Help us celebrate International Guide Dog Day

International Guide Dog Day, held this year on Wednesday, 29 April and celebrated all over Australia, is day where we can celebrate the important role that Guide Dogs play in helping blind and vision impaired Victorian’s achieve safe and independent travel. 

This years theme, “Guide Dogs Can Go Anywhere” not only offers the community an opportunity to learn more about the role of Guide Dogs, but also access issues facing Guide Dog users.

Guide Dogs offer a dynamic form of independent mobility, enabling the handler to walk freely and feel confident knowing their Guide Dog will not only recognise obstacles but guide safely around them.

Most people are generous in providing open access to Guide Dogs, however not everyone appreciates just how integral the Guide Dog is for their vision impaired handler, or aren’t fully aware of the laws protecting Guide Dog access and the fact that “Guide Dogs Can Go Anywhere”.   As a result, Guide Dog handlers in Victoria continue to face the distress of someone refusing them access into their restaurant or taxi etc. with their Guide Dog.

Guide Dogs Victoria’s Guide Dog Services Manager, Stewart Blair says, “The community can support the work of Guide Dogs by remembering that Guide Dogs are legally allowed into all public places except zoos and operating theatres. It is a case of discrimination if a Guide Dog and its handler are refused access to any other public place including shops, restaurants, hotels and taxis.”

Joan Smith, who is vision impaired and uses a Guide Dog herself, says “To be able to move around freely and feel you’re part of the community is so important. That is what my Guide Dog allows me to do. When someone denies you access on the basis that you are accompanied by a Guide Dog, they strip you of the very independence a Guide Dog brings.”

Guide Dogs are specially bred and trained to guide their vision impaired handler safely in any environment. Guide Dogs have undergone rigorous training to ensure they focus on the task.  They are quiet, well behaved, non-aggressive and completely clean at all times.

More information on International Guide Dog Day activities coming soon.