<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Helping guide dogs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(Excerpt from Pet Tales: Darius graduates to service as a guide dog - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>January 24, 2014<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By Linda Wilson Fuoco <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>http://www.post-gazette.com/life/pet-stories/2014/01/25/Darius-graduates-to-service-as-a-guide-dog/stories/201401250046<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>...There's another guide dog with a Pittsburgh connection who is helping Darius and other guide dogs. Dusty, a German shepherd, is serving in a way that no one would have predicted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In July 2010, Dusty and the puppy-raiser who was walking him on a leash were attacked by a dog running loose in their neighborhood. Dusty needed 100 stitches to close wounds in his neck and throat. The puppy-raiser also sustained injuries, including losing a finger tip.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Seeing Eye worked with Dusty for months, but he could not overcome his fear of dogs. It would not be safe for him to lead a blind person.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Seeing Eye has a long list of people waiting to adopt dogs that don't make the guide dog grade. When he was about 14 months old, Dusty was placed with a family in northern New Jersey. They re-named him Pouncey for Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The husband/father is a Pittsburgh native, and the entire family roots for the black and gold, including the dog, who wears a Pouncey shirt during televised football games.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"We love Pouncey. He is smart, strong and handsome" and is a wonderful pet, said the wife/mother in his family. He is still afraid of other dogs, crying like a baby when he sees them in the veterinarian office, she said. They continue to work on his fear, avoiding dog parks and walking him on quiet neighborhood streets where he is unlikely to encounter other dogs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Word of the horrific attack spurred members of the New Jersey Assembly to pass Dusty's Law earlier this month. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed it into law last week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"Dusty's Law requires police to respond to a reported attack on a guide dog team," said Seeing Eye president and CEO Jim Kutsch. The protection extends to puppies in training.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Forty-four percent of guide dog teams in the United States have been attacked by other dogs, according to a 2011 survey by The Seeing Eye. A whopping 83 percent reported "instances of aggressive interference" from another dog. Most of the reported attacks -- 80 percent -- happened on a public street or sidewalk, and 74 percent occurred within a 30-minute walk of the guide dog user's home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pennsylvania has a law that specifically covers guide dogs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"It's not as strong as Dusty's Law, but it's enough to get police response in the event of an attack, which is very important for the safety of the guide dog team," Seeing Eye spokeswoman Michelle Barlak said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Seeing Eye suggests ways we can make life better for working dogs:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Do not let your pet near a guide dog, even if your pet is leashed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Using retractable leashes in populated areas and leaving your dog tied up and unattended in public places can endanger a guide dog team.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Report loose dogs to the local police and animal control officer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Offer assistance to a blind handler if you witness an attack or interference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>