Seeing a dog on stage is not your typical opera experience.
But for gifted singer Kirsten Busby, performing alongside her guide dog Kimba gives her the confidence to shine.
The talented soprano was born with septo-optic dysplasia and panhypopituitarism, which left her blind.
The 27-year-old goes everywhere with Kimba, a kindred spirit who also loves the stage.
"She's a camera dog," the singer told AAP.
Kimba will even be adorned in a costume for an upcoming steampunk-themed show.
But it's not all fancy dress and fun. The guide dog works hard to support Ms Busby in all sorts of unfamiliar situations.
"Running across Central Station because we're on platform 12, my train's on platform seven, and no, I'm not waiting another hour," Ms Busby said.
"Or going to a completely different new area, and going, okay, we need to find the backstage area. It doesn't matter, we just make it work between us."
Despite Kimba being a registered guide dog who provides invaluable assistance to Ms Busby, the pair sometimes find themselves barred from venues and services.
It has happened often in Ubers, taxis, cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars.
"It's brutal, because it's like you're shaking, you just want to get to places, and half the time, you're paying money at any place, like any other person in society," Ms Busby said.
"They're like 'you can't bring your dog', but my dog is my eyeballs. My eyeballs don't work mate."
The rejection seems misplaced, according to mum Sue.
"You'd think you'd worry less about the dog and more about the drunks," she said.
When Ms Busby's first guide dog Violet had to be medically retired, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs quickly paired her with Kimba.
She is incredibly grateful for her two guide dogs - or as she calls them her 'girls' or 'fur kids' - for giving her access to so many opportunities.
She is extolling the virtues of guide dogs as Vision Australia launches their 13th annual Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal aiming to raise more than $1.2 million to help train 24 Seeing Eye Dogs for blind or low vision Australians.
"We really need dogs that are quite confident but also calm in the environment, have really exceptional manners, because they're always going to be going out and about in public places," Vision Australia national manager Nicola Cotton told AAP.
Australian Associated Press
