A LUDLOW man knows all too well the power of dogs to change lives and the pair have continued their adventures.
The inspiring duo have continued their inspirational travels and have now visited all 40 counties in England and 22 in Wales
Tom Mosler and his dog Fin were one of the most travelled pair in the UK with adventures by air, boat and train in 2021.
As soon as lockdown was lifted in 2021, Tom and his guide dog Fin wasted no time travelling around the UK on holiday together.
By Christmas 2021, Tom had visited nearly 50 different places around the UK, from the south coast of England and right up to Scotland.
Mr Mosler, who is 28, has Nystagmus, an involuntary movement of the eyes, causing them to flicker rapidly, first contacted Guide Dogs in 2016 as he needed a guide dog to help build his confidence.
Tom was partnered with Fin, a black Golden Retriever Labrador cross, in 2018 and hasn’t looked back.
Guide Dog Mobility Specialist for Guide Dogs, Jemma Dopson, trained Fin and partnered him with Tom.
“When I first met Tom he walked slowly and tentatively, as he was relying heavily on using his residual vision to get around,” she said.
“Fin was identified as a match for Tom as he is a gentle, calm character. I knew the match would be a success when Fin attended Tom’s cello lesson and just lay quietly listening to the music.
“The difference in Tom’s mobility was amazing. He was walking tall and looking relaxed, I almost struggled to keep up!’
Mr Mosler said Fin has made a big difference to his life.
“I’m more confident, it reduces my anxiety,” he said.
“People understand more that I have needs.”
Mr Mosler and Fin spent 18-months together, walking their usual routes and getting into a new routine.
Mr Mosler felt the benefits of having Fin straight away. But as soon as lockdown first came in 2020, it meant Tom’s freedom was restricted.
It was during 2020 that Tom started planning trips to all of the places he wanted to visit. And now he had Fin, he knew he could do it.
Mr and Fin’s travels began in April 2021 with a visit to Portsmouth, and they soon began travelling almost every weekend. By the end of the year, they had visited places across England, south Wales and Scotland.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here