[nagdu] Australia: Survey results on dog attacks & publicinterference

[Tracy Carcione]

Ben may get patted by some strangers every day, but he doesn't get
distracted by it.  If he did, I'd probably notice more often.
Now, let those same strangers walk by with a dog, and then Ben is distracted.

To me, there's a world of difference between being patted and being
attacked.  I'm not sure I'd discuss them together, as this article does.

Tracy

> 89% were distracted by petting or feeding in the past year.
> Holy cow I'm moving there.  I feel like things are great if I make it a
> whole week with no one petting or distracting my guide.
>
> Julie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:54 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Australia: Survey results on dog attacks &
> publicinterference
>
>
>> Don't pat guide dogs: experts
>> By NATALIE MULLER
>> April 28, 2010
>>
>> They're cute canines that every passer-by wants to pat but an
>> innocent show of affection to a guide dog can put its owner at
>> risk.
>>
>> Nine out of 10 guide dogs have been distracted while on the job
>> in the past year, typically by pats from well-meaning members of
>> the public, a Guide Dogs NSW/ACT client survey has found.
>>
>> Some have been fed and others even attacked by other dogs not on
>> a leash.
>>
>> A simple pat can cause a guide dog to lose concentration,
>> potentially endangering the life of its visually impaired owner
>> while crossing roads, using stairs or on a busy footpath.
>>
>> Guide Dogs NSW/ACT chief executive Dr Graeme White said an attack
>> by another dog could be disastrous.
>>
>> "All it takes is one encounter, especially with domestic dogs,
>> and this may cut short the working life of a guide dog," he said
>> at the survey's release in Sydney on Wednesday.
>>
>> Barbara Bonfield experienced this firsthand when her first guide
>> dog was attacked by another dog.
>>
>> "It can end up with the dog ... having to be hospitalised and
>> then retired because it can't work anymore," said Ms Bonfield
>> said, who has had her third dog, Nara, for five years.
>>
>> The cost of losing a guide dog is high. Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
>> estimates it takes $30,000 and two years to fully train each
>> animal.
>>
>> Celebrity vet Chris Brown, of Bondi Vet fame, urged people to
>> admire working dogs from afar.
>>
>> "These dogs aren't just a piece of equipment," Dr Brown said.
>>
>> "They mean a lot to these handlers and if they are put out of
>> action because of someone's dog attacking them or just losing
>> their confidence then it's a real tragedy ... considering the
>> amount of work that's gone in."
>>
>> The survey, released to coincide with Guide Dog Week, found 89
>> per cent of dogs had experienced distractions such as patting and
>> feeding from the public, while 88 per cent had been disturbed by
>> other dogs without a leash.
>>
>> "We were quite astounded to find virtually all our guide dog
>> users experience this on a daily basis," Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
>> community education co-ordinator Jennifer Moon said.
>>
>> "Even through this campaign, we've seen the public come up and
>> pat the guide dogs while they're in a harness."
>>
>> Dr Brown said it's best to stay away.
>>
>> "Unfortunately, people feel they are being polite by coming over
>> and saying hi," he said.
>>
>> "But it could almost be the opposite in many respects because you
>> are distracting that dog."
>>
>> Ms Moon estimates about 800 visually impaired people use guide
>> dogs throughout Australia.
>>
>> For more information about guide dog etiquette visit
>> www.guidedogs.com.au.
>>
>> Source:
>> http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/dont-pat-guide-dogs
>> -experts-20100428-trvc.html
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40windstream.net
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>