Abnormal life of guide dogs for blind

Mireille Bugeja

Dec 18th 2009, 09:40

Ghaziz Mr. Camilleri,
Nisfidak tipprova tghix gurnata biss minghajn id-dawl ta' ghajnejk ha nara kemm tkun kapaci tifhem lil dawn in-nies li andom din id-dizabilita. Il-klieb gwida vera li ghandhom responsabbilita, imma nista nassigurak jien li sidhom jitrattawhom bl-aqwa mod possibli u l-klieb mhumiex mahqurin kif qed tghid int. Ma tistax taghmel kuntrast bejn l-annimali tac-cirklu u l-klieb gwida.Il-Klieb gwida huma 'ghajnejn' il-bniedem li ma ghandux. M'hemmx mohqrija imma fiducja u mhabba kbira lejn dawk il-klieb! L-ewwel 'ara' l-fatti, ohrog ma' nies li ghandhom kelb gwida, imbghad erga ikteb ittra ohra.

Kenneth Cassar

Dec 18th 2009, 09:12

@ J Farrugia:

U jien hsibt li l-ittra kienet dwar klieb u mhux tigri.

Michael Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 20:03

@George Debono. First remark George in French is a female. Written with an s then it's a male. Reading your comment I am at a loss to know whether you understand la Fontaine’s fable or not. Is La Fontaine against dogs or in their favour? Please decide. La Fontaine's moral is that there is nothing more precious than freedom. Freedom from anything. As for dogs La Fontaine sees nothing wrong in being kept as pets or as guard dogs. He seems to appreciate their role and their way of living being in need of nothing and well treated. Your dog must be suffering from a cold once it sneezes reading the way the dog in the fable is treated by its master or feels jealous. Perhaps in your enthusiasm to contradict anything you failed to understand the fable

Pule' Carmel

Dec 17th 2009, 18:58

I am sure that if we would learn how to transplant a dog's heart or its liver or its kidneys or its eyes in humans, whose components had deteriorated due to some thing or other, we would breed dogs and kill them as we breed chickens, cows, lamb and goats for their meat in any conditions be it a red carpet treatment or otherwise, we still kill them eventualy.

George Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 17:55

@Micheal Debono Evidence that La Fontaine never owned a dog? Or that he thought dogs were supposed to be kept always under restraint. Mt dog Woogy read it and sneezed (he usually does this too when he sniffs horrible diesel exhaust) G

J Farrugia

Dec 17th 2009, 17:48

prosit charles, tajthom wahda lil dawn l-attivisti kontra c-cirklu, li mhux ser iqumu facilment minnha. Dawn l-ghorrief kollha li kitbu kontra tieghek raw l-ahmar ghax indunaw li kxiftilhom l-ipokrisija li ghandhom. U zgur li ma tarax protesti kontra tigri u annimali slavag li hawn fostna - ghidli ma min taghmilha u nghidlek x'int. Dawn kollha tal-animal coalition mhuma xejn hlief oqbra mbajda. U anarkisti tal-prima li m'ghandhom x'jaqsmu xejn maghna. Ahna nghozzu l-valuri tajba - dawn l-inqas jafu jekk hux qed jghixu, ghax l-inqas jieklu li jixtiequ. ghaddejjin bhall-annimali. L-inqas kuxjenza m'ghandhom ghall-haddiema li jahdmu fic-cirkli ahseb u ara kemm ser jaghtu kaz tal-haddiem malti. Nies li ma jahmlux jaraw bniedem jaqla lira fil-kwiet. Nawguralek il-festi t-tajba Charles u j'alla d-dundjan mixwi jinzillek ghasel.

Franco Farrugia

Dec 17th 2009, 17:31

@ Charles Camilleri - 'Therefore, it is proper and just to hear the views of animal lovers (who have been protesting against the circus animals) on whether they plan similar protests against the treatment of these dogs.' >>> My answer: Don't be silly. Read and learn, and comment less.

c. camilleri

Dec 17th 2009, 16:03

@ Z Perry. I must confess that i never knew that guide dogs learn how to write and use the computer.
I always had a dog in my home and I can assure all those below the least that a dog wants is to be tied up to its owner day and night. Dogs like the freedom to roam in open spaces like gardens and when let loose in the country. All domesticated animals lose their ability to live in the wild and these include the circus animals. The fact that we hear protests every time we have a visiting circus makes one doubt of the sincerity of our animal lovers. Why do we hear no protest against the treatment of horses, birds and others. We had the assurance of the Govt veterinary that the circus animals are well treated. So why all these protests. Or is the livelihood of the circus' workers of no concern to these animal lovers?

Michael Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 15:38

________________________________________________
This reminds of the fable by La Fonataine: “The wolf and the mastiff dog “
A prowling wolf met a mastiff dog and was preparing to attack it. But noticing how strong was the dog and itself with such a shaggy carcass of skin and bones, had second thoughts. It simply entered into conversion expressing admiration of how fine the dog looked.
Quit your woods; all your fellows are shabby and wretched replied the dog. You always have to fight to live. Follow my example; you will have nothing to complain. What must I do?
Nearly nothing: keep guard and unwanted people away. Please your master and fawn his visitors. You will be fed: cooked meat and fowls of all sorts. The wolf was already feeling the good taste and ready to accept. However walking further on it noticed a small gall around the dog’s neck.
What’s that?
Nothing, it could only be caused by the collar attached around my neck. Attached! You are not free to roam around?
Not always but what does it matter?
It matters so much that of all your meals I would not have. Thereupon the wolf run away and is still running.

Zac Perry

Dec 17th 2009, 14:14

Dear Mr Camilleri

I have been a Guide Dog for 6 years and have enjoyed every moment of it. The training was very thorough but the instructors were very gentle and I learned my tasks quickly. I was rewarded with a hug and a biscuit when I did well. Since meeting my new owner I have been to many places and met many very kind people. I love being in the family of my owner and look forward to carrying out the easy job of looking out for my master. I have never been poorly handled or abused and love the work. I show my gratitude with a lick because we are so well cared for. I speak on behalf of all working dogs - we just love to be of help. As I walk along I often see and hear other dogs complain of their treatment but sadly they cannot write to the ġpaper to complain but suffer in silence.

adrian aquilina

Dec 17th 2009, 13:18

guide dogs are trained to do natural things,only certain breeds being used.they are not beaten,tyed up or given electric shocks like circus animals are.they are loved and fed properly and it seems some people do not understand how intelligent animals are.also how animals understand a know when being treated badly and imprisioned and it affect them as it would a human..no more stupid arguments..circuses are banned for a reason.more people visit non animal circuses then the ones with animals.i know malta is very far behind in so many things but being behind in humanity and compassion for animals,which is what we are too,is just sad

Charles DeMicoli

Dec 17th 2009, 12:29

Yes Charles Camilleri, it is also wrong to train people to get up at the same time each day, go to the same place, do the same chores and return home and do it all over again the next day. Come on, guy, get serious!

DVella

Dec 17th 2009, 12:20

As usual, nobody seems to be able to distinguish between domesticated animals that have been so for millennia . . . and animals that are wild and whose proper place should be in their natural habitat. It's not exactly rocket science after all but since even our esteemed Director of Animal Welfare was unable to perform this mental leap, one fears for our future!

Can Mister Camilleri kindly define what a 'normal' way of life for a dog is ? Can he confirm that he is actually making the distinction between dogs, a domesticated species dating back some 10,000 years and their wild counterparts? After all, guide dogs are trained to provide a service which actually helps less fortunate people and not made to perform a series of petty tricks and stunts which are demeaning in comparison to their natural activities in their proper natural habitat . . . so that others can make a profit . . .

George Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 11:47

CONTINUES

As an (great) animal lover and a member of a "doggy" family. I can attest to the happiness of the dozen or two of dogs who have shared our home with us over the years, they became part of the family ("Pack") which mostly included cats (these also part of the pack and our dogs would defend them by chasing away intruding toms ). After 6,000 years of partnership with man these animals are as good as human...and very, very, happry together with humans.

This contrasts emormously with the miserable caged life of circus animals, or of dogs cruelly locked out on house roofs or in lonely confinement in a hut with no company. These dogs show typical symptoms (called dispacelement activity) of unendurable boredom - they bark incessantly and often run around uselessly in cirlces. It is against such owners that animal lover should protest…. in the case of dogs - of course there is much cruelty aganst other animals.

My happy dog Woggy sends Mr Camilleri his best regards. If you wish for a photo or two of this immensely happy dog just contact me at gdmc@kemmunet.net.mt !!

Read Conrad Lorenz Mr Camilleri - v interesting...
G

George Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 11:32

@" subjected to vigorous training programmes..........him/her conform to this ""abnormal"" way of a dog's life"""Like the circus animals they must have passed through a great ordeal to reach that level of obedience and understanding"…..

A well-trained dog is trained differently - a dog likes to please and responds infinitely more to REWARD and PRAISE than to COERCION. Any sensible dog owner - and every guide dog trainer - will train his dog in this way. Guide dogs are trained wonderfully and they live a very happy life, contented because they feel loved and secure with a master (= leader of the pack" in the dog's psycghology) whom they are absolutely delighted to please.

@ "have a very restricted freedom of action"
- Wrong again: Dogs are territorial animals. Like humans, they also suffer from boredom. They will suffer if (as often happens) they are locked up in a backyard or on a roof - but every domestic dog is happy to have the run of a home shared with humans (who become the "pack") because this becomes "his"(or her!) "territory' which they will fiercely defend (hence the barking etc at strangers.)They also go out often and see the world

CONTINUES

Lawrence Caruana

Dec 17th 2009, 11:30

Well done a very good point ,one could also include horse racing although it is seen as a sport.
I am surprised that we still see caged finches and very rarely we do hear or read comments.

George Debono

Dec 17th 2009, 11:28

I am afraid that you are seriously wrong Mr CAmilleri.

@"continuous life with a blind person he/she is not passing a normal life" -

Wrong for two reasons. (A) The symbiosis between man and dog is estimated to be at least 6,000 years old. (B) A dog (unlike, say a polar bear or elephant) is a social animal and wants to relate to somebody. According to Conrad Lorenz social imprint themselves on to another animal from birth and remain loyal/faithful to this imprinting - Lorenz became famous for being followed by a goose that loved him and I am sure the goose was happy… Simlarly a dog will attach itself to another living being be it hiuman or another dog. They normally live in packs and so the pack of (blind) man and dog become a pack. An going from the body language of the dog the dog is very happy to please and is conyented. - Just as my faithful dog is - who constantly wags his tail and look so contented
CONTINUES

Deo Catania

Dec 17th 2009, 10:58

U tghidx cucati Charles........kif jista jimxi 'l quddiem dal-pajjiz b'dan it-tip ta' ragunar. Dal-poplu jista jippakkja u jdabbar rasu lejn xi pajjiz li lanqas biss hu mnizzel fil-mappa tad-dinja.

michael turner

Dec 17th 2009, 10:45

Mr Camilleri clearly loves animals, which is of great merit. However he should not make comments which appear to be an attempt to stir up trouble without making sure that he knows what he is writing about. Anyone who has experienced the deep devotion and mutual love between a guide dog and his owner can have no doubt as to the merits of the relationship to both parties. Furthermore, only those dogs who are suitable are carefully chosen to be trained, and these are dogs with a natural inclination towards caring.

M. Vella

Dec 17th 2009, 10:33

I am a strong supporter of animal rights and I firmly believe that having tigers, elephants, alligators and other animals perform tricks for the amusement of two legged creatures is totally uncessary.

However, I do not agree that this is the case for guide dogs. Guide dogs provide much needed assistance to persons without sight. Apart from that they become part of the person's familly and I am sure that they are loved and well treated.

I am a great animal lover, espeically where dogs are concerned and the use of dogs as guide dogs does not really worry me. However, unless there already is a practice in place, these dogs should be monitored so as to ensure that their well being in maintained.

Kenneth Cassar

Dec 17th 2009, 10:23

What makes you think you have the right to decide who protests against what?

As for the rest of the letter, you come out as someone who knows nothing about neither tigers nor dogs. To honestly believe that a dog they must have passed through a great ordeal to reach that level of obedience and understanding (as a tiger would), is evidence enough that you clearly have no idea.