Two newly qualified guide dog instructors, Huang I-shan (
The two instructors have recently returned from training funded by the Kaohsiung Social Affairs Bureau, and were guests at an event held by the Taiwan Guide Dog Association in Taipei yesterday.
Before receiving training to become a guide dog instructor, Chang was a teaching assistant for a life science research institution.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
"I just love animals," Chang said. "But after seeing so many disadvantaged people, I began to care more about humans as well."
Huang and Chang departed for training in November 2004.
They first received basic guide dog training for 18 months at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Detroit.
After that, Huang remained to receive further training in Detroit while Chang went on to study guide dog breeding in New York. They finished all the training courses at the end of last year.
At the venue yesterday, William Chen (陳長青), the secretary general of the Taiwan Guide Dog Association, thanked former Kaohsiung mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) for promoting laws that allow guide dogs to enter most public buildings in the city.
"I hope that this will be the start of a movement to raise public awareness of the needs of the disadvantaged," he said.
After realizing that guide dogs were often prohibited from public buildings and transport, in August 2003 Hsieh initiated the Statute Governing Guide Dogs For Visually Impaired Persons (
The bill was passed by the Kaohsiung City council on Feb. 20, 2004.
Taiwan lacks a formal guide dog training facility. All potential guide dogs are trained "in house" with their host families, the group said.
Since these people are not formally trained, it's very important for guide dog instructors to communicate well with them beforehand, Chang said.
"Little puppies bite on everything -- sofas, newspapers and so on. They make a big mess everywhere," he said, adding that the most challenging part overall "is getting the public to accept the dogs."
According to the association, there are currently only four qualified guide dog instructors, including Huang and Chang.
For those who are interested in becoming a guide dog instructor, there is no requirement other than a love for dogs and people, the group said.
Chang suggested people should begin by becoming a volunteer at the association.
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