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Pierro's Perspective
Guide Dogs for the Blind
by Robin Pierro
March 01, 2005
Guide Dogs For The Blind, is an amazing corporation that is dedicated to providing skilled guide dogs and training for the visually impaired. Guide Dogs, works with visually impaired people in Canada and the United States. This company has been helping the visually impaired have a sense of mobility and independence since 1942.
Once a candidate has applied for a guide dog and is accepted by the organization, they are sent to one of the two guide dog facilities. One is in San Rafael, California, and another in Boring, Oregon. Both campuses include student dormitories, administration buildings, kennel complexes and veterinary clinics. Any visually impaired individual may be accepted into the program as long as they are 16 years of age. You also must go through a interview process, after finishing and sending in the application packet. You can receive an application packet by contacting the Dog Guides Admissions Department.
One of the most spectacular aspects to this program, that really changes peoples live, is that it is absolutely free! There is absolutely no charge for the visually impaired person for any of the services. The services that they do offer to accepted applicants are the dog, the in-residence training, transportation to and from the school; dog handling equipment and follow-up support. The program is a non-profit, charitable organization. They receive no government funding whatsoever, and rely on the kind support and donations from the public. I, myself find it hard to believe that Dog Guides can give so much to these people, and offer them so much training and support for no money in return.
The training process of the dog, and the dog handler are both very intense. All the applicants who are chosen and accepted into the dog guide program are to stay at one of the two campuses for 28 days. During this 28 day session, the future dog handler learns what life will be like with the dog. They themselves are trained on how to work appropriately with the dog and work together on a team. Instructors teach their students, the proper commands, the proper treatment of the animal, and how to basically use the dog as a guide. The visually impaired get the oppurtunity to experiment in real life situations with the dogs, and before leaving the campus, Instructors make sure the dog and visually impaired person are working together as a team.
Before the dog is even introduced to their future companion they go through serious extensive training, so they can do their job properly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely. The dog breeds they use are Yellow Labs, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Black Labs. All the dogs are bred from the schools specially selected purebred stock and are selected for their excellent temperament, intelligence and health. When a puppy reaches six to eight weeks old, a skilled group of volunteers observe their temperaments, desire to please, and willingness to learn. When the puppies are eight to nine weeks old, they are placed in homes with children and adults to experience a family atmosphere. There they also learn basic obedience and social skills. When the puppy reaches 14 to 18 months, they are returned to the school for formal training with licensed instructors. For approximately five months, every dog receives daily training on and off campus. The dogs learn to lead a person from point to point in a straight line, to stop for all elevation changes, to avoid all obstacles, and ignore distractions while working. After this five month period the dog is introduced to their new companion. Instructors and volunteers at the campuses work very hard to match the proper dog to the proper person, so that they can work together even more efficiently.
After the dog and visually impaired person are introduced, they work and learn together for the remainder of the visually impaired person's session. After graduating, the team (dog and blind individual) returns to the visually impaired person's home, and some instructors make follow up checks and visits to make sure everything is running smoothly.
These dogs really give a sense of freedom to their companion. The visually impaired feel protected and safe with their dogs, and they feel it is much easier to have someone there with them. A lot of visually impaired refer to their dogs as their "eyes" and really these dogs are their eyes. These dogs are more than just leaders on the street, they are the eyes, and mobility of blind people. These dogs are companions, and often the most important part of these people's lives.
After a certain length of time, the dogs obviously have to retire, and this is often a heart wrenching experience for their owners. Though Dog Guides does allow any previous dog guide owner to return to the program and go through training with another pup. The visually impaired are allowed to keep their retired dog guide as a pet, or may give them up for adoption, the choice is theirs.
This program is remarkable, and it is unbelievable how people's lives are really affected by it. It is a tremendous help to the visually impaired, their family, and the surrounding community. All volunteers, and instructors, who keep this fantastic program running, are very dedicated individuals. Hopefully, in the future this program will continue to flourish and more and more people may be helped and accepted into the Dog Guide program. It is essential that people continue to contribute to this program, and donate whatever they can to keep the valiant efforts from so many volunteers alive. Dog Guides is a life changing experience and is helping the blind to move into the future with confidence, and help.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the Guide Dogs For The Blind program can visit their web site at (www.guidedogs.com) .
Robin Pierro is a co-op student from Humberside, who is studying Journalism at the Canada Free Press. Robin has two part time jobs while attending high-school, and plans to study Journalism in university
