GUIDING THE BLIND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23591, 30 August 1938, Page 2

GUIDING THE BLIND

Wonderful Work By Dogs By Sirius Many hundreds of sightless persons living in Victoria, Australia, must feel keenly interested in the Guide-dog Training School which has recently been formed in Melbourne. This institution is the first of its kind to be inaugurated in the southern hemisphere. Although up to the present only work of a preliminary nature has been undertaken, much happiness will be brought to a number of blind folk if the obiectives of the school are achieved. It is not possible for a person in possession of all his senses to appreciate fully the disadvantages suffered by those who have lost their sight, I have read numerous letters written by blind people in various countries whose burden has been eased greatly by the possession of a trained guide dog. In each letter profound gratitude is expressed to the pioneers of the guide-dog movement. Begun After War A movement to train dogs for the use of blinded soldiers was begun in Switzerland soon after the Great War by a farsighted philanthrppic American woman, Mrs Harrison Eustis There are now guide-dug training centres in England, the United States, Belgium. France, Holland, Germany and Japan. It is estimated that more than 12,000 dogs have been trained successfully to give satisfactory service to their blind owners. In Germany, where the value of working dogs is more fully recognised than in many countries, the Government controls the guide-dog movement, which has made remarkable progress. It must be admitted that not all blind persons would be inclined to trust themselves implicitly to the care of a dog, but it will be a great achievement if only 5 per cent, of Australia’s 4000 blind persons are eventually equipped with a trained dog. The loss of independence is probably the greatest cause of suffering to the blind. Next in importance is the forced inactivity. If, by the adoption of a trained dog, a blind person is enabled to walk long distances the bonds which held him at home and which made him dependent on others are broken. German Sheepdogs Used

Because of its strength, intelligence, and reliability the German shepherd dog is the breed usually chosen to act as guide dog. In most cases either female or unsexed dogs are used, and I have not read of any instance of a trained dog betraying the trust reposed in it. The dogs learn to think for themselves. They are taught to make rapid and unerring decisions and to act without hesitation. Those who have seen these dogs at work have been astounded at their intentness and ability to disregard the things which normally would distract the attention of a dog.