It takes 200,000 yuan to cultivate a guide dog, and social forces help more blind dogs to work

What is in the dark world? On September 16, more than a dozen Guangzhou citizens covered their eyes and became "visually impaired". Wearing eye masks, the daily simple up and down stairs seems to be a bit difficult. After covering the eyes, the experiencer slowly moved slowly and nervously, for fear of stepping on or falling. The distance that can be finished in 1 minute, the eyes may take 10 minutes.

So, how can people visually impaired usually travel and live? A blind stick or a guide dog is actually their greatest reliance. According to statistics, there are more than 17 million visually impaired people in the country, of which more than 700,000 visually impaired people in Guangdong Province. But at this stage, there are less than 200 guide dogs in the country.

What kind of dog species are suitable for guide dogs? How long does it take to train a guide dog? How much does it cost? On the 16th, the reporter walked into the Guangzhou Guide Dog School and approached the "compass" of this group of visually impaired people.

Dog species have requirements: Labrado retrieved dogs, German shepherd dogs, etc. are most suitable for guide dogs

At Shigang Road in Haizhu District, the new school building of the Guangzhou Guide Dog School was hidden in a small building next to Shixi Wharf. The dogs, training rooms, office ... The clean and warm environment, patient staff, and several trained preparation guide dogs and retired guide dogs together formed a guide dog school.

How can I become a qualified guide dog?

"The selection and training of guide dogs have strict standards." Li Yuanzhen, president of the Guangzhou Guide Dog School, told reporters that whether it can become a qualified guide dog may be doomed from the moment the puppy was born. Qualified guide dogs need to meet conditions such as gentle personality, obedience, work, and people. "For example, some dogs are lively and active, and some dogs are afraid of noisy sounds such as car whistle. These dogs are not suitable as guide dogs."

In addition, guide dogs must pass the "birth audit" -the parents of dogs and parents to meet the historical records that have not attacked people in several generations, in order to have the opportunity to become guide dogs. According to reports, from years of experience, Labrador's retrieved dogs, German shepherds and other dog species are all ideal guide dog species.

Passing strict passing: October 3 this year's guide dog is expected to graduate

In addition to good congenital conditions, guide dogs also need to break through the level. After dozens of strict subject training, you can master the skills through the "exam". Since then, under the guidance of the trainer, we must run in training with the adapted owner to improve their understanding and trust, and ultimately achieve the safe travel of people visually impaired people. The whole process may exceed 1 year.

According to the staff, most of the guide dogs born from 2 months to 1 year will be sent to foster family life and socialized training. In the foster family, the guide dog will develop good living habits. If you can't go to bed, you can't eat things on the table, and follow the foster family to experience as much as possible to enter more public places; It is necessary to start training and cooperate with people with visually impaired people. Finally, the guide dog needs to pass the graduation test and blind eye test to officially graduate. Data show that only about 20%of the guide dogs can pass the test every year to successfully "work."

The reporter noticed that on the wall of the guide dog school, the life records of the 8 -blind dogs were hung with the school -including their feeding, bowel movements, and baths. Li Yuanzhen told reporters. In October, Fay, Fay The three guide dogs of Iris and Faith are expected to graduate together to become a qualified guide dog, go to work "posts", and complete their mission.

High cultivation cost: It takes 200,000 yuan to train a guide dog, and social donations are the main source of funding

According to reports, from breeding to foster care, to passing training, it usually costs more than 200,000 yuan to train a qualified guide dog. Although the cost of cultivating a guide dog is expensive, the cost of guide dogs will not be completely "passed on" to the visually impaired people they are accompanying.

According to reports, the visually impaired person uses a guide dog to be completely free. The visually impaired person who applies for the guide dog service only needs to bear the daily expenses of the guide dog. The reporter was informed that as of November 2020, the Guangzhou Guide Dog School is providing guide dog services for 8 visually impaired people.

The cost of cultivating guide dogs is not low. Over the years, the provision of free guide dog services is inseparable from the love support and donations from all walks of life. And these tricky warmth not only guarantees the life of the guide dog "trainee", but also strengthens the trainer's confidence.

"For visually impaired people, guide dogs are not only partners who assist themselves travel safely, but also comfort their own lights. This special emotion is unable to replace other things." According to the relevant person in charge of the donor party In the future, they will continue to practice their original intentions, improve the training and living conditions of guide dogs, and provide more support and help for the "visualization" of visually impaired people.

Text/Guangzhou Daily · Xinhuacheng Reporter: Jia Zheng, Xu Xiaofangtu/Guangzhou Daily · Xinhuacheng Reporter: Mo Weipun Guangzhou Daily · Xinhuacheng Editor Li Lin

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