Guide dogs bring new freedoms to visually impaired people in many Western countries, but it’s not so easy in China:
Despite the convenience guide dogs bring to the blind, there is no regulations in China at present that guarantee a legal identity to the dogs.
Guide Dog in Harness.
Currently, ownership of big dogs like Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever in Beijing is restricted, and big dogs are barred from public places. Since guide dogs are a new phenomenon in the country, they are not an exception under the law.
Ping said that her dog Lucky, a 1.4-meter-long Golden Retriever, was barred from public places quite a few times. …
The current laws and regulations concerning guide dogs in China are ambiguous. According to Article 58 of the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, blind owners shall observe the relevant provisions of the country when entering a public place. But it does not name the exact provisions to follow. In practice, the guide dogs do not have a legal identity card and the blind owners need to ask for permission every time they appear in public.
[Via Global Times - Blind faith.]
Guide dogs are new in China — in 2010 there are about 15 graduated pairs of blind people and guide dogs in the whole of China. It could be a long while before people become accustomed to the dogs.
Sorry, but thanks to a current flood of spam comments are temporarily closed. If you have a genuine comment please use the Contact form.
