The use of guide dogs to aid those who are visually impaired goes back a long time. A relationship between a dog and a blind person is depicted in a mural found in the ruins of an ancient Roman town. The mural is dated as early as the first century.
The more modern use of dogs to aid people with trouble seeing can be attributed to British pioneers Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond in the 1930’s. The world’s largest breeder and trainer of service dogs is Guide Dogs, which has helped over 29,000 people gain independence.
The Seeing Eye is another philanthropic organization with a mission to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people. You have probably heard the term “seeing eye dog” which comes from the work of The Seeing Eye. It is now a general name given to service dogs helping those with impaired vision, but a genuine Seeing Eye Dog is one that has been trained by The Seeing Eye.
Service dogs are helping the legally blind participate in activities that would otherwise not be possible. One example of an unbelievable story is that of Sami Stoner and her guide dog, Chloe. Sami has a child version of macular degeneration, which renders her legally blind. Despite her condition, Sami wanted to run cross-country for her high school.
Following a lengthy approval process, Sami was granted permission to have Chloe run with her in competitions. Chloe allows Sami to participate in a sport she loves and would otherwise not be able to due to her visual impairment. This is just one example of how seeing eye dogs can provide freedom for those who benefit from their service.
Thanks to the hard work of those who train guide dogs, activities like flying on a plane and attending college are being made possible. They provide companionship, allow for greater confidence, and even protect their handlers. In 2009, actor and animal welfare advocate Dick Van Patten founded National Guide Dog Month to bring about more awareness of the ways guide dogs are helping people live life.
One of the ways you can celebrate National Guide Dog Month is by making a contribution to one of the agencies responsible for training them. The cost to raise and train a guide dog is nearly $40,000 and a 2-year time commitment. At Palmetto Eye & Laser Center, we love to bring awareness to great causes like guide dogs. We’ve seen many of the great strides some of our patients have had thanks to these wonderful animals.
