[Njagdu] Draft copy of Seeing Eye Awareness letter for Dusty's Law

[Ginger Kutsch]

All,

 

Pasted below is a copy of a draft awareness letter  from The Seeing Eye.
We’re still working on the accompanying flyer. When the flyer is completed,
we’ll be sending the letter and flyer via email to all NJ grads and puppy
raisers so that they may distribute the info in their communities. 

 

Dear New Jersey Law Enforcement and Animal Control Officers:

This letter is intended to explain the vital service that guide dogs provide
for people who are blind or visually impaired, and to stress the importance
of enforcing state and local laws – specifically a new state law passed in
2014 colloquially known as “Dusty’s Law” (2C:29-3.2).

Attacks and interference by uncontrolled dogs pose a significant threat to
guide dog teams. Studies show that most of these incidents take place on
public rights-of-way, often within 30 minutes walking distance of the guide
dog team’s home.

These incidents are far more dangerous than simple dog-to-dog altercations.
Bodily injury inflicted by an aggressive dog is not the only threat. The
team’s safety depends largely on a guide dog’s ability to concentrate on its
work.  When the dog is distracted from its duties, the blind person’s
mobility can be suddenly and severely impaired. Moreover, in the confusion
of an attack and its aftermath, either or both team members may be exposed
to vehicular traffic or other environmental dangers without being safely
oriented to their immediate surroundings.

Even without physical injury, attacks and interference can permanently
affect a guide dog's behavior and work performance. If law enforcement and
animal control agencies could step up their efforts to restrain dogs at
large, especially in areas where guide dog teams typically travel, these
negative encounters could be greatly reduced. Likewise, timely action when
responding to calls and thoroughly investigating and reporting all
interference and attack incidents involving guide dog teams could also help
to minimize future risks. 

The new law, New Jersey statute § 2C:29-3.2, penalizes pet owners whose dogs
interfere with or physically harm a guide dog or a guide dog puppy. Sharing
this law as well as a copy of the enclosed flyer with community members may
help to encourage voluntary compliance in regard to keeping their dogs under
control at all times.

Just as sighted people depend on their vision to go from place to place,
blind people rely on their guide dogs to provide a safe and effective means
of travel. Please help ensure that guide dog teams and the families who
raise guide dog puppies can walk freely within their communities without
fear of interference and attacks by aggressive dogs.

For more information about guide dogs and interference, please go to
www.SeeingEye.org/protect.

Thank you for your time and interest,

James A. Kutsch, Jr., PhD

President & CEO, The Seeing Eye

 

 

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