[Concurrent] Ms. Qian, the visually impaired
Wherever my mother goes, it will take me there.
[Concurrent] Mr. Zhao, a visually impaired person
Talk to him at home and treat him like a family.
[Explanation] Guide dogs are not only tools for visually impaired people to go out to avoid danger, but also children who are with visually impaired people 24 hours a day, and also their family members.
International Guide Dog Day is the last Wednesday in April every year.
On April 27th, Guangzhou Guide Dog School held a "Thank You Guide Dogs" event, inviting active guide dogs and their users back to the school, giving gifts to each guide dog, and conducting live broadcasts. Guide dogs for the blind.
[Concurrent] Li Yuanzhen, Principal of Guangzhou Guide Dog School
Our school specially bought some (dog's) toys, some bone bites, and some dog biscuits for every guide dog.
In addition, we also received gifts from some volunteer friends from different places in China for our guide dogs.
[Explanation] Understanding and treating guide dogs well is the greatest respect and help for visually impaired people to travel.
At the event site, guide dog users exchanged and shared touching stories with guide dogs. Although it was pitch black, the company of guide dogs brought color and comfort to them.
[Commentary] Mr. Zhao has been living with his guide dog Authur for two and a half years. When Mr. Zhao encounters danger while walking outside, Authur will try his best to protect him.
[Concurrent] Mr. Zhao, a visually impaired person
I have never heard it bark since I came home for so long. That was the first time. I followed it backwards. Later, I realized that a car was slowly reversing and approaching me.
In order to protect my safety, for the first time, it reminded me with a bark and kept pulling back. Since then, it has made me feel that walking with it has a great sense of security.
I would say that it has really brought a lot of color into my life since it came to me.
[Commentary] Today, Ms. Qian came to the school to train with FayFay, the guide dog assigned to her not long ago, which gave her the feeling of "regaining her loved ones".
She told reporters that at the end of 2018, she adopted a guide dog named Dora, but Dora passed away due to illness in 2020. She misses the bit of living with Dora very much in the past, and now the guide dog FayFay will take over Dora's work, accompany her to every corner of the city.
[Concurrent] Ms. Qian, the visually impaired
There was a car coming in front, it (Dora) stopped me sideways, I felt very warm.
I feel like it's saying, don't hit my mom, don't hit my mom, and block me sideways.
Then the driver drove to the front and saw that it was a guide dog in work clothes. He hurried down and said sorry, I should let you go first, your dog is really obedient, and I was really touched at that time.
I expect it (FayFay) to be as obedient as Doraemon and take me everywhere, by plane and high-speed train.
[Explanation] The birth of a guide dog is very strict from the beginning of the dog selection. The training is divided into three parts: foster family training, returning to the guide dog training base for systematic training, and joint training with the visually impaired owner. It needs to be able to cope with crossing the road. , ride and other items of assessment, to graduate.
There are also certain requirements for visually impaired persons applying for guide dogs.
[Concurrent] Li Yuanzhen, Principal of Guangzhou Guide Dog School
When crossing the road, there is a car coming, and the guide dog must stop and can't go where the car arrives. This sounds very easy, and it is all the skills of some guide dogs to lead the way.
But the biggest difference between guide dogs and other working dogs is that they have to keep thinking with their brains, and they have to write down the route the owner takes every day, which is the biggest difficulty for guide dogs.
[Explanation] The reporter learned that the Guangzhou Guide Dog School has successfully trained 8 guide dogs to pass the exam and officially take up their posts.
When a guide dog puts on "work clothes" such as a guide saddle, it enters the working state.
When passers-by encounter a working guide dog, they must follow the principle of "three nos and one question".
[Concurrent] Li Yuanzhen, Principal of Guangzhou Guide Dog School
Do not interfere, feed, refuse and actively ask, roughly means do not interfere with the guide dog, do not try to use any sounds, gestures, movements, or food to attract the attention of the guide dog.
Not denying is not denying them access to any public place.
Taking the initiative to ask is, whether visually impaired friends bring a guide dog or a blind cane, we can take the initiative to ask them if they need help, which should be very heart-warming help for them.
[Explanation] According to data, there are about 17 million blind people in China, but there are less than 200 guide dogs in service.
Li Yuanzhen believes that there is still a lot of room for improvement in China's barrier-free environment construction. Guide dogs will still encounter many inconveniences when entering and leaving public places such as buses and subways.
I hope people can understand more and give more support and warmth to the visually impaired and guide dogs.
[Concurrent] Li Yuanzhen, Principal of Guangzhou Guide Dog School
Guide dogs have silently made a lot of services and contributions to mankind.
I very much hope that in addition to accepting the services of guide dogs, you can also better understand our needs, the needs of visually impaired friends, and allow some guide dogs in training to go to different public places for training to be more tolerant of them.
He Junjie, Zou Siyao and Liu Guanqun report from Guangzhou
Responsible editor: [Liu Pai]