Trainee guide dog Peggy takes to the roads with Bluestar

Bluestar is helping to train a local guide dog puppy by offering some vital travel experience across its Hampshire network. 

The Southampton operator is providing seven month old Peggy and her puppy walker Jane Tabor from Otterbourne free travel on its services, to give the special pup a chance to get used to hopping on-and-off buses. 

“I’m a volunteer with Guide Dogs, and will be training and socialising Peggy until she is about 15 months old, which involves getting her comfortable using public transport, before she goes onto the next part of her training,” said Jane. 

“I asked Bluestar whether they could allow me to hop on-and-off with Peggy without having to pay any fares, as we initially need to do lots of short journeys - and they were only too pleased to help. It’ll make a huge difference, not only to me and to our training - but also to whoever has their life transformed by Peggy. The drivers on the Bluestar 1 route have all been fantastic.

”Bluestar’s George Miller added: “It is important to us that our buses are accessible to all - and we understand the issues faced by those who are partially sighted when they travel by bus. 

“They rely heavily on these special dogs to help them go about their daily lives, and we are delighted to be able to help Peggy get used to hopping on board with us. We wish her and Jane all the very best with her training.”

For more information about Bluestar services, please visit bluestarbus.co.uk