Charles Camilleri (December 17) is mistaken to condemn the President of Malta for saying that the Community Chest Fund will soon present guide dogs for the blind as though it was something cruel.
He states that when a dog is conditioned to live constantly with someone blind, the same dog will not be living a normal life. He goes on by commenting that a dog is subjected to vigorous training programmes to conform with this abnormal way of living. He also compares the dogs' life to that of animals in circuses and concludes by requesting to hear the views of animal lovers and on whether they shall be protesting about the dogs in the same way they did about the circus animals.
From the tone of his letter I am not sure whether Mr Camilleri is writing in defence of the circus's presence with animals and the dogs for the blind or not. It seems to me that, more than anything else, he is making an effort to justify the use of animals in circuses by comparing them to the dogs' life with blind humans he calls abnormal. For Mr Camilleri's information, dogs love human company whether s/he be blind or not. Their life with the blind will not be restricted because:
(a) Love is seen and given by the blind, which is what the dogs wants most. The blind will be using their dogs for guidance when out on the streets or countryside, therefore, getting their daily exercise and socialising.
(b) The love given by the blind to their dog in return to making life much easier is unequalled and that is why it could be called abnormal, contrary to what he states
(c) The vigorous training programmes he claims a dog for the blind needs, are in no way cruel, unlike those of circus animals. It is the circus animals that are not in their proper environment, after all. No questions about that. The dog has been domesticated from time immemorial and it is evident from past experiences that "dogs for the blind" will live a perfectly normal life as those for the non-blind.
(d) We have never heard of anybody protesting against the use of dogs for the blind on grounds of cruelty, be they local or overseas animal lovers.
(e) Last but not least, training given to dogs for the blind is done in a manner that makes the dog want to learn more. Absolutely no harm is done to the four-legged creatures during training. The system is a loved one. The dog is rewarded with food and embraced and fondled in appreciation and for having responded to its lessons in how to guide the blind.
During the dogs' training their tail is wagging continuously with happiness, unlike the depressed looks on circus animals. Should Mr. Camilleri want to know the difference between training circus animals and dogs for the blind he is invited to ask. Besides, while the dogs help the blind better their lives, the circus animals better their owners' pockets at their expense. Which of the two is the most noble deed to Mr Camilleri?