The public was warned yesterday that making too much of a guidedog can put the owner and the animal at risk.
Dr Amy Kavanagh, a visually impaired mother, stated that dogs can become upset and lose their focus if they are petted.
After the Guide Dogs charity revealed that 71% of dog owners claim their dog is distracted at least once per day, she was eager to share her experiences.
She said that Ava was once petted by a woman as she was showing her the gap at the train station.
‘That is the real risk,’ she added. ‘She could be stopping me walking out in front of cars or falling down the stairs.’
She also said she was ‘screamed at’ after she politely asked a man to stop petting Ava.
Dr Amy Kavanagh, who was visually impaired from birth, warned people that guide dog can become upset and lose focus if petted.
A year ago, Dr Kavanagh was paired-up with Ava, her guide dog.
Despite Ava’s training and willingness to work hard, Dr Kavanagh said the pair are often put into dangerous situations by passers-by wanting to fuss over the dog.
Dr Kavanagh said that Ava gets distracted “pretty much every day” when the pair are out and that it has an impact upon both of them.
She said, “People will try to pet her or whine at her while she works and it can cause confusion for me because she’s my eyes.”
‘If she stops and does a different movement, I can think it’s because of a hazard like a set of steps or a car on the pavement and it can be really stressful or frightening.’
Dr Kavanagh claimed that a woman once pet her dog Ava while she was showing her where the gap was on a train platform. Another time, she was ‘screamed at’ after she politely asked a man to stop petting Ava
Dr Kavanagh stated that sometimes Ava can become distressed and lose focus when she is approached by members of the general public.
She stated that her body language changes and she loves her job. However, there was one instance where she had to cry because she was distracted. Sometimes she has been really distressed after.’
Dr Kavanagh stated she does try to explain to people how they can pet Ava while she works. She said that one time she was in a cafe and a man screamed at Ava.
She said: ‘It’s a bit entitled because really they’re putting their want to play with a dog above my boundaries.’
Dr Kavanagh stated that sometimes it comes from kindness. People think Ava is always working, but she does get some time off.
She said: ‘She’s my baby. She doesn’t usually work more than three hours a day and she has toys and treats and we go for off-lead walks and I take my cane and she can play.
‘People don’t understand that she’s not working 24/7.’