But Beth Laskey has even more reason to thank her guide dog Sandie.
The perfect pooch played a large part in bringing together Beth and her partner Graham Dawes.

TRACY WALKER met all three.

"SHE'S the Guide Dog of the Year every year to me," says Beth Laskey.

Five-year-old Labrador Sandie is every bit a special canine.

It's thanks to the guide dog that Beth has built up enough confidence to go back into full-time education.

She also has Sandie to thank for bringing her closer to her partner of two-and-a-half years Graham Dawes.

The couple met on the internet almost three years ago.

After exchanging emails and online conversations for three months, Beth, then living in Scarborough, finally met Graham in unexpected circumstances.

"He was due to come and visit me for the first time but I had an asthma attack and I ended up in hospital in Scarborough. He had to meet my mum and dad before he met me," said 26-year-old Beth, who has been visually impaired since birth.

But it was only when Beth took the plunge and moved north to Hartlepool with her trusty canine that love really blossomed.

The couple saw each other at weekends. In December last year, Beth and Sandie moved north to Hartlepool.

Beth said Sandie – her companion for the last three years – played a huge part in helping in her decision.

"She has made me a lot more independent, and just encourages my confidence to be able to do things, like being able to move up here and do my masters degree in occupational therapy at Teesside University," she said.

"I have a lot to thank her for. We are very much in love and Graham is very kind and caring."

Beth and Graham now live together in Chandler's Close on Hartlepool Marina.

She said Sandie instantly took to Graham and she has no doubt that if wedding bells were to ring, their furry friend would play a key role on the big day.

Both Beth and Graham agree that their lives have been made easier by Sandie, who Beth calls her "big baby".

Beth said: "She really gets on with Graham. I can say 'Go and find Graham' if we are in a shop and she will toddle off and take me to him.

She gets really excited. Graham really loves her. She gets excited to see him when he comes home from work.

"He will fuss over her and when she's not in her harness and will play with her. She likes to play tag and she likes it when we give her belly rubs."

Beth has just joined the Springs gym on the marina, and said Sandie was a "good conversation-opener". She said staff were very helpful and had taken her round the machines so she can memorise the controls.

Graham, 29, who works as a software engineer for Newcastle IT firm FFA, said: "Beth just wouldn't have her independence without Sandie and Beth is an incredibly independent person. She allows her to go about her life and daily business.

"I think Sandie is absolutely fantastic. When she is not working she is such a playful dog. She likes us to get toys out and throw them for her.

"She is very much a part of the family and is incredibly gentle. We recently got two rabbits, called Rose and George, and she is quite happy to sit there and let the baby rabbits groom her and lick her.

"If myself and Beth were to have children Sandie would most definitely be great with babies."

Beth said she couldn't even begin to imagine life without Sandie.
"It would be really awful," she said.

"She's such a character and she makes you laugh so much. She does handstands.

"She is such a confident dog that she will go anywhere and do anything."

Beth added: "She is a big baby. She will sit on me and put her head on my chest. She will want to paw me or stroke me. And the love is a real two-way thing. I will spoil her rotten but she really deserves it."

Beth said her family in Scarborough, including her parents, retired teachers Peter and Isabel Laskey also dote on Sandie.

"My mum absolutely loves her. Every time Sandie sees my mum she goes absolutely crazy. My brothers Ben and Adam also dote on her. It makes them feel reassured that I've got a dog to keep me safe when I'm out and about. They really like her and she loves them," she said.

Beth added: "She gets along with my nieces and nephews and is really patient."

Sandie is in the running for the Guide Dog of the Year Outstanding Work awards, which take place at the Kennel Club in London on September 8.