Back away from the guide dog
Everyone loves a guide dog, but it’s causing problems for those who rely on them.
Wellington blind people are being put in danger by members of the public who disregard all etiquette when it comes to approaching their dogs.
Some know the rules and ignore them, while others believe they don’t apply to them.
‘‘I’ve had people grab his harness or try and stop us when we’re crossing a road. I could wind up being killed,’’ handler Kaye Kay-Smith said.
When it comes to guide dogs the rules are simple: ask first, use common sense and don’t be offended if you’re told not to touch, the Kapiti woman said.
Most people who approached her dog Scottie meant well, but didn’t realise how dangerous a few pats could be.
‘‘It’s actually putting our whole life in jeopardy. I had someone
‘‘If I’m not going anywhere in a hurry I’m happy to stop [for people], but sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming.’’ George Taggart, pictured with his guide dog Gus
come up and pat the dog who turned around and I walked into a lamp-post.’’
People would often pat Scottie while saying, ‘‘I know I’m not allowed to do this’’ or say they were allowed as they donated to the Blind Foundation, she said.
For Wellingtonian Megan Johnston, one of the most common – and dangerous – times people accosted her dog Lyric was when they were waiting to cross the road.
‘‘It’s when you’re standing at a crossing that people think it’s a good time to start distracting the dog,’’ Johnston said.
Getting into a taxi, boarding a bus and shopping in the middle of a busy supermarket were all situations where the pair had been confronted.
‘‘Maybe if people understand the consequences of what they’re doing – it could be a really bad injury for me – then they might ask first,’’ Johnston added.
Like every dog, guide dogs loved attention, but there was a time and place for it – and it wasn’t on a busy street.
‘‘We don’t want to be rude, the public gives a lot, but it’s a fine line.’’
George Taggart said people tended to speak to his dog Gus before they spoke to him.
‘‘A lot of the time I explain to them that the dog doesn’t speak, he’s my dummy and I’m the ventriloquist.’’
Like his fellow handlers, the Wellingtonian didn’t mind people asking to pat Gus as long as they weren’t offended if he said no.
‘‘If I’m not going anywhere in a hurry I’m happy to stop, but sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming,’’ Taggart said.
Blind Foundation’s Kim Norton said guide dogs were a bit of a novelty in Wellington where there were only 27 in the region.
‘‘Auckland people tend to ignore them a bit more,’’ she said.
A good time to approach a handler and their dog was when they were seated at a cafe and the dog had been settled down.