Editorial | The use of guide dogs should be expanded
- The public death of a guide dog prompted some people to question their use and call for a ban. But the animals provide a valuable service and the need for them far outstrips the current number in service
Guide dogs transform the lives of their visually-impaired owners, allowing them to become more active and independent.
The well-being of the dogs is also important. The sad death of a guide dog in Hong Kong last month sparked much debate on social media.
The five-year-old Labrador retriever collapsed at a shopping centre while out with its visually-impaired owner. A picture of the motionless dog circulated on social media.
It prompted some internet users, concerned about animal welfare, to question the use of guide dogs and to call for them to be banned. One even described the practice as “the lifelong enslavement of dogs”.
The dog was a service animal from Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services. The charity issued a statement to dispel rumours, revealing a vet who examined the dog suspected it had been poisoned.
An autopsy showed it had been in good health prior to its sudden death and tissue samples have been sent to a local lab for analysis. Police are investigating.