Levi the dog saves Dave Fraser

Electric vehicles are silent and can be deadly. If you are blind, like Dave Fraser of Drouin, you can't see or hear one coming.
This is where Dave's Seeing Eye Dog Levi appears - when he recently came to the rescue of his owner. "We had to cross a road that had no lights," said Dave. "I'm listening out and went to take a step."
Dave suddenly felt a body in front of him. Levi had stepped in front of Dave and stopped him from walking into the path of a passing electric car. "My mate was there for me," said Dave.
Retired teacher Dave has lived with low vision his whole life. When he lost all of his sight in June 2021, Dave's movements were limited to his local area that he had memorised.
Since teaming up with Levi, Dave has been able to get out and about in the community to the extent it has become part of his daily life.
Dave says that the Drouin community has been very welcoming of him and Levi. "The way we're treated here by local businesses is phenomenal," Dave said. "They know him, they love him and the work he does."
Dave's family has noticed a difference in him since being paired with his new friend. "They just can't believe what Levi has done for me," he said. "He's given back my mobility and my whole wellbeing. Without him, I'd hate to think about where I'd be. It's not only independence and mobility, it's giving people a life."
Prior to teaming up with Levi Dave was walking over 10kms a day with a cane. Having to navigate his journey by focusing on tactile information, listening, and feeling the direction of sun was very tiring.
"With Levi, we can move around and I can be relaxed," he said. "With the trust between the two of us, we're going to get there and achieve what we set out to do."
When Levi is not working, he can be found at home lying across Dave's feet or galloping around the garden. It's clear that he loves working for his handler. "When I pick up the harness I feel the whole back half of him sway," Dave said. "He's busting to get into it. It comes through him, in the harness and back to me."
Levi was provided by Vision Australia. The organisation is the only national provider, trainer and breeder of seeing eye dogs. People wanting more information about Vision Australia can visit the website www.sed.visionaustralia.org.