'Don't touch my guide dog', visually impaired owner pleas for public to not distract working guide dogs

A Guide Dog owner from Caerphilly is issuing a plea to the public to not distract working guide dogs, especially during the festive season.

New research by charity Guide Dogs has found that 90% of people with a vision impairment admit they worry about the additional changes and challenges the festive season can bring, and one in six people who can see admit they have distracted a Guide Dog before.

The charity says for those with sight loss, loud environments where conversations can be difficult to follow (67%), Christmas pop-ups such as markets that alter familiar routes (76%) and distracting dazzling lights (38%) can turn going out to celebrate over the holiday season into a daunting task.

Nearly one quarter (23%) of guide dog owners even cancel or change Christmas plans to avoid busy crowds.

• 55% of guide dog owners say that Christmas is the time of year guide dogs are most distracted by members of the public compared to other months, with more people out and about.

• Two thirds (62%) of guide dog owners say their dog is distracted at least once a day from well-meaning passers.

Cathy Williams, a 23-year-old Guide Dog owner from Caerphilly, South Wales says:

“I’ve had members of the public distracting Spencer right from the start of our partnership.

"One of worst encounters I had happened early on when I was out shopping with friends, and a man started whistling and calling Spencer towards him.

"I asked him politely to stop but he ignored me and followed us for ages, calling me cruel for not letting him say hello to my dog.

"He only left when my male friend intervened. It was really dehumanising.

“I have had parents stroking Spencer only for their children to tell them not to touch a guide dog.

"This sort of thing happens year-round, but I always feel Christmastime seems to get people all hyped up and crazy."

Cathy says she finds it frustrating as she is anxious to leave the house in case people try to pet/ distract Spencer, she believes the best thing the public can do, is ask her if they can pet her guide dog.

She hopes if less people distract dogs like Spencer, she will have more freedom to enjoy the Christmas period.

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