At Petworld Somerset West, something quietly profound happened this month as part of our Shades Day awareness campaign. In partnership with the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind (SAGDA), customers took part in our Walk in My Paws empathy experience — a simple but powerful exercise where sighted participants navigated our store blindfolded, guided by staff and the steady presence of guide dogs in training.
What they discovered went beyond curiosity. It was a lesson in trust, courage, and the invisible strength it takes to navigate a world that isn’t always designed to include everyone.
This event wasn’t about sympathy — it was about understanding. And understanding, as we learned, can change everything.
1. How to Respectfully Assist Someone Who Is Blind or Has Low Vision
Many people want to help those with visual impairments but hesitate out of uncertainty. According to guidance from VisionAware and the American Foundation for the Blind, the key is to lead with respect and communication.
Here are a few principles to keep in mind:
- Always introduce yourself first. Let the person know who you are — and speak directly to them, not through others.
- Ask before helping. Offer assistance with a question like, “Would you like a hand?” rather than assuming.
- Offer your arm, don’t grab theirs. If accepted, let them take your arm — it gives them control over their pace and direction.
- Describe surroundings clearly. Mention kerbs, steps, or texture changes as you walk together.
- Use specific language. Avoid “over there.” Instead, say, “Two steps ahead and slightly left.”
- Announce when you’re leaving. Let them know when a conversation or interaction is ending — it avoids confusion.
Empathy starts with awareness, but dignity lives in the details — the way we speak, move, and include others in shared spaces.
A recent empathy study demonstrated that simulated experiences — like blindfolded walks — can significantly improve emotional understanding and awareness toward others with disabilities [1]. It’s not just a good feeling; it’s a measurable shift in perspective.
2. The Incredible Work of the Guide Dogs Association
Behind every guide dog is a story of dedication, patience, and partnership.
The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind is committed to one clear mission:
To have a country where every person with visual and physical disabilities can experience freedom and independence. [2]
That independence takes nearly two years of specialised training — from puppy raising with volunteer families to formal instruction with expert trainers. Every dog learns to navigate obstacles, recognise kerbs, locate landmarks, and make intelligent decisions to keep their human partners safe.
But guide dogs aren’t the only heroes. The Association also trains:
- Service Dogs, who assist people with mobility challenges by retrieving objects, opening doors, and offering physical support.
- Autism Support Dogs, who provide emotional grounding and safety for children on the autism spectrum.
These programmes are made possible entirely through public support — sponsorships, donations, and fundraising campaigns like Shades Day, which Petworld proudly supports.
Every rand raised from Shades Day helps a puppy in training take one step closer to changing someone’s life.
Read more about the South African Guide Dogs Association here.
3. Why Awareness Changes How We Act
It’s one thing to read about inclusion — it’s another to feel what it’s like to rely on others for every small movement. During our Walk in My Paws experience, participants said the moment their vision was removed, familiar spaces suddenly felt uncertain. Every sound, every change in floor texture, every voice nearby mattered.
Empathy became instinctive.
As disability advocate and writer Helen Keller once said:
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. [3]
True awareness changes behaviour. It teaches patience in queues, attentiveness in crowded places, and kindness in moments of frustration. It reminds us that inclusion isn’t about accommodation — it’s about belonging.
In a powerful piece for The Guardian, journalist and traveller Amar Latif, who is blind, described the emotional toll of being misunderstood in public spaces:
People grab me, shout instructions, or freeze up. I know they mean well, but all I really need is space, respect, and a moment to find my way. [4]
Awareness transforms those interactions. When we understand the experience of someone like Amar, we move through shared spaces more thoughtfully — with compassion instead of caution.
Walking the Talk: Petworld and Shades Day
Petworld’s partnership with the Guide Dogs Association is built on shared values: care, education, and community.
As part of Eye Care Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Shades Day on 17 October — a national campaign that invites South Africans to wear sunglasses and buy a Shades Day sticker for just R20, with all proceeds going directly to the South African Guide-Dogs Association [5].
It’s a small act with lasting impact — a way for every one of us to stand beside those who walk a different path.
The Road Ahead
Awareness is just the beginning. Real inclusion is built one conversation, one gesture, one sticker at a time.
When we teach children to give space to a guide dog at work, when we ask instead of assume, when we choose patience instead of hurry — we become part of the quiet revolution of empathy that organisations like SAGDA lead every day.
At Petworld, we believe that animals connect us to what’s best in ourselves — loyalty, patience, love, and understanding. Through initiatives like Walk in My Paws and Shades Day, we’re reminded that those same values can guide how we treat one another, too.
Support the movement this Shades Day. Petworld’s Shades stickers are available in-store and online, with all proceeds going directly to Guide Dogs South Africa. On 17 October, wear your shades, buy your sticker, and tell someone about the dogs who bring light into others’ lives. Together, we can help turn compassion into action — because when we walk side by side, every step brings someone closer to freedom.
References
[1] “Embodied Experiences Enhance Empathy Toward People with Disabilities,” arXiv.org (2023).
👉 https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.00211
[2] “Our Vision and Mission,” South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.
👉 https://guidedog.org.za/our-vision-and-mission/
[3] Helen Keller Quote on Vision and Empathy, Quotlr.com.
👉 https://quotlr.com/quotes-about-blindness
[4] Amar Latif, “I Cried with Anger: The Trials and Torment When Travelling with Blindness,” The Guardian (2023).
👉 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/05/i-cried-with-anger-the-trials-and-torment-when-travelling-with-blindness
[5] “Shades Day 2025,” South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind. 👉 https://guidedog.org.za/shades-day-2025/
