Zsuzsa and Ánizs passed their road safety exam last week. The guide dog has given her owner back her freedom, thanks to her she no longer has to ask for help from others. Zsuzsanna Kollár said that she works at the university hospital in Pécs, which is a great place to work, as it is the first medical institution in the country where the visually impaired person working there can stay in the patient room with her/his guide dog.

Zsuzsa Kollár’s eyesight has gradually deteriorated over the last five years, her field of vision has narrowed, and she has been passing by passers-by on the street more and more often. Zsuzsa has a congenital visual impairment, she could never see in the dark, but her field of vision was good, so she coped with it. However, over the age of 50, her field of vision narrowed so much that she could no longer drive safely, especially in the dark, and she often fell, and she realized that she had to change. “I ran into people on the street, and I didn’t like going out anymore, but since I have Ánizs, I don’t have to constantly look in front of my feet, because my dog ​​indicates the obstacles, so I can look ahead and my remaining spatial vision prevails. I go play guitar after work when it gets dark, I wouldn’t be able to do that without Ánizs” – said Zsuzsa.

So since the yellow Labrador female dog has been with her, the world has opened up to her again, even in the dark she dares to walk with her, which she would no longer be able to do alone.

Ánizs is a pioneer in healthcare

The Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Pécs (PTE KK AITI) is the first medical institution in the country where the visually impaired person working there can stay in the patient room with her/his guide dog. Zsuzsa is an anesthesiology assistant at the preoperative outpatient clinic, where pre-anesthesia examinations are performed. Her job has changed, she has not been working in the operating room for two years due to her vision impairment.

Zsuzsa and Ánizs at the clinic:

“I work in healthcare, at the university hospital in Pécs. At my workplace, Ánizs not only a guide dog, but she also plays a therapeutic role. Patients and workers are loving her. She relieves tension, and her mere presence changes the atmosphere of the ambulance. She is very kind and friendly to everyone. We used to let her go to the patients because she relieves tension very well. Anizs is a pioneer in this topic. As far as I know, we are the first to be allowed into the patient room as guide dog partners working there, which is exemplary. I would be happy if as many people as possible were informed about this, to see if more workers were allowed to enter healthcare institutions with their assistance dogs. Ánizs gives a lot not only to me but also to others” – said Zsuzsa.

The other day, Ánizs was taken to a patient admitted with high blood pressure, and she calmed her down so much that her blood pressure dropped. Zsuzsa was touched when the patient returned to them with a gift in hand that she had brought for the dog.

Here is the nice little gift:

“Ánizs. She is kind and friendly to everyone who wants to pet her or play with her a little. She always does her work with pleasure, and also works incredibly well as a “therapy dog”, helping not only mebut also other people a lot. I hope that she will also help by her example to get as many therapy dogsas possible into the healthcare sector since this is one of those places where every little help countsfor a lot. People here are in the most vulnerable situation, they are afraid and anxious” – explained Zsuzsa.

Puppy News
Are you curious about how the smallest Baráthegyi puppies start playful learning? We will follow their progress in our newsletters. Moreover, we publish content about them here that is not available anywhere else. Invite your friends to the great adventure, and send them the newsletter subscription link: https://forms.gle/VPSLYVtjQUuYVdccA

Appreciation to the team

Zsuzsa experiences with full enthusiasm how wonderful it is that the bond has gradually developed and that they play together every day in addition to their tasks. “She leads me to the store and loves to shop and work. She is like a curious child, interested in everything, attentive and friendly dog. Experiencing this is a miracle” – said Ánizs’ owner.

Zsuzsa is grateful to the puppy raisers and trainers, to the entire team that was part of the fact that Ánizs came to her. “I solved 50 years without needing help, and then it became more and more difficult, but I didn’t want to lock myself inside the four walls. It is a gift from life that I can remain independent with her help. How much better it feels to be helped by Ánizs than to constantly ask for help from others? Then I got my freedom back before the walls would have closed around me. I feel safe with her, and even if my eyesight deteriorates, she will still be here with me” – said Zsuzsa.