Guide dog York flies around the world in 28 days

Media Release
15 January 2003
For immediate release

Guide dog York is retaining his status as the most travelled guide dog in New Zealand.

In the next few weeks he is accompanying his handler Barry Burgess on an around the world business trip through Asia, Europe and America.

“It’s the first time a New Zealand guide dog has done a round the world trip in the cabin of an airline on every leg of the journey”, says Mr Burgess.

“Normally, depending on the country of destination, guide dogs travel in a crate in the aircraft hold.

“So, this trip is really a travel milestone for guide dog teams and leads the way for other teams to do the same thing.”

Barry plans to get all the pilots of his various flights to sign a special tee shirt as a permanent reminder of his and York’s groundbreaking trip.

Leaving on 19 January from Christchurch, Barry and York travel to Singapore, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Dublin, Manchester, London, Washington DC and Tampa, Florida before returning home on 15 February.

Planning for the trip began in October and Barry Burgess acknowledges Air New Zealand and the Star Alliance’s assistance, and also the help given by MAF in getting York’s clearances into the various countries and back into New Zealand.

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