Text: Oak Q Special
Cover image: CGTN
In recent days, a news about guide dogs has attracted widespread social attention. The news originated from the Beijing Municipal Regulations on the Construction of Barrier-free Environments adopted by Beijing Municipality, which cover the construction and management of barrier-free facilities, barrier-free information exchange and social services, and will be implemented from November 1, 2021.
The regulation stipulates that "visually impaired persons holding a visually impaired person's certificate and a guide dog work permit may carry a guide dog into public places and take public transportation, and relevant units and individuals shall not refuse." ”
In response to the new regulations, there are two-sided voices on the Internet.
Most netizens are supportive, believing that the new regulations not only facilitate the travel of visually impaired people, but also reflect the progress of social civilization, and hope to be promoted nationwide. However, some netizens believe that guide dogs are just expensive luxuries for the privileged class.
Negative comments from netizens about the new rules for guide dogs / Photo: Sina Weibo
So, is the guide dog really just a luxury for a small number of blind people?
01
Introduction to Guide Dogs
A guide dog is an assistance, service or working dog.
Assistance dogs, also known as service dogs, are internationally recognized terms for dogs that have been trained to provide assistance to people with disabilities.
Assistance/Service Dog / Photo: khs org
The main job of the guide dog is to replace the eyes of the visually impaired and help the visually impaired to reach the destination, rather than directly bringing the visually impaired to the designated destination. Visually impaired people will use passwords to order the guide dog to go straight or turn on the road, while the guide dog is responsible for avoiding collisions and falls of the visually impaired, leading the visually impaired to avoid obstacles when the road conditions suddenly change, and preventing the visually impaired from moving forward when it is unsafe. The visually impaired can be likened to the navigator of an airplane who must know how to get from one place to another, while a guide dog is a pilot who safely transports the visually impaired to their destination.
Users of guide dogs must have stable and good orientation ability.
Visually impaired people traveling with guide dogs / Photo: Istock photo
02
Type and duration of service of guide dogs
Currently, the Golden Retriever, Labrador, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever and Labrador Hybrid are all breeds suitable for training as guide dogs due to their temperament and stable personality.
As a short-haired dog, the Labrador is easy to breed, healthy and gentle in temperament, and helpful, making it the most popular guide dog breed in the world.
Labrador guide dogs sit on the ground resting / Photo: Guangzhou Daily
Guide dogs puppies are sent to foster homes at two months to learn how to get along with humans and socialize.
Foster families must strictly regulate the behavior of puppies, such as prohibiting puppies from eating human food, prohibiting puppies from jumping on furniture (especially sofas) and human beds, and obeying basic instructions (e.g., sitting down, lying down, waiting, etc.). In the golden age of puppy socialization, foster families take puppies in and out of public places, get used to various environments, and ride on mass transportation vehicles to prepare for the future service of the visually impaired.
Guide dog puppies under training wear a special guide saddle / Photo: Guide Dogs.org
Guide dogs will return to guide dog schools for professional training when they reach the age of one, learning professional guide dog skills such as how to avoid obstacles, stop at intersections, and listen to instructions to find destinations.
Generally, guide dogs can graduate after one to one to one and a half years in the training center, find a suitable matching owner, and work until the age of eight to twelve to retire. After retirement, they will be adopted by a suitable adoptive family and will be kept as a pet dog for many years until death.
Guide dogs in training / Photo: Zhongxin.com
03
History of Guide Dogs
In 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in Italy, a mural was found on the wall of a buried house depicting visually impaired people being guided by dogs. The content of the mural shows that dogs have been a common companion for the visually impaired for thousands of years.
The earliest guide dog in the mural / Photo: Dog LawReporter
The earliest accounts of service animals date back to the mid-16th century.
During World War I, Germany established the first service animal training school to help veterans who had lost their sight in the war.
In 1929, the first guide dog school in the United States was established.
In 1931, Britain's first guide dog, the German Shepherd, was handed over to veterans who had lost their sight in the war.
In 1947, Japan had its first guide dog, the first country in Asia to have a guide dog.
In 2006, China's earliest guide dog school Dalian Training Base was established.
A blind man with his guide dog in Montreal, 1941/ Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
04
National legislation
Guide dogs and other service dogs are legally protected in many countries and territories and are allowed to enter public places.
Service dogs in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, Switzerland, Russia, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Malta, etc. are allowed to enter public places and take transportation, and those who are prohibited are prohibited from violating the law.
Visually impaired people eating in restaurants with guide dogs / Photo: life with dogstv
05
The positive meaning of guide dogs
Studies have shown that pets or assistive animals can have a positive effect on a person's psychology, social interactions, and physiology. The support and companionship provided by pets or assistance dogs can help reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress and cardiovascular health.
Guide dogs help enhance the self-confidence of visually impaired people, bring friendship and security to visually impaired people. Visually impaired people with guide dogs are more willing to go out and move around more easily, so that they can get more exercise and experience a sense of independence.
The fact that guide dogs act as "icebreakers" also makes it easier for visually impaired people to socialize, and people are more likely to help and interact with visually impaired people who have guide dogs and talk about more topics.
Especially when the visually impaired are alone in an unfamiliar place, guide dogs have an advantage over blind canes.
Guide dogs are considered family members, loyal friends. However, a guide dog is a service dog and we should not distract or treat it as a pet while it is working.
Guide dog and owner in the park / Photo: Gemma Matheson
(To be continued)