Kika the Guide Dog

What this episode covers

This week Amit Patel joins Anna to talk about his Guide Dog, Kika, and how she transformed his life following his sudden sight loss only eight years ago. The arrival of a young yellow Labrador straight out of training was a baptism of fire for Amit. At first he was unsure if this particularly stubborn, but brilliant dog would have his interests truly at heart. But he talks about the moment when Kika, not wearing her ‘harness’ , proved that she acted with more than his interests at heart. Kika acted spontaneously knowing he was in danger and stepped in. We chat about how Guide Dogs in the UK has transformed lives over 90 years, bringing back independence, but also the companionship of a dog in an otherwise lonely world. We chat about the dogs’ training and the time and commitment taken to match the right dog with the right partner. Kika is very much part of Amit’s family, and still has her stubborn streak, which is maybe why Kika has captured hearts. Famous for their TV appearances, Amit and Kika are Ambassadors for all Assistance Dogs and campaign under the Equality Act. Their story is defined in the book Kika and Me, available in all good book shops!