Written by Haley Forgacs
On November 2, Megan Miller, a graduate of the W. Ross Macdonald School for blind and deafblind students, talked to Queen’s 4 Paws about guide dogs, guide dog etiquette and misconceptions about those who are partially sighted or blind. Megan started her discussion by explaining that she was born with limited vision in her left eye. The public school she attended prior to the W. Ross Macdonald School struggled to support her and she encountered teachers who lacked basic understanding and tolerance regarding her needs as an individual with visual impairment. Additionally, she was forced to sit out of many classes such as gym, art, and music. The W. Ross Macdonald School, however, allowed Megan to study in an environment that accommodated her needs as a student with visual impairment. When Megan was 14 years old, she acquired her first guide dog. Megan explained that over the years, her guide dogs provided her with a sense of independence and comfort that she did not feel when walking with a standard mobility cane. Her guide dogs were able to navigate around moving objects and avoid obstacles. Guide dogs are specially trained to have‘intelligent disobedience,’ which allows them to ignore the command of their handler if it would put them in an unsafe situation. Megan explained that guide dogs fall under the Blind Person’s Right Act, meaning that guide dogs can go everywhere that people can go, including malls, restaurants, and medical appointments, with the exception of restaurant kitchens and operating rooms. Unfortunately, however, many people are unaware of the rules instated for guide dogs under the Blind Person’s Right Act, and Megan detailed several occasions when she had been refused entry because of her guide dog. She stated that “asking someone to leave their guide dog at the door is like asking someone to leave their eyes at the door.” Distraction is a challenge that many working dogs and their handlers face. Megan explained that if a dog loses focus on its job, it can put the handler and the dog at risk. The dog needs to know that when their harness or vest is on, they must be focused on guiding and protecting their handler. Megan spoke about the various ways in which a guide dog could be distracted, including being pet, spoken to, fed, or being greeted by another dog. If you are approaching a guide dog with your dog, it’s important to move away from the guide dog and not let them interact, as both the handler and their dog can get easily turned around, tangled, or hurt. When guide dogs are off duty and their harnesses are off, they are allowed to play and interact with other dogs. Megan elucidated crucial information about working guide dogs and the etiquette that must be practiced around them and their handlers. The more that we’re aware of guide dog etiquette and the rights of handlers and their guide dogs, the more we can help support those with visual impairments or various other disabilities. Queen’s 4 Paws would like to thank Megan for taking the time to educate us on these important issues and for discussing her own experiences with guide dogs. We’d also like to thank everyone who came out to support Queen’s 4 Paws and hear Megan’s story. Be sure to keep an eye out on social media for new Queen’s 4 Paws events and talks coming up in the near future!
