Today is not only Anzac Day, it’s also International Guide Dog Day.
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And a concerning statistic that has come to light is that one in two guide dog handlers in NSW and the ACT have reported they have had their dog attacked by another dog while working.
One-third (34 per cent) of those who reported an attack said it resulted in injuries to their guide dog, with one guide dog retired as a result of the trauma.
Thornton guide dog handler Paul Johns is not surprised by the figures.
He knows all too well the distractions for himself and his guide dog, Keith.
“I have been lucky enough not to have experienced a dog attack, but Keith and I come up against distractions from other dogs constantly,” he said.
“My main piece of advice to dog owners would be to keep your dog on lead and under control when out in public. If you see a guide dog and their handler respect that the dog is working, give them space and try to not let your dog interact with them.”
In response to the worrying figures, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has launched a new In Your Hands campaign that aims to make the community aware that the safety of Guide Dogs is in the hands of pet owners.
Dogs not on leads were clearly the major problem, with 80 per cent of Guide Dog handlers surveyed saying off-lead dogs had distracted their Guide Dogs while working. Other distractions include:
- unaccompanied dogs tied up outside shops and cafes;
- a person with a dog approaching a Guide Dog Team without making themselves known, and;
- dogs on-lead not being controlled by their owners.
Barking dogs behind fences and dogs tied up on parked utes were also mentioned.
In addition, Guide Dog handlers reported feeling annoyed that they still encounter these types of distractions.
“It’s really worrying, especially when this is a recurrent topic amongst our community awareness campaigns,” said Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO, Dale Cleaver.
“Guide Dogs play a vital role in enabling people who are blind or vision impaired to move around their community independently.
“Attacks and distractions compromise this independence and can cause serious injury and trauma to both the handler and the Guide Dog. In rare cases, attacks can result in premature retirement of a Guide Dog, which costs more than $35,000 to train.”