Mellina Reis content creator, graduated in tourism and visually impaired, participated in a program promoted by Sesi, in São Paulo, more than ten years ago, where she met – and stayed – with Hillary, a Labrador who, at the time, was two years old and quite.
To the CNN Good News, CNN program focused on good news and encouraging the responsible adoption of animals, Mellina said that she gained the autonomy and mobility she so desired with the arrival of her guide dog.
After a long time only going to familiar places with the help of a cane, such as work and college, he began to visit other environments and travel the world alongside his new companion – and there was no lack of inspiration for the blog “4 Paws for the World”, and even Today, she continues to narrate her routine on social media.
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Mellina also told CNN Good News that she almost fell into a ten-foot elevator shaft, and Hillary prevented the tragedy. In a São Paulo subway station, the elevator door opened, but he was not on the floor.
Training centers
According to Felipe Soares, legal coordinator of the São Paulo Municipal Secretariat for People with Disabilities, there is a long waiting list in the country to have a guide dog, but with few training centers and a small number of dogs available, the process becomes more difficult. slow.
While still a puppy and after weaning, the dog is taken to a volunteer family, known as a “host family”. She is responsible for teaching basic obedience and for presenting life “in society”, such as living with different people.
At around 18 months, the dog returns to the institution to begin specific learning, such as how to avoid obstacles, understand right and left, not be easily distracted or disobey orders.
When ready to guide, pair training begins, that is, between the visually impaired person and the guide dog.
Therefore, in addition to the owner being trained to follow and command the dog appropriately, the personalities must be similar – otherwise, the animal is directed towards another person.
Leisure moments
A guide dog doesn't just make a living from work. On trips with Mellina, for example, Hillary was able to enjoy the cities visited.
The owner can (and should) play and carry out fun activities with the dog, like any animal.
The guide dog can visit any public or private environment
Although environments are increasingly “pet friendly”, which accept animals, there are places that do not allow them to enter. In the case of guide dogs, the ban in any establishment cannot be applied.
“Brazil, since 2005, has had a law (nº 11.126/05) that guarantees access for people with visual impairments accompanied by a guide dog to public and private spaces in a collective environment and to all means of transport, including international ones. originating in Brazilian territory”, explains Felipe.
The same law also establishes interdiction and fines for the environment that prohibits the entry of a guide dog and its guardian.
Retirement
Yes, guide dogs retire. Hillary, who is now almost 13 years old, has been retired for about a year and a half and has officially become a family pet – without acting as a guide dog.
Mellina chose not to have a new guide dog at this time, as Hillary needs specific care as she presents difficulties due to her age and also because she has just had a daughter, Sofia, who is two months old.
Other people, in these cases, can return the dog to the host family or donate it to someone close to them, if they do not want to continue as a “pet”, and ask for a new guide dog to go through an adaptation process.
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CNN Good News airs every week on CNN Pop YouTube and each episode features a group of puppies available for adoption at Adote ViCa:
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Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
