[NAGDU] Pets Can Suffer From Eclipse Blindness, and So can Our Guides!

[Danielle Ledet]

Honestly, I thought the same thing and then, I read this. So as it
turns out I learned there was actually more than one eclipse in my
lifetime! 1979 and 1984, which was the one I remember.


On 8/21/17, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I really think all of this is much ado about nothing. As one of the people
> said in that article, the animals aren't going to try to look directly at
> the sun as people do. I would be more interested in other kinds of
> behaviors. I think dogs don't look much at what is above them.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Ledet
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2017 11:02 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; GduiChatList at guidedogusersinc.org
> Cc: Danielle Ledet <singingmywayin at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Pets Can Suffer From Eclipse Blindness, and So can Our
> Guides!
>
> This is an article posted by the husband of Sue Martin, whom you all know
> from the unfortunate recent airline incident.
> http://www.ajc.com/events/pets--animals/how-will-your-pets-react-the-solar-eclipse/YaSNIjqnqgkro0vzW7XPsM/
> Pets can suffer "eclipse blindness." One thing we do have in common with our
> pets is that human, canine and feline eyes can all suffer from "eclipse
> blindness" when safe precautions are not taken during the eclipse viewing.
> During the eclipse, as the moon's shadow starts to block the sun's light,
> some of the sun's fiery disk will still be visible, according to
> LiveScience.com . A view of that light can literally burn any eyes, human or
> cat or dog, that look up at it.
> RELATED: A solar eclipse can blind you — here’s how to stay safe during
> August’s Great American Eclipse  The condition, commonly called "eclipse
> blindness," happens when the sun's powerful rays burn sensitive
> photoreceptor cells in the retina.
> It usually results in blurred vision and other vision loss instead of
> complete blindness, since humans and animals ordinarily turn away before
> complete blindness occurs.
> Pet's don't necessarily need glasses, but it wouldn't hurt.
> Space.com's safe viewing recommendations for humans include proper eye
> protection from NASA-approved eclipse glasses, along with strict warnings
> against trying to view the partial eclipse with a camera or telescope.
> Whether your dog or cat also needs the glasses is up for debate in the
> scientific community. Mike Reynolds, an astronomy professor at Floriday
> State College in Jacksonville, Florida, told LiveScience.com that it's best
> to outfit pets who will be out during the eclipse with protective glasses.
>  Another expert quoted in the article wasn't as concerned. "On a normal day,
> your pets don't try to look at the sun, and therefore don't damage their
> eyes," said Angela Speck, director of astronomy and a professor of
> astrophysics at the University of Missouri. "And on this day, they're not
> going to do it, either,"
> Animal lovers can help with worldwide research. While it's unlikely that
> your dog or cat will have a remarkable reaction to the Great American
> Eclipse, pet lovers might enjoy observing how animals in the wild or even
> the neighborhood do unusual things. Previous eclipses worldwide have
> involved reports of night birds singing, bats flying, spiders tearing down
> webs or owls calling, according to a report in the Southern Illinoisan.
>  But because total solar eclipses are so infrequent, scientists have little
> beyond anecdotal evidence of animal behavior, Rebecca Johnson, citizen
> science research coordinator at the California Academy of Sciences in San
> Francisco, told the paper.
>  To remedy the dearth of research, the academy created a "Life Responds"
> project where citizens all over the world download the iNaturalist app from
> Apple or Android platforms and document the plant and animal reactions they
> see during the eclipse.
>  To join in the fun, download the iNaturalist app, make an account and
> practice making observations
> --
> How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
> compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of
> the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of
> these.
> George Washington Carver
> Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com
>
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-- 
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and
tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will
have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com