“Do you mind if I pat your dog?” is a question Lorene Mathis gets asked all the time.
“It’s my pet hate and it puts me in a really tough situation.”
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Lorene was declared legally blind at birth, however she spent a significant part of her life relying on others to get her around safely.
It was only when her third child began preschool that she contacted Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and she was introduced to her first dog, Claire, who she “worked” with for close to eight years.
After Claire retired last year, she then got Deebee who “is the most playful dog I’ve ever met!”
Today marks International Guide Dog Day and Lorene hopes to raise awareness about the importance guide dogs play in helping people who are blind live normal – and safe – lives.
Lorene and DeeBee
“Before I got a guide dog, I’d fall over all the time. I was also highly anxious and would get stressed by normal everyday situations. One time, I was crossing the road and I stepped out at the wrong time and I was sworn and beeped at.”
However, having her guide dog with her has given her a new sense of independence.
“People can automatically see that I’m not stupid or clumsy – I just can’t see what I’m doing!”
So when people try to interact with her dog – which are essentially her eyes – things become very difficult.
And she’s not alone.
Almost 90 per cent of guide dog owners say their dog has been distracted by a stranger during the past 12 months, according to a 2015 survey from Guide Dogs NSW.
“When they’re working, the dogs get into a zone. I’ve always raised my kids to know that when she has her harness on, ignore her. She’s working.”
Lorene recalls another incident when a stranger nearly knocked her off her feet – all in the name of a pat.
“I was on a bus going down some stairs when a man grabbed Claire to give her a pat and I nearly fell down the stairs. It really shook me up.”
While Lorene understands the temptation to pat a guide dog, she would like the public to be aware of how it makes the guide dog handler feel.
“I’ve seen working dogs over the years that I’ve wanted to pat because they’re so cute but I know I can’t.”
If a guide dog is in a harness, it means they’re on duty, whether they are physically guiding a person or sitting at their feet.
And a well-intentioned pat can undo months of training.
“You wouldn’t play with the buttons on someone’s wheelchair so there’s no need to go up and pat the dog. They’re acting as our eyes.”
To donate go Guide Dogs Australia, visit guidedogsaustralia.com or call 1800 484 333.
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