareness sessions, demonstrations, guiding activities, meetings with educators, guide dog trainers, foster families, and volunteers, this event aims to raise public awareness of visual impairment, the discrimination faced but also to unveil the journey of these guide dogs.
In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, in Èze, the Pierre Aicard education center has endured since 1966. Founded by Fred Farrugia, the center houses a twenty dogs annually. Labrador, golden retriever, Labrador-golden cross, German shepherd, standard poodle, or labradoodle, all or almost all (except for the standard poodle) come from three centers: Auvergne, Angers, and Paris, and therefore are from a federal breeding program.
An operational center
Every day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., they are accompanied by trainers and repeat the same instructions to be operational when they accompany visually impaired people. Sandrine Lebreton, a specialized trainer, explains: “It is essential to repeat and reproduce the same things every day so that the dog properly integrates the instructions. A wide range of exercises, halting at a pedestrian crossing, stepping up sidewalks, being cautious of overhead obstacles, avoiding people, crab walking, mailbox… We are not afraid of the unusual.”
At the end of the day, it is up to the center’s guardian to take over and care for the seven dogs currently in the kennel. Thanks to platforms and social networks: Facebook and Instagram, the center posts notifications whenever necessary to find a foster family, essential for the dog’s leisure time.
The animals stay with their foster family for a year while their education lasts between six to eight months. A significant investment and cost, this training process amounts to approximately 25,000 euros per dog. The association relies on donations and various events to operate the education center.
A long-awaited open day
This September 28, the center will open its doors to the public. This day aims to uncover the behind-the-scenes of this extraordinary profession, but more importantly, to raise awareness about visual impairment and ongoing discriminations such as denial of access to transport and public spaces. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., attendees will enjoy demonstrations, obedience sessions, various stalls, and fun workshops (osteopathy, braille reading…). Nearly 900 visitors are expected that day, so to ensure the event’s success, 40 trainers and 40 volunteers will be present. It will be an immersive experience to better understand visual deficiencies and the challenges encountered daily. Everyone can enjoy this free open day at the Pierre Aicard education center, Route de la Révère in Eze.
