“How Many Dogs Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?”

Darn, I wish I had said that!  I recently read a great book by Dr. Stanley Coren. You might know him from his television program, “Good Dog!” which airs in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  He is is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a recognized expert on dog-human interaction.  I highly reccomend his books. In ‘Why Does My Dog Act That Way?’, you will find the following entertaining bit of comic relief. He poses the question, “How many dogs does it take to change a lightbulb?” (to the dogs). The answer, it seems, depends on the breed.

•  Border Collie: Just one, but why not let me change the light fixture so that it will accept fluorescent bulbs, which are much more efficient?
• Bulldog: Don’t bother; I’ll just lie here in the dark.
• German Shepherd: Just one, but it will have to wait until I’ve rescued those people trapped in the dark and led them to safety, and then checked the house to make sure that no one has entered under cover of darkness to take advantage of the situation.
• Shetland sheepdog:  I will as soon as I arrange all of the new bulbs in a tight and orderly little circle.
• Golden retriever:  The sun is shining, we’ve got no work to do today, I’ve got this neat red ball here, and you’re inside worrying about some silly lightbulb?
• Rottweiller: Go ahead, and see if you’re tough enough to make me!
• Corgi: First, I’ll bark until the old bulb leaves of its own accord and then I’ll nip at the new one until it goes into the socket…
• Labrador retriever: I can do it! Please!….Please…I can. You know I can. Please….
• Greyhound:  It isn’t moving, so who cares?
• Pointer:  I see it. There it is. Look, it’s right there…
• Jack Russell terrier:  Me! I can reach it! All I have to do is to keep bouncing off the furniture and walls.
• Poodle:  I’ll just whisper sweet nothings into the Border collie’s ear and he’ll do it.  By the time he’s finished putting in the new light fixture, my nails will be dry.

This is a great book. It also includes a ‘dog behaviour inventory’ for you lovers of quizzes. Look for other titles by Stanley Coren.

‘Guide Dog’ and ‘Seeing Eye Dog’…the difference

My girl, Opal (IV) and I, are happy graduates of Canadian Guide Dogs For the Blind in Manotick, Ontario, Canada.  I am proud of my canine partner.  Most of the time, I am happy to answer questions  or reply to the numerous comments I receive from the strangers we meet on our treks.  And there are plenty of them! 99% of the time, I don’t mind, as long as Opal can get a rest if she needs it, or I’m not having an indulgent, “don’t bug me, I want to be incognito” moment.  Here’s a recent transcript of recent conversations I had one day at the mall. These all occurred within a half-hour time frame.  We were sitting quietly in a carpeted public seating area, resting,  and just enjoying the moment.  Stranger one: “That’s a lovely seeing eye dog you have there”.    I smile and say to the woman, “thank you…but she’s actually called a Guide dog.  Seeing Eye dogs, are guide dogs that come from The Seeing Eye school in Morristown, New Jersey.  My dog is from Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in Ontario.  It’s a little like the difference between Kleenex and tissue.  Seeing Eye is a ‘brand’ name. There are many different American and Canadian schools where Guide dogs are graduated, like Guiding Eyes, Leader Dogs, Canine Vision, MIRA, etc.  A tissue can be a Royale, Puff, store brand or a Kleenex etc. but we inacurrately use the term kleenex, when referring to any tissue”.  She seems to have grasped this.  Seconds later, a man with a thick Cape Breton accent comes by and says, “Lady, you’ve got one handsome seeing eye dog there”.   Once again, I launch into my explanation.  This guy is quite surprised and goes on and on about how he had never realized the difference.  ”yes”, I say.  ”All Seeing Eye dogs are guide dogs, but not all guide dogs are Seeing Eye dogs”. He says something about getting to the pharmacy and leaves.  A mom with a couple of kids hovers, and says to the kids, “look Justin and Corry! there’s a lady with a seeing eye dog!”  I  try to blurt out my pat shpeel, but I’m more concerned with ‘Justin’ who seems to be slithering on the floor, creeping up very close to  Opal.  I sort the kid out and the mom hauls them both away.   The sound of chunky heel approaches.  The newcommer it turns out, is meeting up with the lady who is sitting nearby. The new lady says,to her pal, “Hi Raylene…hey! Look at the seeing eye dog right there next to you! She’s a beauty…looks a little like Mike’s dog”. Then to me, “How long have you had your seeing eye dog, dear?” I sigh, and say, with a momentary sense of defeat, but my ever-present pride, “almost two years”. 

Low/No Vision Survival Tips

I am a big fan of organizational skills. It really saddens me to think of some of my friends who have experienced  recent vision loss, who struggle because of poor coping strategies. I have three friends in mind…Not one owns a pocket recorder, not one has used their stove in over a year, not one has cleaned their apartment or living space themselves in recent memory. It is no wonder that they are depressed! If I had no reliable means of keeping phone numbers and vital information at my fingertips….if I ate frozo dinners every day…if I had to pay strangers to clean up the place…I would be a mess too!  Perhaps you or a family member needs to re-organize your day to day means of surviving?  Here are a few ideas to pass on.

•  There are several ways to keep track of telephone numbers. Create a Large Print list if your RV (residual vision) permits.  Or, have a handy micro cassette or regular cassette tape recorder nearby at all times. Create your alphabetical phone listings on one tape. Make a copy and store it…just in case the original is damaged, or you accidentaly tape over your listings. I have numerous recorders, but use one for phone work.  I like to travel with a micro cassette recorder. You never know when someone is going to spontaneously spout off the recipe you’ve been longing to have for that tofu frittata. Someone might want to give you an address, or directions, or appointment details.  Braille is a good option too, but don’t expect to learn it overnight. I use it for labeling. I also cary a slate and stylus (a portable system for Brailling notes). 
• People who can make use of magnifyiers should have one with them ‘on the outside’. This might help with labels in a store or restaurant menus.
• In the kitchen?  Use Large Print or Braille labels for your spice jars. (Braille label making machines are available) Use different sized or shaped jars to store things like dry legumes and flour and grains. Labeling extends to medication, CD’s etc.
• To be able to identify two similar jars or bottles, like milk and cream, or jams, put an elastic band around one of them. Be consistent with the use of elastics, or else the whole idea is futile.
• To mark numbers or settings on a microwave, put stick-on plastic ‘bump dots’. You can get a cheap version of  these at your local hardware store or ‘dollar store’ in the hardware section. Look for ’surface guards’ or similar items. These will also work to mark stove and washing machine settings.
• Most telephone keypads, including pay phones, come with a  raised tactile dot on the number five (5). You can also use large and contrasting inlays to mark telephone keypads and computer keyboards, Debit machines also should have a raised mark on the 5. If your bank does not, complain to the manager.
• Some banks offer ‘audible banking’ machines. You just use any headphone set, plug in and receive voice instructions for some of those tricky transactions. 
• Bills, like telephone and power are (or should be) available in Large Print or Braille. Bank statements and tax statements and other government information, definitely are.
• Cleaning ’schedules’ will keep you organized and almost guarantee that nothing creepy is growing or festering in the corner of your living room.
• Vacuuming and floor washing is best done using a grid system. Start in one corner of the room and work methodically, cleaning a one square meter area at a time.
• Buy similarly-coloured and textured socks. That way, it’s no big deal to match them up. 
• Make cardboard tags in different geometric shapes, and use Large Print to mark clothing details: ‘Blue with white checks’. Punch a hole in the card and slip it over the hanger neck. Metal Braille tags are available to sew onto clothing (colour identification). Liquid tactile marking stuff is available in tubes which come in a variety of colours and are very handy (and cheap) for all sorts of things. Squeeze a bead onto a surface or material and it hardens to form a raised tactile dot. Kids can make maps and other things with them.
• Pour liquids, especially hot ones, over the sink. 
• If you have some vision, make use of contrast. Use white plates (no patterns) for dark food and the reverse for light ones. You can put a contrasting-coloured throw over that chair you run into all the time. Place your furniture sensibly, so it suits your needs. 
• Put your ’stuff’ in the same place all the time. I can’t tell you how often people say, “I can’t find it”. Sure, it happens to the most organized person on occasion, but a good attempt to house things in the same location, will keep your frustration level down, and waste less of your time.
• Make rules for visitors: Don’t move my stuff! Don’t leave your stuff in my footpath! Don’t leave cupboard doors open! It’s your place and there’s nothing wrong with insisting on respect for your survival techniques.
• Lots of keys? Use rubber key head grips (all colours) to differentiate them. A couple of small pieces of tape can mark anything too, so that you know what it is.
• Your telephone company probably offers 411 (directory information) free (up to 100 per  month) to anyone who is registered by an organization for the Blind as ‘legally blind’.
• Baskets are your friend! group similar items in containers or baskets.
• Learn to fold paper bills (money) in different ways for each denomination (twenty lengthwise, fives in half…). audible bank note readers are available. 
• Stick your shap cutting knife blade  under the chopping board when you leave it temporarily to do something else.
• Use a ’straight edge’ as a signature guide.  Put the guide under the place where you want to sign. This could be a ruler, credit card or other ID card.
• Keep small items together in a pillow case or mesh bag for laundering  in the washer.
• Libraries for the Blind have audio books available. It can be set up through the direct service organization for the blind in your area. Public Libraries also have audio books. Many bookshops carry them. Audio books can be downloaded from a variety of sites.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of ‘gadgets’ for the use of people who are Blind or have low vision. Some are very useful, others are silly. You can find talking calculators, watches, clocks, thermometers, pedometers, colour detectors, light detectors, thermostats, bathroom scale, blood pressure monitors, glucometers,TV remotes, …just about every possible item. There are beeping water level indicators, computer software, Braille and large print versions of playing cards and games like, Monopoly. In fact, if you HAVE the money, and CHOOSE to spend it, you can turn your home into a talking, beeping extravaganza. Personally, I think it’s more of a nightmare. I like to keep the sound assault down to a minimum. There are many more tips and suggestions that I will reveal in the future. Organizations (direct service) for the Blind and catalogue stores that sell products for independant living are useful resources.

Don’t make come back to your store (Sobey’s) with bad produce again!

I like to believe that I’m not playing ‘the blind card’ today.  A local grocery store (that would be Sobey’s at West End Mall in Halifax, Nova Scotia) really ticked me off yesterday.  I take great pride in small accomplishments. One being, navigating to Sobey’s with my guide dog, Opal,  and  finding  a clerk once we have reached the produce section, then handing over my cloth bag (no environmentally evil plastic here).   As always, my question to the clerk is: “What’s good in produce?”  I usually get the guy who actually tells me something like, “the eggplant is lovely, but forget the avocados…they’re horrible”.  THIS I appreciate. But yesterday, someone else ‘helped’ me. I posed the usual question.  The affable produce clerk told me the MacIntosh apples were 2 three pound bags for $3.97. The green beans? $2.99 a pound.  I thought the apples were a good deal. The green beans? “1/2 lb is plenty at that price”, I tell the guy.  He also looks for the tofu which I had heard is ‘on special’, but it is not available as advertised.  I settle for an alternate.  My cloth bag is returned with those items as well as a few oranges and bananas. Opal and I schlep it to the bakery counter, where a clerk comes to find my loaf of my favourite bread.I am happy. “Opal”, I say at the cash, “Let’s go home and make a fritata”.Only when I am probing the beans, do  discover that the guy gave me old beans with no stems or tails…they have no smell, and feel tough enough to be the sort you would find in a third-rate  can of cut-up beans.  By the time I opened the SECOND bag of badly bruised apples, I am livid.  Did he think I wouldn’t notice? No, that’s not it. It’s not a blind thing. It’s just Sobey’s trying to pass off produce that is just slightly better quality than garbage, to ANYONE. I’m just the woman who has to harness her Guide dog and load it up in my backback, walk back to the store and demand my money back tomorrow.  I’m also the woman who will make every effort to convince the people of Halifax to BOYCOTT Sobey’s!!!!  and did I mention that in recent months, this store (Sobey’s) had a recall of packaged burgers?….they had e-coli bacteria in them.

Blind Etiquette 101 for…Retail Businesses

Do you own a small retail business? Are you a manager or employee in a shop, grocery store or other retail outlet? Here are some basic suggestions to help you or your staff in responding to the needs of your customers who may be blind, or partially sighted. First, think about the physical space in you store. Make it a firm policy to keep floor space clear of boxes and other obstacles. If you have any say in design features, such as lighting and signs, consider inquiring about what can optimize your site. Local organizations for the Blind, may be able to provide you with suggestions of specific types of lighting and how to use them, as well as other ways to create contrast (strips on steps etc.) Signs on bathroom doors should be a combination of large print, tactile symbols and Braille. Building standards and codes vary from place to place, however there are all sorts of Accessibility guidelines and checklists available from many sources, which can help you make your store or business accessible to EVERYONE. It can be daunting, with measurements of counter height and doors for wheelchair accessibility, automatic door openers, ramps, TTY access, etc. but try and think of the overall picture: If someone in a wheelchair, or someone who is Blind or Deaf, were to visit your store, what barriers would they face? ‘People skills’ is usually the aspect of accessibility, which creates the biggest barrier for people with disabilities. For people who are Blind or have limited vision? Here’s what you need to know: Identify yourself as a store employee, before asking a blind or partially sighted customer if they want help. OFFER assistance first (No grabbing of the arm etc.). It could be that the person does not want or need help, so don’t take a refusal personally. If they do want assistance, ask what they require. They will tell you what they need, or how they want to be guided (take your left arm etc.) If you are giving directions, be SPECIFIC. For example, “The washroom door is ten meters away at ten o’clock”, and not “Over there”. If I had a buck for every time I was told something was in that mysterious place called, “over there”, I’d have enough to buy a small condo. If the person has a Guide dog with them? know the do’s and don’ts that pertain to them (no petting, no talking to the dog, no eye contact…) and abide by them.  Also be aware of Access laws that protect Guide dogs and their handlers and allow them entry into your business (this extends to other properly qualified service dogs). The dog does not know where to find Ladies lingerie, so the handler might want to take your left arm and go ’sighted guide’, or have the dog “follow”. It’s up to the handler in the specific situation. In a grocery store, Blind people have some unique, preferred methods for shopping. Realize that they can not read labels, or aisle markings. Whoever is available to be a ’shopper’ (clerk who is helping), should have a good knowledge of the store and where everything is located. My biggest frustration in grocery stores stem from ’shoppers’ who can’t find anything, and take me and Opal through a 2 hour odyssey. That’s not fair to the dog. It’s also frustrating to have a ’shopper’ who has little knowledge of what constitutes a ‘good buy’ in produce. I may have access to the online ‘flyer’, but I have no idea what is actually available in the way of produce in the store when I get there, how much it costs, or if it is any good. Packaging makes it impossible for me to smell or feel the trussed-up package of green beans or asparagus, so I am counting on the ’shopper’ to tell me what’s available, how it looks and how much it costs…in a timely fashion. No two ways about it, the art of description requires some thought and practice on the part of store clerks. If the blind customer has a large number of items on the shopping list, the challenge is even greater. Many people who are blind, (with or without a guide dog) will take hold of the shopping cart while the ’shopper’ pulls the cart from the front. That way, a five foot-wide berth is not required to accommodate the cart, customer, ’shopper’ and Guide dog. A good ’shopper’ will advise of tight spots and turns. They will think ahead to where things are located in the store, so that there is no need to wander back and forth in the store. I try to plan for a maximum shopping time of forty minutes, for Opal’s sake. People don’t realize that a grocery store trek is one of the most challenging parts of her job. Smells, food spilled over on the floor, people trying to pet her, and the stop-and -go of the whole adventure is most difficult. She prefers working; being able to “find the bakery counter” at my direction, in a local store (actively working) over a situation where she is in harness, yet not guiding me in the store (when we go for a large number of items that require the help of a ’shopper’ to locate them). Paying for items? Cashiers should (for everyone) say aloud, “out of twenty” when handed a bill. They should put the change in the customers hand, and then give the receipt. If a signature is required for a credit card payment by a blind person, the easiest way to accomplish this, is for you to place the card directly beneath the ‘line’ where they must sign (as a straight edge guide). If your customer with vision loss is taking a cab from your store, try and have someone watch for the taxi, so that they actually know it has arrived (cabbies should know to get out of their car, or at least announce themselves, instead of pulling up in an area where other cars are coming and going when the person waiting can’t distinguish one car from another…but they don’t necessarily). I tend to avoid shops that are so packed with stuff that I can’t navigate. Special displays everywhere create an obstacle course for someone using a white cane. With a Guide dog, a person may be able to work around stuff, but still require adequate manouvering room. If the aisles are too narrow because of bins and displays, Opal can not take me through it, if the space is not there. One thing I emphasize with my blind friends; when someone does an exceptional or even adequate job of assisting you, fuss it up a bit, maybe even tell the manager. When service or access is not adequate, point out the shortcomings. I would love to see all businesses, big and small think about Acessibility issues. I don’t like to refer to my right to shop where I choose, as ACCOMMODATION, but rather, as EVERYDAY INCLUSION. Ask your local service organization for the Blind to give your employees a little ‘blind people relations’ skills talk. Check for pamphlets that they might have for distribution. Create a space where everyone feel welcome and people will come back to spend more money in your place of business. Remember, that they will probably tell other people about their experiences too (good or bad), and THAT has even broader implications.

Blind Etiquette 101: For Transit Drivers

It could be that your town or city has a wonderful training program for its public transit drivers. Ideally, it would include a ‘people skills’ component. In other words, bus drivers, and subway, trolly car and ferry boat operators would be provided with a set of guidelines, which outline how they should interact with their passengers…the sort of ’sensitivity training’ that keep them from making total goofs of themselves. An additional part of driver training, would specifically outline appropriate responses, behaviour, and interaction with passengers who have disabilities.
They seem to have missed that part of training here in Halifax. So, if I were Queen of Halifax for a day, I would mandate our transit drivers to comply with this set of guidelines. It is not a complete Wish List. I leave it up to others to suggest other aspects of training.

1- When you pull your bus up, and someone asks, “What number bus is this?”, YOUR ANSWER is: “Number 14″ or “Number 81 downtown”,etc. NOT, “Can’t you see?” or “Look for yourself”. The person asking, might have a visual, perceptual or intellectual disability. It’s not up to you to make a diagnosis or comment. Please say it nice and loud too, because there may be ambient noise outside your bus making it hard to hear you.

2- On the same note, drivers (and EVERYONE) should know that there are DEGREES of Blindness and vision loss. Therefore, learn to recognize the standard white cane (long cane typically used), the white ID (identification) cane, the white support cane (used by someone who has both vision loss and mobility difficulty…often an elderly person), or a sign on a walker indicating the individual has a visual disability. A person with a Guide dog, by the way, should be a clue for you, that the person is blind. FYI Some people are Partially sighted (legally Blind) and might be wearing corrective lenses. Comments such as, “you’re not blind, you’ve got glasses” are NOT appropriate.

3- Now that you know how to spot the person who has a visual impairment, and you have appropriately identified your bus number, you should check the front area of your bus and then indicate to the person, where they might find a seat. example: “there’s a seat on your left, by the door”, or “there’s a seat behind me”. “Over there”, is not helpful. I realize that there is no OBLIGATION to force any other passengers from the front area seats on a bus, but, if there are no available seats, you should, POLITELY REQUEST that someone give up their seat. (Many blind people, or people with other disabilities, prefer to sit up front to facilitate any communication with the driver.)

4- The next appropriate action is: Ask the person who is Blind or partially sighted, “What stop do you want to get off at?”. (They may ask you first). Unless your city has automated voice system technology on buses and subways, the person with vision loss, has a difficult time to determine where they are on the route. Your city may or may not be required to ‘announce’ major stops on the route, though many Human Rights challenges have been fought and won over this issue.

5- Try and refrain from pulling away from the stop the second the passenger is aboard. Give the Blind person a chance to sit down before taking off. Doing so, averts risk of them falling and getting injured.

6- Remember to announce the requested stop. Do it in a loud, clear voice. DO NOT FORGET! Blowing by a familiar stop, may reek havoc for a Blind person. It can be difficult to get oriented when the blind person is even one block off the stop they wanted.

7- When the blind or partially sighted person is getting off your bus, advise them if the bus is a distance away from the curb, or if there is a snowbank or icy patch where they are about to step down onto. At a stop congested with people who are about to board, you should call out that they should step aside, if they are not clever enough to do so on their own.

8- If you are driving a bus that “kneels on request” (Accessible Low Floor or other), OFFER to lower the bus (boarding and getting off). Some people have Guide dogs that object to the high pitched lowering ‘alert’ noise. Other people just don’t require or want it. Some NEED it.

9- Be aware of the Guide dog Access Laws that protect Guide dogs and their handlers, allowing them to board the bus, subway etc. Do not talk to the dog, pet it etc.

10- In most cities, it is against policy to stand and chat with the driver while the bus is moving, unless there is a valid reason. It is distracting for the driver. It also blocks the bus aisle, making it awkward for a Blind person to get on or off, especially with a Guide dog (require wider space to pass). Mindless conversation might also distract you, (the driver) to the point where you forget to announce the requested stop.

11- If your blind or partially sighted passenger asks you a question, such as, “Is this Main Street?”, reply loudly and clearly. Do not nod your head, or grunt.

THOUSANDS WITNESS MIRACLE ON OLIVET STREET!!!!

THIS JUST IN!!! WISEADVICE chief, HRM, is now allowing one more group of a select thousand people to witness the incredible site in her home.  ”It all started a week ago, on a  Sunday morning”, says the queen of Crisis Central.  ”Opal yawned and emerged from her bed around 5 am.  The sound of coins clinking alerted me to…this incredible site!!!  There, on her bed,  45 pennies and 7 nickels, all in a little pile.”  When word got out,  crowds started to gather outside the residence.  By Tuesday afternoon, Mounties had to be called in to control the pandaemonium.  ”By early this morning, I found $387.00 in change (mostly silver dollars) where Opal had slept.  The phone is ringing off the hook! Everyone wants to know what I feed my dog.  Purina offered me a new car if I put up their poster next to her bed and let them take some snapshots…I’m holding out for a chauffeur too.”  A private security detail has followed Wiseadvice and her dog everywhere, and at all times.  It seems that hopeful locals are shadowing them, in hope of “poop scooping” a small fortune. Prime Minister Steven Harper is said to be sending a representative from Revenue Canada.  Life has been turned upside down in this sleepy port city. We asked Wiseadvice’s neighbour,  Poprah Minfrey to comment.  ”This is the best thing that could have happened here. It tops the ‘jesus face’ that showed up on the wall in the ladies room at the Vimy Legion Hall last Easter. Frankly, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer lady. She always has a word of advice for people. The dog? I agree with the CBC radio poll. The dog gets to keep 50% of whatever she generates.  Fair is fair, eh?”

Access For the Blind: Top Resources

Would you like to read some terrific articles online?  Discover Blind World Magazine. www.earthlink.net/~blindworld  Also, learn about Web Accessibility at: www.web-4-all.ca 

Guide Dog Access Laws: Where Guide dogs are allowed to go, and why

Please go to the following site to learn about the laws in various countries that protect Blind people and their Guide Dogs.

• http://www.nfb-nagdu.org/laws/laws.html 

It’s also on my blogroll to the right. 

Guide Dog’s Top Ten

I love numbers, pneumonics…anything that helps me remember important stuff.  Of course, if what I need to remember, has something to do with dogs or Guide dogs, I enjoy my memory aid even more.  So, here is my personal Guide Top Ten:  a checklist to ensure I’m doing OK with Opal.

•  0- Zero people food.  I do not give Opal any handouts from the table. Giving a guide dog food, other than its rations, is not a good idea, because you must keep their weight within a close range, AND,  your dog  might get the idea that any food is fair game, including that twinkie she spots lying on the street as you are working across an intersection. You want to get across safely.
• 1- One person in charge. That would be me, in Opal’s case. I am the only one allowed to give commands and make rules. I am ‘top dog’, ‘Alpha’, ‘leader of the pack’, etc.
• 2- Two meals. I must provide The Girl with two squares a day, usually around the same time.  The ammount is consistent and would only change if her weight had changed. The brand and type is between me and our Vet. It’s not a good idea to be switching a dog’s brand and type of food without a valid reason involving a health issue. “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
• 3- Three poop bags in my pocket: I don’t want to get caught without my bags. I never know when Opal might have a ‘two-parter’, or even a ‘three -parter’on one trip outside to relieve. On the road? Who knows.
• 4- Four feet: Opal’s feet are critically important. I wipe them dry on rainy days. I use a small container of warm water to dip her paws into after coming in from travel on salty sidewalks. I have four boots for her to wear on bitter cold days.  I check her four paws for cuts, blisters, or any debris that might get stuck to them (chewing gum, tar).
• 5- Five Point Grooming: Check ears(smell) and clean, if necessary (labs have drop ears which are a natural incubator for bacteria that cause infection)… use a tissue to wipe shmootz from eyes…. explore mouth and gums, and brush teeth with a finger brush and DOGGIE paste…comb and brush coat. Explore body at same time for irregularities…examine feet again.
• 6-  Check Opal’s ’space’ for these six points… accessible fresh water in her bowl…NO access to garbage or food lying around…toys and bones should be checked to see if they are intact and safe…bedding should be clean and dry….Is there anything tempting in range? like socks, rags, medication, electrical cords, cups of boiling hot tea? Dogs have been known to get ill or die from bowel obstruction after swallowing a sock or facecloth. Others have chewed ‘puffers’ (asthma inhalers) and died. Hot drinks can burn.  Dogs are individuals. One might be attracted to one danger, another dog to something different…Equipment. Her gear, including leash, play collar, and harness (girth strap, handle, chest strap, reflective sleeve,  buckles etc.) should be checked for state of cleanliness and damage that require repair. 
• 7- Seven toys on the go at any given time: It’s tempting to flood a dog (or kid) with a houseful of toys. They don’t need that many.  Put some away and switch them around to keep your dog interested. Some toys last longer than others. Some are poorly made and dangerous. Others are just plain boring. (Just because YOU like it, doesn’t mean your dog will be impressed).
• 8- Eight opportunities for Opal to relieve on a typical day: Weather, health (mine and hers) will  alter this number on occasion. If I have a bad flu, it could be that I take her out only five times. If she has diarhea…
• 9- Nine items in the Disaster Bag: Ok, chances are that we’ll never need the Disaster Bag, but I leave it hanging by the door, just in case.  Consider what you might want in yours, if a fire wiped out you house or apartment.  Taking care of a dog if you have been wiped out would be difficult, but with these things, life can continue.  In our bag, I have… Opals ‘papers’ including Health book, microchip number, and other vet records…dog food in an air tight bag with a dish…a bone in a sealed bag…a  toy…a cassette recording of all my important phone numbers…a print out of Opal’s contact information (Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, family) and instructions for her care in case of my demise…medication and ID (for BOTH of us)…crank radio…cell phone…and a grooming brush.  I replace items as required.  (I also have some things for Lucy the cat). When the fire alarm goes off in the building, I do not debate if I should leave, or what I should bring with me.  We are outside with the Disaster bag in short order.  It’s good practice. Hopefully we will never need our DB.
• 10- Ten minutes to rest: I give Opal a break after every 45 minutes or so of working in harness.  She needs a chance to rest her mind.

I know I started with Zero and that’s actually eleven…but ‘top eleven’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.  

Psst! trying to find a vegetarian restaurant?

I just discovered the best online directory of vegetarian/vegan restaurants and stores. Try this. You can plan your vegetarian eating for that next world trip. www.vegdining.com 

“Puppy’s Rule of Twelve”

I have often wondered how my guide dog, Opal, got accustomed to some of the things she faces in our travels. She doesn’t mind a bus whizzing round a corner near her head.  Working her around a construction zone is no problem. Hospitals, grocery stores, malls are taken in stride.  She LOVES escalators.  My girl is a busybody…fascinated by trucks, people, animals, airplanes overhead etc. She spends as much time looking out the window, as our cat does!  Guide dogs start out as puppies too. They are raised by generous and caring families who are willing to take in a little bundle for a set period of time. Then they part with them, hopefully sending  them on their way for training as guide dogs.  Some dogs make it, some don’t.    Guide dogs schools (and there are many in Canada and the United States) usually have a ‘puppy raising’ or ‘puppy walking’ program.    I found this on the Guiding Eyes for the Blind  web site, on the puppy raising program information page.     Margaret Hughes is credited.  She created a wonderful set of guidelines about what puppies should experience before 20 weeks of age, in her book, Positive Puppy Training.   She says that puppies are most willing to try new things before they are 20 weeks old.  To socialize puppies, she suggests exposing them to a variety of experiences.  Be sure the experiences are safe and positive, she adds.  Accompany with praise.  Here are the Puppy’s Rule of Twelve:   By the time your puppy is 20 weeks old, it should have:

•  Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, woodchips, dirt, mud, puddles, deep pea gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, a table (ie. Vet.) etc.
• Introduced to 12 different objects: toys, big and small balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, metal items, statues, balloons, etc.
• Experienced 12 different locations: front yard (daily), other peoples homes, school yard, shopping plazas, lakes, pond, river, boat, basement, elevator, car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, etc.
• Met and played with 12 new people (outside of the family): include children, adults, elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats,sunglasses, etc.
• Exposed to 12 different noises (ALWAYS keep fun and watch puppy’s comfort level-don’t want it to be scared): garage door opening, doorbell, children playing, babies screaming, big trucks, Harley motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, power boat, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses neighing, vacuums, lawnmowers, birthday party, etc.
• Exposed to 12 fast moving objects (don’t allow to chase): skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people running, cats running, scooters, vacuums not on, children running, children playing soccer, squirrels, cats, horses running, cows running, shopping carts rolling, etc.
• Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off and around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out of a doorway with a step up or down, exposed to an electric sliding door, jump over a broom, climb over a log, bathtub (and bath), etc.
• Handled by owner (& family) 12 times a week: hold under arm (like a football), hold to chest, hold on floor near owner, hold in-between owner’s legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth, in-between toes, hold and take temperature, hold like a baby, trim toe nails, hold in lap
• Formal GEB Body Massage done in 12 different locations
• Eaten from twelve different shaped containers: wobbly bowl, metal, paper, plastic, Kong, paper bag, from your hand, etc.
• Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate, kitchen basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car, school yard, bathtub, up high (on a cardboard solid box no more than 1 foot off the ground) etc.
• Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs) under supervision.
• Left alone safely (in crate) away from family and other animals (5-45 minutes) 12 times a week.
• Left alone safely (in crate) near family members (5-45 minutes) 12 times a week.

Take Time To Smell the Roses

It is a lovely day in Halifax. I have been stressed out and busy these days. Today, I will take time to stop and smell the proverbial roses. My dog insists. When I am stressed and distracted, Opal is too. She deserves better. My Guide dog (like most dogs) mirrors  my mood and anxiety level.  Yesterday, I was not as patient or focused as usual while we worked down a busy downtown area. Neither was she.  Dogs are a lot like small children, in that they need to feel that the ‘top dog’ (that’s me, in opal’s case) is in charge,  and that top dog will consistently provide calm leadership. It is reassuring for dogs (and children) to have rules. They do so much better with routine and consistency in their lives.  Don’t think for a second, that dogs don’t have an emotional response to an angry, impatient voice.  Of course, humans will be humans.  We carry a lot of ridiculous worries around in our head and use our interaction with our dogs as a means of expression.  Opal, like any child, does not understand or care that I am unprepared for next week’s meeting, or that I don’t have enough money to buy some items I think I need, or that I feel guilty about not doing my Spanish assignment, and that these things are stuck in my head.  She DOES know when I am ill, fearful, stressed, angry etc.  She shows her concern if I am sick by being quiet and staying close.  She expects little from me, other than food, shelter, love and kindness.  I do the best I can. When we’ve had a bit of a bad day, I try to give her (and myself) a chance to regroup the following day.  So, on that note, I am going to shut down this blog for today, and take my dog out for a romp in the snow…my version of taking time to smell the roses. 

Horrific Animal Cruelty Incident…How did this happen?

Yesterday, the media broke a story here in Nova Scotia, that has everyone reeling.  Reports revealed that over one hundred animals, including 80 cats and 27 dogs, were rescued from a site which had been operating as some sort of ‘animal shelter’ in Port Hastings, Nova Scotia.   The SPCA had been trying to investigate this situation for several months.  It was not until last Sunday, that they had the legal authority to search the premises.  When their team of workers, along with RCMP officers, entered the Celtic Pet Rescue centre, they were horrified to find two building full of animals in deplorable conditions.  Cats and dogs were lying about in toxic filth. The stench of ammonia was so bad, that some of the workers were not able to proceed.   A number of animals were found dead.  The basement was filled with sewage where animals lay. Cats were so encrusted with feces, that their colour could not be determined until they were taken away and bathed for hours. A dog and her nine puppies were found in a crate, hidden by boxes, nursing her pups.  It was estimated that many of the animals had not been attended for over sixty hours.  SPCA workers were shocked (and they don’t shock easily) by the scene.  They had anticipated a rescue of 30 or so animals and ended up with a scene they had not expected or prepared for. The situation necessitated two trips to remove the animals.  The cats and dogs were taken to sites in Halifax and Dartmouth, for the most part, and work began to evaluate their condition and treat them.  Nine cats were found to have Feline Leukemia. The response has been overwhelming from concerned animal advocates.  Even people who are not big animal lovers have expressed sadness and concern, upon hearing the news.  Offers of veterinary care, donations, and requests to adopt have poured in.  Of course, the first question on everyone’s mind, is HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?  The woman who was granted a license to operate an ‘animal shelter’, has not been charged yet, though public outrage will undoubtedly result in a careful investigation on the part of the authorities.  It is expected that charges will be laid. Background information on the operator of this ’shelter’, is sketchy.  The SPCA is the only organization that has the right to actively investigate and seize animals in such circumstances in Nova Scotia.  Their resources are limited and their powers are also not extensive.  The woman who applied for, and received a lisence to operate this place, is reported to have met standards to open.  How and why conditions deteriorated is unknown.  Without legal authority, it was not until recently that the SPCA were granted a warrent to enter, even though they had requested permission to examine the site, and were denied. They could not act.  If an adult is suspected of physical abuse or neglect of a child, the system moves very quickly.  Obviously, society’s conscience and values, do not provide for the same intense scrutiny and care for animals,  as it does for children. We can’t seem to strike a balance. Comment?

High Cost of Assistive Devices for Blind People is Onerous

Just some observations…and a bit of a rant.  One of the problems that face people who are Blind or partially sighted, is the high cost of assistive devices and technology.  Let me explain;  What are assistive devices for the Blind?  They include necessary items for everyday life, such as:

•  talking clocks and watches
• talking calculators 
• magnifyers
• Braille paper 
• tactile measuring cups
• audible water level indicators
• large print keyboard inlays
• talking thermometers
• low vision lamps
• talking glucometers
• recording devices
• large print calendars etc.
• Braille watches
• tactile games
• bump dots
• Braille rulers
• talking pedometers
• talking scales
• talking thermostats
• bold lined paper
• etc.

Some items are ‘gadgets’ and  though I would not find them essential for my life,  other people find them useful,  and therefore,  they should have them. Then we get to the big ticket items: 

•  computer screenreading software ($800.00-$1200.00)
• talking pedestrian GPS (Treker) ($1200.00+)
• CCTV (closed circuit TV magnifier) ($2000.00-4000.00)
• Perkins Braille Writer (&700-1100.00)
• ‘DAISY’ (book) player ($500.00)
• Braille computer keyboard ($1800.00+)
• ‘Scan and speech’ machines ($2500+)
• etc.

YES I KNOW that some of these prices seem odd. Some are Canadian, some are U.S.  I ALSO KNOW that charitable organizations sometimes ‘loan’ equipment to clients at no cost. I also know that free software downloads are available (limited time trials).  I also know that some (very few) provinces provide funding programs for assistive devices.  Most people with disabilities, including people who are blind, live in poverty. That is the reality. There are some wonderful (but rare) opportunities for employment, but this is not the norm, at least not here in Nova Scotia.  The percentage of people who are blind and employed, is very small.  Here’s the thing. Not only is it out of reach for many blind people to afford these things, but they are also inaccessible. For a Haliganioan (Halifax resident) who can afford to buy any of these items, we must (with some exceptions) order over the telephone, or online through a catalogue service, halfway across the country or in the U.S.A.  (see MaxiAids or CNIB catalogue links).  While it might be acceptable to order a large print calandar ‘unseen’ , prepay the thing, and wait a while for it to arrive in your mailbox, it is difficult and frustrating to choose a talking or Braille watch, without ‘checking it out’. You might not want to wait a week or two for a Braille watch to arrive because everyone needs to know the time. Again, I know that there may be one or two talking watches available at a Radio Shack-type store, but there is no variety.  Braille watches are not available locally. Many other items are also catalogue only.  My friends (and anyone who will listen) always hear me going on about ‘Quality of Life’. QL has several aspects, including financial security, physical, mental and emotional health, social inclusion,  opportunity and choice of employment,  appropriate housing, community and cultural supports, and affordable education.  There’s more, but you get the picture.  If we are to have an inclusive society which embraces people with disabilities, (as some politicians and charitable service organizations claim they believe in and should advocate for), we then, must stop TALKING about: equity, inclusion, fairness, diversity, advocacy, accessibility, accountability (and every other en vogue buzz word we use), and start DOING SOMETHING about it. Comment?

Responsible Dog Owners Quiz

There’s nothing that puts a burr under my saddle like irresponsible dog owners and handlers.  When I hear of a situation where a dog has either been ill treated, or allowed to behave inappropriately (an extension of ill treatment, if you ask me) my blood pressure rockets.  Here’s what boggles my mind;  if you can’t accept the responsibility that is involved with owning a pet dog, or handling a service dog, then you have no business having a dog in the first place.  It’s simply not enough to love the dog.   Before you entertain the idea of getting a dog, you must be able to answer YES to these questions:

• Do I REALLY want a dog in my life, or am I just romanticizing how ‘nice’ it would be to have a dog?
• Can I afford to take care of dog?  Will I be able to pay for food, routine Veterinary care like shots and flea and worming medication, grooming costs, and the unexpected veterinary costs if the dog is ill or injured?
• Am I willing to commit to giving the dog an opportunity to relieve at least six times daily, in all weather  including snowstorms and heavy rain?
• Will I have enough time in my life (work, meetings, social life) to ‘walk’ or adequately exercise the dog every day?
• Do I have the patience to see a dog through training, on my own or with someone who has expertise?
• Will I be willing to ‘pick up’ after my dog ALL THE TIME?
• Am I willing to admit that dogs will be dogs, and therefore I must keep my dog on leash whenever there is a possibility of putting my dog, other animals, or people, at risk?
• Can I get over any disdain I may have for dog hair, or dog slobber?
• Will I find the time to groom the dog regularly?
• Can I deal with another animal in my home that might have an ‘issue’ with a new dog’s presence?
• If I get a new puppy, do I realize that I will probably need to be around the house a great deal initially and I will not get much sleep at first?
• If I adopt or rescue a shelter dog, do I realize that the dog has a ‘past’ and I will need a lot of patience before it adjusts? And I can’t mold this dog into what I precisely choose?
• Will I make ’sorting out my dog’ a priority at all times? (dealing with the dog immediately to ensure that the dog is safe, secure, and not annoying someone)
• Do I accept that not all people like dogs? that some are afraid of them? so I must see to it that I respect their feelings by keeping my dog in check?
• Do I swear that I will never yell at, hit, or otherwise strike my dog in anger?
• Will I take immediate action on complaints about my dog? including barking or property damage?
• If I live in an apartment or flat, does my lease permit me to have a dog?
• Am I willing to do whatever I need to ’safety proof’ my dog’s environment? including installing gates or fences, stowing the delicate coffee table ornaments forever, putting away medications, modifying location of garbage, and other accessible items?
• Are my children ‘old enough’ to have a dog in their lives?
• Will I do some research on dog breeds before I go out and get a dog which might turn out to be the wrong one for me?
• Will I be consistent with the dog’s ‘rules’? (it’s not fair to give the dog permission to lie on the bed one day, and deny it the next.)
• Will my life be  fairly stable? or will I be relocating often, travelling on business most of the time etc?
• Will I stay away from ‘puppy mills’ and other ’side of the road’ dog dealers?
• Will I engage with my dog routinely, by playing, fussing with, and loving him or her?

These questions are a guide for anyone thinking about having a dog in their life. I hope I scared a few out of ownership…for the sake of the dogs out there waiting for a home. They deserve responsible people in their lives. 

Announcement about Announcing….Bus stops

Transit companies in small and major cities all over North America are having a shakeup and a bit of a meltdown.  Why?  Because  people (mostly Blind) are advocating for policies that direct bus, trolly car, and subway drivers to ANNOUNCE STOPS on all routes.  Why should they announce stops?  Consider this;  People who are Blind or partially sighted, as well as ANYONE who is unsure of the area they are riding through (including tourists),  have a right to get to their destination safely and also to have assurance that this will occur consistantly.  Not only that, but announcing major stops AND all requested stops is being ruled a right, and not a hit and miss courtesy provided by transit drivers.  The Human Rights Commission ruled (twice) in favour of David Lepofsky in Lepofsky vs The Toronto Transit Corporation.  Mr. Lepofsky, a blind lawyer, won both challenges.  The ruling has ordered TTC to announce ALL stops on transit routes.  Then, in Ottawa, a similar case was launched and won by another individual (also a blind lawyer).  Winnipeg, has directed its transit drivers to announce all major  and requested stops on bus routes as of January 1 of 2008.  There is resistance by Transit Unions.  Some drivers are whining that it announcing stops is onerous.  Gosh, I recall riding buses in Montreal as a child…a time when drivers DID announce major stops.  Not only that, but they also kept busy making change, helping women onto the bus with their strollers, giving directions and bus route information, handing out transfers and more.  And they usually had time for a pleasant word with their passengers.  OK, this is 2008 and the world has changed, but drivers’ jobs are usually no longer involve making change.  Buses are more comfortable and easier to drive. Drivers are unionized and get a good wage. Admitedly, they do face instances of verbal and physical abuse in these modern and complicated times.  Regardless, they choose to do the job, and should comply with the conditions of that employment….including announcing major and requested stops.  In some cities, automatic sytems which are looped into the GPS of the transit company, have been installed.  As the bus or subway moves on its route, the GPS tracks its movement and an audio system automatically announces stops. This is ideal, but very expensive.  The cities that don’t have fancy gadgets that can do the transit drivers’ job of announcing, will have to deal with the reality:  Drivers must announce major and requested stops.  I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It’s a lovely mid-sized city with quite a large group of Blind and partially-sighted residents…lots of seniors.  We are a tourist destination as well (come see our ‘quaint’, seaside city!).  I am often directing tourists, especially on the buses and ferries (come ride the world’s longest running salt water passenger ferry!).   On several occasions, when I have asked the driver (I wait till I am sure I am near my stop ,if I can) to announce my stop, they have blown by it…for no apparant reason, except “I forgot”…gee, I think, I just asked you two minutes ago….totaly unacceptable. I also chair the Halifax Regional Municipality Advisory Committee for Persons With Disabilities. Our committee has asked the city Legal department to urge Metro Transit to announce major and requested stops. In a personal stab at it, my legal aid helper is eager to launch a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, as we are getting nowhere with attempts to reason with Metro Transit.  I have suggested driver training include a specific component about passengers with disabilities. They should recognize a white support cane or ID cane as an indicator of someone who is visually challenged, and not just the traditional white long cane or guide dog team as indicators.  When a bus pulls up and someone asks, “what number bus is this?”, the answer should be “#4″ or “#19″, NOT, “can’t you see it?”  There is presently no obligation on the part of the driver to oblige people to ‘give up’ their seat at the front, for a person with a disability, but could it not be policy for the driver to politely ask if someone would do so?  Would it not be reasonable to have all buses cary the courtesy ‘please yield seat to handicapped’ stickers, instead of the select ones that actually do? Would it be too difficult for drivers to consistantly,  say to the blind person getting on, “there’s a seat behind me” or “there’s a seat by the door”?   I have heard people who are legally blind, but wear corrective lenses  say that drivers have been known to say things like…”I thought blind people wore dark glasses” and other gems.  I am the first to say that there are many great drivers out there who are courteous and respectful to everyone.  I don’t think a driver should be turned loose on the public until they get the proper training.  Handling a bus is more than just  driving.

More Blindness 101

•  Do not assume that the blind person you are talking to knows who you are. When you meet a blind person (let’s call him Max), let him know you are there (and not a passerby) by identifying yourself. Contrary to popular belief,  blind people do not Carry a foolproof audio Rolodex in their head. It is especially difficult to recognize someone’s voice, when it appears out of context. Max might be accustomed to hearing Mary at the church social every Sunday, but if Mary runs into Max at the grocery store one day, Max might not be able to figure out who she is.  Her voice is out of context. In a place where people are all about, Max can’t be expected to know who wants to say something to him unless you single yourself out. Max may be blind, but he is not necessarily deaf or mentally challenged. There is no need to shout or use monosyllabic words.
• PSST!!! Not all Blind people read Braille. In fact, it is estimated that only 10 to 25 % of Blind adults read Braille.  With technology offering ‘talking’(screen reading) software programs such as ‘Jaws’, and ‘Guide’, Kurswell  software for audible scanning, and DAISY (digital audio information systems) discs revolutionizing ‘talking books’, Braille has been given a run for its money.  Personally, I like Braille. It is like the old days…me and my book in silence.  But it is huge….literally.  Braille books are bulky and take up a lot of shelf space. Not only that, but if you pile heavy stuff on top of your Braille book or magazine, the raised dots will compress.  That makes it difficult to read.  Braille has two forms or levels: Uncontracted (formerly known as Grade 1 Braille) and Contracted Braille (formerly known as Grade 2 Braille).  Uncontracted, to put it simply is longhand.  Each letter (Braille cell comprised of a different combinations of six raised dots) is used to spell the word.  Contracted Braille is like traditional penned shorthand, and just as complicated!  I find it very handy for labeling bottles, c.d.’s and everything else I need in my life.  One more item on Braille…it travels ‘post free’ or ‘free matter for the blind’.  Yeah, a good deal. I’ll tell you all about Access to Information Rights sometime.