Freedom Guide Dogs 1210 Hardscrabble Road Cassville, NY 13318 315-822-5132

Because He's working! He's doing one of the hardest jobs a dog can do.... Seeing for his owner who can't. To a kid, the world is a playground, a happy-go-lucky place where you leap over streams, and scramble down hills. But to a blind person, the world is a lot less friendly. Imagine walking down a sidewalk with your eyes closed. There are people to scurry around, bicycles to avoid, and what do you do when you reach the corner? We all need our eyes to get around. For a blind person, those eyes are often his dog. And not just any dog. A guide dog is special. It takes him about five months of training and another couple weeks of working with his new master to learn the job.

There are curbs and revolving doors, sidewalk hazards and traffic signals to deal with. He even has to judge whether his master can fit through a narrow doorway or underneath a low bridge.

With all those things to worry about, it is no wonder that even a friendly pat on the head can be distracting.

Instead, you might say hello to the master, just as you would anyone, and if the person who is blind appears lost, simply ask if he or she needs help. Never grab an arm or take hold of the dogs harness. If the person needs help, he will ask for it, just as anyone would.

Check out our coloring book! You can down load it here. (3.2 mb)
 

Freedom Guide Dogs For the Blind 1210 Hardscrabble Road Cassville, NY 13318 315-822-5132