[nagdu] Australia: Horrified owner listens as guide dog mauled

[Ginger Kutsch]

Horrified owner listens as guide dog mauled 
By Melanie Maeseele 
 
Ipswich Queensland Times, Australia 
6th November 2009
      A LAIDLEY resident was forced to listen in horror,
helplessly, while her seeing eye dog was attacked in broad
daylight. 
 
Esther Watson went for a stroll down the main street of Laidley
when she heard dogs in the distance growling. 
 
She said she could never imagine what was going to happen next. 
 
Her companion of two-and-a-half years, Ultimate, a $30,000 seeing
eye dog was attacked by two German Shepherds. 
 
Her only saviours were two men who rushed to her aid and
separated the dogs. 
 
"It was just horrible, absolutely horrible," Mrs Watson said. 
 
"I was just scared, scared for myself and scared for my dog."
 
Mrs Watson said the attack had left her worried about returning
on her own to the town centre. 
 
"They (seeing eye dogs) work on trust and it breaks their trust
every time something like this happens," she said. "It can stop
them from working. I'm just lucky that hasn't happened."
 
But this isn't the first time Ultimate has been attacked. Shortly
after Mrs Watson received the labrador, he was lunged at by a
doberman who left teeth marks in his harness.
 
This incident also happened in Laidley's main street. 
 
Mrs Watson, who was blinded by Retinitis Pigmentosa and Glaucoma
about five years ago, relies on Ultimate for her independence. 
 
"He is my eyes, my independence and he allows me to function the
same as everyone else," she said. 
 
Mrs Watson said she wanted to encourage dog owners about seeing
eye dog etiquette to prevent herself and other people in her
situation from the trauma involved in a dog attack. 
 
"Of course people have a right to have their dogs and walk them
down the street and to have them on leads but I'm asking them to
be responsible," she said. 
 
"The majority of people are supportive and do the right thing but
it's the odd few who don't that put us at risk.
 
"When a seeing eye dog's attention is broken, straight away we
are put in danger."
 
Mrs Watson said every time a seeing eye dog was attacked, if they
recover, it takes about six months of re-training to build their
confidence back up. 
 
 
    

 


Ginger Bennett Kutsch
Morristown, NJ