by Ginger Bennett
Guide Dog Users, Inc. is proud to announce the availability of the first edition of "The Team, The Attack -- A State Legislator's Handbook on Guide Dog Protection." This free, 12- page booklet clearly identifies and explains the critical issues that guide dog teams face when confronted by a loose or inadequately controlled dog and presents recommendations for how effective guide dog protection laws may be crafted.
"The Team, The Attack" is a great source of information for state legislators and local government officials who are interested in developing laws to combat the growing problem of dog attacks on the nation's estimated 8,000 guide dog teams as well as the general public.
According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (CDC), 4.7 million Americans suffer dog bites each year, and almost 800,000 bites per year are serious enough to require medical attention. Experts suggest that a combination of irresponsible dog owners and the rising popularity of large, fierce breeds sought for protection rather than companionship is primarily responsible for this alarming trend. The sad truth, though, is that any dog -- regardless of its breed or size -- can pose a threat to the health and safety of people, or other animals, if it is allowed to roam loose or is inadequately controlled by its owner/handler.
As widespread as the problem is, however, guide dog teams suffer a disproportionately larger risk from loose dogs than the general public. While the CDC's figures indicate that the average American stands a 1 in 50 chance of being bitten by a loose dog, the best estimates today are that 1 in 3 guide dog teams will endure some sort of encounter with an aggressive, uncontrolled dog. Moreover, even without injury, unprovoked attacks on a guide dog team can not only make it impossible for some dog guides to continue to perform their tasks, but can also rob the blind handler of the ability to travel freely without being fearful of subsequent attacks.
GDUI recognizes that tougher enforcement alone won't stop dog attacks. But state laws with tough consequences for those pet owners who negligently or maliciously create the problem must be a component of any effort to effectively combat the needless harm and waste that improperly controlled dogs inflict upon a guide dog team.
If you are interested in getting copies of "The Team, The Attack" for state and local officials in your area, please contact the GDUI national office via phone, toll-free, at (888) 858-1008 or send e-mail to [email protected].
You can view an on-line version of the "The Team, The Attack" at the following page on the GDUI web site: http://www.gdui.org/handbook.html.
For a list of states with existing guide dog protection laws, as well as the text of those laws, see this page on the Guide Dog Users of Arizona web site: http://aztec.asu.edu/azcb/gduaslaw.html.