Once I began my mobility training and started using a cane, I realized that I would be better off with a guide dog. Yes, I can travel safely with just a cane, but owning a dog guide and having him to assist me has made my life so much easier and filled with even more love.
Aside from being a wonderful guide and friend, he has saved my life twice. I started to walk out into traffic when it wasn’t safe. I gave him the command to go forward and he wouldn’t budge. I soon discovered why. A car that I hadn’t heard was speeding out of nowhere and I would have been struck. On another occasion, I did have the light to cross but a car came careening around a corner and my dog literally pushed me out of the way. He provides me with a level of confidence and a feeling of safety that I didn’t have with a cane. He is so well trained he is never a moments worry or trouble. When I am ill, he comes to the edge of the bed and pokes at me with his nose to let me know he is their if I need him. His total love and commitment to me is amazing. He adores children and is wonderful with them. My personal advice is, if you have any interest in a dog guide check it out. I have all the information on all of the top three guide dog schools. There is no charge for the dogs and the schools are not funded by any government agency. You must have learned your mobility training from and O and M instructor before you can have one. You have to be able to travel safely on your own to be accepted into the school. Despite what some people think, you can’t just tell your dog to go to mom’s house and he will know how to get there. Going to the guide dog campus for my four weeks of training was like staying at a spa. Everything is provided for you. I can’t imagine being without one.
My husband has a totally different frame of mind. He thinks my dog is wonderful but prefers to be in touch with his environment through his cane. That is his choice and it may be yours. He just feels more comfortable handling it himself.
Of course I naturally feel that the school I chose is the best. It is Guide Dogs for the Blind. I went to the campus in San Raphael, California. What a beautiful place. While I am sure the countryside is beautiful, I am speaking of the people and the dogs. It is a wonderful organization run by people who genuinely care about you and training you with the right dog. They also provide a yearly stipend to offset vet bills. Recently my own dog guide became very ill and needed specialized care. I couldn’t have afforded it, but the school stepped in and approved the care and paid the bill. He is well on the road to recovery and should be back in harness in another month or so.
If you want information on the schools, contact me for the information. I have brochures, tapes to watch and listen to and the applications.
NOTE: First Steps for the Blind does take issue with the National Federation of the Blind’s stand against the use of dog guides. We do not feel that this method of mobility lessens anyone’s independence. It in no way makes us a second class citizen. This is the United States of America and we have the right to choose our method of mobility and guide dog users are very proud to use our dogs and we love them very much. While we are glad there are white canes to enable us to be mobile in the world, we certainly do not love them and they don’t love us back. At some point, you have to face reality and the NFB’s position that no special accommodations should be made for people with visual impairments is ridiculous.