Let dogs do their work - Redcliffe & Bayside Herald QLD

Taken from Redcliffe & Bayside Herald, Brisbane QLD, page 2, 15 October 2014

Rothwell

Please Don't Pat Guides

It is hard not to want to pat Golden Retriever Labrador cross Ollie.

But as a Seeing Eye Dog, patting him could be what puts Ollie and his owner Alan Nemeth in danger.

Mr Nemeth, who is virtually blind, wanted people to be aware that patting Seeing Eye Dogs distracted them from their duties.

"He gets distracted and he can't do the things I ask as well," Mr Nemeth said.

The more people distract Ollie, the harder it becomes for them to get around.

"It can create a very dangerous situation for me and Ollie.

"A lot of people who pat Ollie say they couldn't help themselves. Well of course you can."

With only three per cent of his vision, he relies on Ollie.

"In just generally getting around he knows where I want go. I can tell him to take me to Coles and he'll do that. When I'm waiting at the bus stop he'll stand up when the bus is coming," he said.

Seeing Eye Dogs says people should not distract, feed or touch a working Seeing Eye Dog in harness without the handler's permission.

Caption Text: Alan Nemeth with his Seeing Eye Dog Ollie. Picture: Russell Brown