The guide dog is an important part of the visually impaired's everyday life.
Having a dog by your side both contributes to security and makes the visually impaired's everyday life more efficient.
Torbjörn Ruther says that his guide dog, the black Labrador bitch Joy, is a very important part of his everyday life.
- She is my eyes when I am out and about.
Without her, of course, I could have wandered around but everything took much longer.
I feel safer and more secure with her, says Torbjörn Ruther from Sweden's guide dog handler, SLHF.
But that the guide dogs are noticed once a year is not just to highlight the positive things they do for their owners.
But also to tell about the problems that exist in society regarding guide dogs.
- A big thing is the bangs around Walpurgis and New Year.
There are many dogs who get scared and feel bad then.
There, I really want to urge people to avoid firecrackers and fireworks.
Braille to the Riksdag
Ahead of this year's guide dog day, SLHF has sent out letters to all members of parliament stating "Stop the discrimination" in Braille.
This is to tell about a discrimination of people with guide dogs that is not noticed.
- There are workplaces, restaurants, shops and gyms in Sweden that you are not allowed to bring a dog to.
According to the National Food Administration, you can bring a dog to restaurants and shops, but it is up to the restaurant owner to say yes or no.
- We have submitted 100 cases to the discrimination ombudsman but they do not raise any case.
In Norway and Finland, they have a much stricter discrimination law that allows the dog to follow everywhere, says Torbjörn Ruther.