Dogs see to safety of owners

Lindsay Sandham

A common misconception is that sight is necessary to live a normal

life -- to work, to go to school, to play sports, to participate in

everyday functions.

“Blindness is not the handicap,” said Michael Hingson, national

public affairs representative for Guide Dogs for the Blind. “The

handicap is the limitations that we as blind people, and as a society

as a whole, put on blindness. We as a society have grown up thinking

you have to see to function.”

Another misconception about blindness, Hingson said, is that

seeing-eye dogs enable blind people can get from one point to another

and that the dogs do most of the work because blind people don’t have

the capability.

Corona del Mar residents Ken and Caryl Jaggers held an event

Sunday in Costa Mesa to raise awareness of Guide Dogs within Orange

County and to help correct some of those misconceptions.

The Jaggers’ are puppy raisers for Guide Dogs, which means they

take in 8-week-old puppies and raise them for a little more than a

year. They must teach each dog basic commands, as well as socialize

it, so it can function with other humans and animals. Once the dog is

ready, it is returned to the Guide Dog training facility in San

Rafael, where it will spend six months with a professional trainer

before it is matched with a blind person.

Hingson, a Novato resident, was born without sight. Yet, he has

never allowed that to hold him back from succeeding in life. He holds

a master’s degree in physics from UC Irvine, and he currently travels

all over the world, working as a motivational speaker for Guide Dogs.

Of course, this has all been made easier with the help of Guide Dogs

-- he has used the program for 41 years.

As an operator and manager for a computer sales association in New

York, Hingson worked on the 78th floor of the north tower in the

World Trade Center. He and his dog Roselle worked closely together as

a team during the 9/11 terrorist attacks to ensure they both made it

out safely.

“Roselle’s job is not to know where I want to go,” he said.

“That’s my job. Her job is to make sure we walk safely.”

It was no different during the terrifying 9/11 experience -- had

it not been for his commands and decisiveness, Roselle would not have

been able to lead Hingson to safety.

All services -- including the training, which costs several

thousand dollars -- for the seeing eye dogs are provided by Guide

Dogs for the Blind, free of cost.

Blind people must spend one month at one of the training

facilities, either in San Rafael or Boring, Ore., before they are

considered a graduate of the program and can take home their dog. The

services are free to ensure that economics is not a barrier

preventing blind people from having a dog, Hingson said.

“All students who come [to Guide Dogs] are on a lifetime

scholarship,” he said. “As long as they have the need for a dog.”

This is made possible through charitable donations, fundraisers

and volunteers.

Carol Pukli of Irvine got involved with the program three years

ago and is on her second dog, Gazette.

“I always wanted to do this,” she said. “I love dogs, but I also

think it’s such a good program, and you meet some nice people.”

Peter and Mary Jo Egus of Coto de Caza have been raising puppies

for Guide Dogs for 14 years. Several years ago, they started an

Orange County club of puppy raisers who get together and discuss

their experiences, offer advice and let the dogs socialize.

“Our 13th dog is coming Wednesday,” Peter Egus said. “Guide Dogs

is a terrific organization. It really brings you out into the

public.”

One of the goals of Sunday’s lecture, Hingson said, was to teach

people in Orange County how to work with guide dogs and their owners.

For instance, a person should not pet the dog while it’s in its

harness, while it’s working. Interrupting the teamwork can create

problems and cause confusion for both the dog and the owner, he said.

“She gets to play when she’s out of harness,” he said. “And she’s

out of harness as soon as we get home.”

Another important part of Hingson’s lecture was to teach people to

be responsible pet owners. He said one-third of all guide dog

graduates reported an attack from a loose dog, some causing so much

trauma that the seeing-eye dog had to go into early retirement. Guide

Dogs can generally work for eight to 10 years before retiring.

To make a donation, volunteer as a puppy raiser or for more

information about Guide Dogs for the Blind, call (800) 295-4050 or

visit https://www.guide dogs.com.