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Callous and ignorant people make city life tough for man's best friend
By Lu Feiran |
April 14, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FOR five years Dong Dalin, a Shanghai local, and his black Lab guide dog Ka Jie have gone everywhere together. They have a deep bond of mutual loyalty and affection.
"Guide dogs are kind, patient and devoted, but their good qualities are not reciprocated by society," said Dong, a 57-year-old retired librarian for the city's braille library.
"This is not a good place for guide dogs because society doesn't accept them and the environment is bad," he told Shanghai Daily.
In 2008 Dong was selected as one of the users for the first "class" of guide dogs graduating from the police dog training center in Nanjing, where guide dogs are also trained. For 18 days Dong lived at the center and worked with Ka Jie; they developed a strong bond.
"The dog is very smart, loyal and obedient," he said.
Like all guide dogs, Ka Jie is able to lead Dong across streets, stop at a red light (according to pedestrian flow because all dogs are red-green color blind) and signal to Dong when there is possible danger. The six-year-old canine also recognizes zebra crossings and understands commands in English. Almost every day they go walking around Nanjing Road W. in Jing'an District.
With Ka Jie's guidance, Dong can do many things independently, things that previously would have been difficult or impossible. He can also take better care of his elderly mother and go to the pharmacy to get her medicine.
Whenever there's a knock on the door at home, Ka Jie rushes to see who's there.
"My life is much easier with Ka Jie," said Dong. "We are family and need each other."
Dong often tells people that Ka Jie is "the only guide dog who goes on an art stage in Shanghai, maybe in China." He refers to a gala in 2009 held by the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. It celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China; Dong delivered a recitation on stage.
"The sound from the loudspeakers was roaring and I was afraid Ka Jie would be freaked out and overreact," Dong said, "but he was stable from the beginning to end, always standing by my side quietly."
But it's hard to be a guide dog and once, shortly after coming to Shanghai, Ka Jie was injured in an accident on a sidewalk. The two were walking along when when a bicycle cut in front of them on the sidewalk. Ka Jie tried to avoid the bicycle, but then a scooter on the sidewalk rushed up and hit him on his left hind leg.
The dog was limping and in pain but he still guided Dong home and collapsed when they got through the door.
"Guide dogs are trained not to bark, so remained quiet until he could no longer hold back the pain," Dong said. "I was heartbroken hearing him whimpering."
Fortunately Ka Jie didn't suffer a fracture, but he couldn't walk properly for around a week.
"I know some massage so I massaged him every day," Dong said. "But the whole incident made me wonder whether the city environment is good for Ka Jie."
Besides, Dong is frequently turned away by buses and hotels. Although the country's laws said guide dogs are allowed on public transport, the regulations are often flouted.
Once Shanghai Television was doing a story on problems of people with disabilities, focusing on Dong and Ka Jie. A cameraman followed Dong and his dog to a bus.
"I let other people to board first as usual but before I could board, the conductor closed the door. Then she realized there was a camera so she opened the door and reminded the driver about the regulation. The driver was furious and shouted at the cameraman, 'What the heck are you shooting'?"
Dong said that after Ka Jie retires in about five years, he won't want another dog.
"It's too hard for them to stay here," he said.
"Guide dogs are kind, patient and devoted, but their good qualities are not reciprocated by society," said Dong, a 57-year-old retired librarian for the city's braille library.
"This is not a good place for guide dogs because society doesn't accept them and the environment is bad," he told Shanghai Daily.
In 2008 Dong was selected as one of the users for the first "class" of guide dogs graduating from the police dog training center in Nanjing, where guide dogs are also trained. For 18 days Dong lived at the center and worked with Ka Jie; they developed a strong bond.
"The dog is very smart, loyal and obedient," he said.
Like all guide dogs, Ka Jie is able to lead Dong across streets, stop at a red light (according to pedestrian flow because all dogs are red-green color blind) and signal to Dong when there is possible danger. The six-year-old canine also recognizes zebra crossings and understands commands in English. Almost every day they go walking around Nanjing Road W. in Jing'an District.
With Ka Jie's guidance, Dong can do many things independently, things that previously would have been difficult or impossible. He can also take better care of his elderly mother and go to the pharmacy to get her medicine.
Whenever there's a knock on the door at home, Ka Jie rushes to see who's there.
"My life is much easier with Ka Jie," said Dong. "We are family and need each other."
Dong often tells people that Ka Jie is "the only guide dog who goes on an art stage in Shanghai, maybe in China." He refers to a gala in 2009 held by the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. It celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China; Dong delivered a recitation on stage.
"The sound from the loudspeakers was roaring and I was afraid Ka Jie would be freaked out and overreact," Dong said, "but he was stable from the beginning to end, always standing by my side quietly."
But it's hard to be a guide dog and once, shortly after coming to Shanghai, Ka Jie was injured in an accident on a sidewalk. The two were walking along when when a bicycle cut in front of them on the sidewalk. Ka Jie tried to avoid the bicycle, but then a scooter on the sidewalk rushed up and hit him on his left hind leg.
The dog was limping and in pain but he still guided Dong home and collapsed when they got through the door.
"Guide dogs are trained not to bark, so remained quiet until he could no longer hold back the pain," Dong said. "I was heartbroken hearing him whimpering."
Fortunately Ka Jie didn't suffer a fracture, but he couldn't walk properly for around a week.
"I know some massage so I massaged him every day," Dong said. "But the whole incident made me wonder whether the city environment is good for Ka Jie."
Besides, Dong is frequently turned away by buses and hotels. Although the country's laws said guide dogs are allowed on public transport, the regulations are often flouted.
Once Shanghai Television was doing a story on problems of people with disabilities, focusing on Dong and Ka Jie. A cameraman followed Dong and his dog to a bus.
"I let other people to board first as usual but before I could board, the conductor closed the door. Then she realized there was a camera so she opened the door and reminded the driver about the regulation. The driver was furious and shouted at the cameraman, 'What the heck are you shooting'?"
Dong said that after Ka Jie retires in about five years, he won't want another dog.
"It's too hard for them to stay here," he said.
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