International Guide Dog Day: Handlers share their stories
For International Guide Dog Day 2021, Dog O’Day checks with handlers to see how their lives have been enriched by their canine connection. Melissa explains what her dog Luna’s typical day looks like.
For Melissa Allman, who graduated from The Seeing Eye in February 2017 and works with a Lab/Golden Retriever mix named Luna, navigating traffic is also made easier thanks to the presence of a guide dog, but both sides of the team have responsibilities in order to make things work.
“Luna guides me safely down the blocks we traverse, across streets, around obstacles indoors and out, and over various types of terrain. I trust her to do this and she trusts me to give her the commands and direction she needs to do her job,” Allman explained in an email to Dog O’Day.
“When we arrive at a corner, it is my job to give her the “forward” command after I’ve listened to traffic and determined it is safe to cross. It is her job to guide me across safely and intelligently disobey the “forward” command if it is not safe to cross because of something I couldn’t have anticipated like a car turning in front of me unexpectedly.”
At the time of her graduation, Melissa lived in Chicago, and she now works for The Seeing Eye as a Senior Specialist in Advocacy and Government Relations.
The Seeing Eye is the oldest guide dog training organization in the world, begun in the 1930s, and “Seeing Eye dog” is a trademark they own, as well as the official state dog of New Jersey.
“When Luna and I are traveling throughout our daily lives, we are a team. She’s got my back and I’ve got hers. Well, OK, I guess she’s got my front, but you take my point. It’s nice to have two brains working together,” Allman explained.
Still, even hardworking superdogs need down time as well, and Luna is no different.
“At home, she’s a dog pure and simple. Playtime is her paycheck for the hard work she’s done all day and we both really enjoy that. Snuggle time and belly rubs and just sitting quietly next to each other are also wonderful. She’s a great companion.”