[nagdu] Danger On 4 Paws

[Mark J. Cadigan]

If a dog ever attacks my dog, it will find itself doing an impression of a 
football going for a field goal thanks to being introduced to my steel towed 
boots.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Criminal Justice Major" <orleans24 at comcast.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 8:20 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Danger On 4 Paws


> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 6:14 PM
> Subject: Danger On 4 Paws
> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 4:48 PM
> Subject: Danger On 4 Paws
> Danger on Four Paws - Dogs Attacking Guide
> Dogs: Part 1
> It is estimated that there are over 8500 guide dog teams living and 
> working in the United States today. Each year, professional guide dog 
> schools like Guiding Eyes for the Blind, The Seeing Eye, Inc., and Guide 
> Dogs for the
> Blind, just to name a few, graduate hundreds of new guide dogs with blind 
> or visually impaired students. A working team faces obstacles and barriers 
> every time the harness goes on and we step out into the community. Street 
> crossings, traffic, construction, crowds, stairs, and ice and snow are the 
> usual work a team encounters and all in stride. Our dogs keep us safe, 
> provide us with a reliable means of traveling, and increase our 
> independence. Most importantly, our dogs are part of us. We share more 
> than just an ordinary pet/owner bond and this is why an attack upon a 
> working guide dog team is a serious and traumatic event for both the dog 
> and the person.
> ".I heard the dogs charging at us from across the street. They immediately 
> went for Gundy's neck. I yelled at them and tried to push them away from 
> Gundy. I got in one good swing; when I tried again, I received a bite to 
> the middle finger of my right hand. I then panicked and yelled for help. I 
> have
> never felt so helpless before. Until then, I had the attitude that I could 
> take care of myself in almost any situation." This was the account of a 
> victim of a guide dog attack According to a 2011 survey taken by The 
> Seeing Eye, Inc., 44% of guide dog
> handlers surveyed reported an attack on their dog by another dog. It is 
> imperative for the general public and first responders alike to know that 
> even a leashed dog can be as dangerous to a working team as a moving 
> vehicle. A lunging dog can distract the guide dog and cause harm to the 
> handler. Handlers have often reported that a leashed, lunging dog was 
> responsible for secondary injuries due to the working dog attempting to 
> avoid a confrontation.
> Moreover, an attack by a loose dog is akin to an assault to the team, much 
> like a mugging. By nature, a dog attack is violent and causes acute 
> post-trauma symptoms for both handlers and dogs. After an attack, some 
> dogs can no longer perform guide work due to physical and psychological 
> trauma and have to be retired. This costs the schools tens of thousands of 
> dollars, as the breeding and training of one guide dog ranges from $40-60 
> thousand dollars. Even more disturbing is the toll it takes upon the 
> person. As victims of such a violent attack, handlers reported acute, post 
> trauma symptoms like loss of sleep, hyper vigilance, and heightened 
> anxiety when
> returning to working with his/her dog near the location in which the 
> attack
> took place.
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