UPDATE: The Final Word on my Seeing Eye Dog  Sally – Proof of a Broken System

Hello to all my supporters. I appreciate every one of you who has signed and shared this petition, but our work is far from over.

Today, Wednesday, 11 February 2026, I received official confirmation that my Seeing Eye Dog, Sally, will not be returning to me. Her career is over.

I have included the text of a letter from Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs below. It confirms that Sally was involved in two separate attacks by off-lead and escaping from fences, dogs in my residential area of Traralgon Latrobe valley Valley region  Gippsland. Despite months of support and retraining, the trauma has made it impossible for her to work safely.

As the letter states: "it is not uncommon for Seeing Eye Dogs who suffer a dog attack to no longer be able to work... as they may present anxious or fearful behaviours."

This was avoidable.

I am asking the Victorian Government and Agriculture Victoria: How many more attacks must happen before you realize these dogs are not pets? They are essential mobility aids. When an irresponsible owner lets their dog off-lead and it attacks a Seeing Eye Dog, they aren't just hurting an animal—they are stripping away a blind person’s independence and safety.

We need tougher laws, stricter enforcement for off-lead dogs, and higher penalties when a service animal is targeted.

Please keep sharing. This isn't just for me and Sally anymore; it's for every handler who is afraid to walk down their own street.

3 February 2026

To whom it may concern,

Mr. Phillip Chalker has used Seeing Eye Dogs for almost 20 years and he has been working with Seeing Eye Dog Sally since January 2023.

In April 2024 we were notified that Sally had been involved in an incident with a dog off leash in Mr. Chalker’s residential area. We provided face-to-face support to Mr. Chalker and Sally in May, June, August and December that year, and continued providing support in January and May in 2025.

Our service providers observed Sally being reluctant to walk towards or in certain streets of Mr. Chalker’s residential area. We provided support and advice to allow Sally to continue performing her role as a Seeing Eye Dog in a safe and effective manner.

In July 2025 we were contacted by Mr. Chalker to advise that unfortunately Sally had been attacked by another dog, again an off-lead dog in his residential area.

We met Mr. Chalker and Sally in July and August, and maintained frequent communication for the remainder of 2025, to provide advice and check on progress of Seeing Eye Dog Sally ability to continue working as a Seeing Eye Dog in a safe manner.

In January 2026, following further discussions with Mr. Chalker, we mutually agreed that Sally should return to Seeing Eye Dogs for an in-depth assessment of her capabilities to continue working as a Seeing Eye Dog. This process is ongoing, we will discuss with Mr. Chalker once we have a recommendation.

Even if dog-to-dog incidents do not cause major physical injury, regrettably it is not uncommon for Seeing Eye Dogs who suffer a dog attack to no longer be able to work and guide in a safe manner, as they may present anxious or fearful behaviours towards other dogs or areas in the community.

The retirement of a Seeing Eye Dog is often a difficult time for any handler when it occurs naturally after many successful years working together, and such a process being accelerated or forced upon someone by an avoidable incident may bring an added amount of grief and frustration.

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs is a National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS registered dog guide provider in Australia and a full member of the International Guide Dog Federation IGDF.

Please let us know if you require any further information.

Kind Regards,

Lester Chraim

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs

Client Services Manager