A guide dog puppy has met the Eastleigh owner who named her.

Eight-month-old Mali, a Labrador cross golden retriever, met Mandy Pike, who raised more than £5,000 to name the puppy in memory of her previous guide dog.

Mandy started raising funds after her guide dog, Fable, died suddenly in 2022 at age eight.

Over eight months, she organised a sponsored walk along Fable's favourite river, a tea party, and a sea dip on what would have been Fable's ninth birthday.

Mandy, Mali, and Mandy's current guide dog, Loney, were joined by volunteers from the Eastleigh and Winchester fundraising group who supported Mandy with her efforts.

The money raised will help with the costs of raising and training more guide dogs.

Mandy said: "It was great to finally meet Mali and lovely that she got on so well with Loney.

"Raising so much in such a short time showed me just how many lives Fable had touched and it helped me come to terms with losing her. Fable was my first guide dog and she changed my life beyond what I thought was possible. She gave me choices and she taught me to accept my disability fully.

"Fable was known as Fabulous Fable or Hippo-dog to her friends as she loved to wallow in muddy puddles. That’s why I chose to name the puppy Mali, as in the African country, as it comes from the Bambara word meaning hippopotamus."

Shona Lawson, community fundraising relationship manager at Guide Dogs, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Mandy for her generous donation. Support such as this enables us to continue funding our life-changing guide dog service for people living with sight loss."

Mali is now living in Wiltshire with a volunteer puppy raiser. She will stay there for about a year before starting her guide dog training, if all goes well.

To learn more about Guide Dogs, including how you can help by fundraising or volunteering, visit guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help.