(CN) The Law Troubles Beijing's First Guide Dog

[Guest guest]

Guide Dog " Lucky " Working in Beijing

2007-12-15

CRIENGLISH.com

 

A golden retriever named " Lucky " is now busy adapting to his new life in

Beijing, as the first ever professional Seeing Eye dog, or guide dog for the

blind, working in the city.

 

Lucky was brought to Beijing earlier this month from northeastern China's port

city of Dalian, where he had been trained as a guide dog.

 

His daily job is to guide Ping Yali, a 46-year-old woman who runs several

massage parlors in the city. She is almost blind as a result of congenital

cataract.

 

Currently Lucky is being trained to familiarize with the " frequent

destinations, " including supermarkets, subway stations, bus stops and a park

near Ping's home.

 

This is the scene of Ping and Lucky on the street:

 

The dog wears a red vest, a special saddle and a chaplet, with straps held by

Ping. He always walks on the left side and ahead of the woman. He stops in front

of steps and touches Ping with his body. At crossroads, the dog waits until the

other passengers going the same direction start to walk, before leading the

woman ahead together with the crowd.

 

" I've hurt my ankle and knee from tripping over sidesteps, but it won't happen

again since now I have Lucky, " Ping told the Beijing Youth Daily., " It feels

like I can see again. "

 

" I've been asked time and time again these days by my friends, who are also

blind people, about how they can get a dog like Lucky, " she said, " With such a

companion, we feel safe to go outside. "

 

When off duty, Lucky is a lovely pet dog, jumping and running around, friendly

to everybody.

 

It costs over 100,000 yuan and six to eight months to train a guide dog for the

blind, according to Lucky's coach Song Yanan.

 

Ping Yali, who won title in the 1984 Paralympics track and field event,

introduced that she has been selected to carry the 2008 Olympic torch relay, and

she wants to do it together with Lucky.

 

However, her dream might not come true as Lucky is not always welcomed in the

public.

 

Pet Dog Management Rules in Beijing, implemented in 2003, forbid dogs from

entering public places such as the markets, parks, schools, hospitals and

tourist attractions.

 

Although guide dogs like Lucky are not ordinary pet dogs, they are no exception

to the rules since currently there is a void in the Chinese legal system in this

regard.

 

[Photos: Seeing Eye dog " Lucky " guides Ping Yali on the street in Beijing.]

 

http://english.cri.cn/3100/2007/12/15/1301 (AT) 304855 (DOT) htm

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The Law Troubles Beijing's First Guide Dog

2007-12-31

CRIENGLISH.com

 

Ping Yali, China's first paralympic champion with vision of a mere 0.05, has

been in a low mood recently as she cannot apply for a license for Lucky-her

guide dog.

 

Lucky, the first ever professional guide dog working in Beijing, entered Ping

Yali's life early December after being trained in Dalian, and has greatly helped

the disabled athlete during her daily life.

 

Unfortunately, Lucky, a male golden retriever weighting 40kg, is among the

city's blacklist of banned dogs and is now facing difficulty getting a required

license. Without a license, Lucky's presence on the street could be seen as

illegal and he can be taken away by police.

 

Ping Yali has visited her local Public Security Bureau over the crucial issue.

Police officers say they are willing to help but claim a gap in the current law

pertaining to guide dogs prohibits them from issuing Lucky with a proper

license.

 

Beijing banned large or ferocious dogs back in 2006 in a bid to fight rabies,

forbidding keepers from taking their dogs to public places like markets, stores,

commercial areas, parks, hospitals, etc. But many such places are inevitable

locations for a guide dog to be at when helping his or her master.

 

Alas Ping Yali is in a hurry. " If Lucky stays at home or hangs about for too

long without going out, he will lose his ability to serve as a guide dog, " the

Olympic torch bearer said.

 

" Now he barely reacts when the bus is coming, the drivers have refused him entry

too many times. And whenever we go to the supermarket, he is in a low mood, as

the security guard scolded him loudly last time. " Ping Yali said.

 

Ping Yali wrote done her worries on her blog, receiving attention and support

from many netizens. Many called for a new law to be set up especially for guide

dogs while expressing pity for Ping and Lucky's situation.

 

" Without a license, Lucky can only stay at home and probably lose his sense of

orientation, so how can I still take her to the Olympic Games? " Ping Yali said,

mentioning her plan to take part in the Olympic torch relay in 2008.

 

The Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games announced on December 28

that guide dogs in aid of the disabled could enter Beijing's public places

during the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

But Ping Yali is worrying whether or not she and Lucky can still go out on the

street after the Olympic Games. If not, she will have to send Lucky back to

Dalian.

 

http://english.cri.cn/3100/2007/12/31/168 (AT) 309640 (DOT) htm

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Ping Yali's Blog:

 

(In Chinese)

 

http://blog.sina.com.cn/pyali