[nagdu] Fw: [Seeingeye-l] UK: Guide Dogs Forced To Quit Over Canine Assaults

[Ed Meskys]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "'Discussions Of The Seeing Eye'" <seeingeye-l at list.web.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 9:06 AM
Subject: [Seeingeye-l] UK: Guide Dogs Forced To Quit Over Canine Assaults


Guide Dogs Forced To Quit Over Canine Assaults
2:16pm UK, Friday June 18, 2010
Helen Robertson, Sky News Online
Source:

<http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/One-In-Three-Guide-Dogs
-Are-At-Risk-Of-Being-Attacked-By-Other-Dogs-While-They-Are-Worki
ng/Article/201006315651493?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_4&lid=ART
ICLE_15651493_One_In_Three_Guide_Dogs_Are_At_Risk_Of_Being_Attack
ed_By_Other_Dogs_While_They_Are_Working>
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/One-In-Three-Guide-Dogs-
Are-At-Risk-Of-Being-Attacked-By-Other-Dogs-While-They-Are-Workin
g/Article/201006315651493?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_4&lid=ARTI
CLE_15651493_One_In_Three_Guide_Dogs_Are_At_Risk_Of_Being_Attacke
d_By_Other_Dogs_While_They_Are_Working_

More than three guide dogs a month are attacked by other dogs
rendering some so distressed they cannot work again.

According to a review published by the Veterinary Record Journal,
almost half the attacking dogs were types of bull breeds such as
Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Pit Bulls and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Half of the guide dogs, who tended to be the gentler Labrador,
Golden Retrievers or retriever cross breeds, were so traumatised
by the attack that their performance or behavior deteriorated.

The guide dog owners were also hugely distressed by the attacks
partly because they were unable to see how badly their guide dog
was injured.

More than 60% of the attacks happened while the bull dogs were
off their leads and the guide dogs were in their harnesses
working.

Sue Royal from the RSPCA called for dog licenses to be
reintroduced to enable dog owners to be traced.



Some guide dogs are so distressed after an attack that they can't
work again


"These attacks are extremely traumatic for the guide dog and
their owner as the nature of their relationship means they have a
very close bond," she said.

"We would urge all dog owners to be responsible and make sure
their dogs are properly trained and kept on a lead when
necessary."

Of the attacks examined in the report, almost half of the guide
dogs and about 10% of owners involved sustained injuries severe
enough to need veterinary or medical attention and in some cases
the owner of the attacking dog left the scene without a word.

A spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said that
only a small number of the 4500 guide dogs working across the UK
were attacked however it was still worrying.

"We are particularly concerned that an attack can upset the very
special relationship forged between a dog and its handler. It can
take time to reestablish the trust in the relationship, and upset
the mobility of the blind or partially-sighted person," he said.





Ginger Bennett Kutsch
Morristown, NJ



_______________________________________________

Seeingeye-l mailing list
To post a message.
Seeingeye-l at list.web.net
For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit.
http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l
To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link.
<a 
href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe
For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators.
seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.829 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2950 - Release Date: 06/19/10 
13:50:00