Guide Dog Chronicles: What A Guide Dog Means to Me

Guide Dog Chronicles:

What A Guide Dog Means To Me

By Kate Chamberlin

 “What can the dog do that you can’t do now?”  A lady at church asked me.

   Where should I begin?   How can I explain that it isn’t just a matter of increased independent mobility to go for the mail or even find the bathroom, to be able to safely return to volunteer tutoring and mentoring in the elementary school, as well as  go for healing walks?

   a guide dog can break the downward spiral of depression, isolation and obesity.  A dog can be the constant, uncritical companion.  She’s there for you when you can’t reach out.    She supplies a person’s need to be needed and sense of responsibility.

   At times, being totally blind is over-whelming and quite intimidating.  It requires a push to re-open doors, restore confidence and bring new love into a person’s life.  

   I really would have preferred a Guide Cat when I went blind in 1985, but, I used a long white cane for a while before training with my first guide dog, Guiding Eyes for the Blind Future Grace. Then came Wheaton Grace, Finchlee Grace, Joseph Garcia, Upstate Guid Dog Peyton Grace, and Freedom Guide dog, Tulip Grace.

Each in his or her turn did much to enhance my life, mobility, and attitude, not to mention how much more favorably folks received me when I traveled with my dedicated, four-pawed friends.