Submitted by Alex on Fri, 2008-09-19 13:23.
Dalian possesses China’s only Guide Dog Training Centre, located at the Dalian Medical Science University. The widespread use of guide dogs is in it’s embryonic stage in China, Dalian’s training centre a cutting edge in this aspect of China’s disability assistance programs. Large dogs are unusual in China’s cities – while they may be seen the official permitted height for many larger cities in China is just 35cm.
Dalian News yesterday provided an interesting take on this and highlighted some especially perverse bureaucratic inefficiency:
In China, guide dogs were allowed in public places from July 20 to September 20 thanks to a temporary certificate issued by the authority for the Olympics.
I.e. Labradors were not permitted before July 20 2008. Further:
Her request was denied because she didn't have a certificate proving Lucky was a guide dog.
So far, there are no accredited organizations for guide dogs in China.
Things may be changing, but so far it seems no official or organization wants to take the bull by the horns and allow those with a visual impairment to live in a way many would desire:
An amendment to the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons in April, granted the blind the right to take guide dogs to public places, provided they obeyed the 'relevant regulations'
Just what 'relevant regulations' mean is unclear to Wang Jingyu, the director of China's Guide Dog Training Center.
"The article is too vague. Detailed rules are need to help its implementation," said Wang.The China Disabled Persons Federation estimates there are 12 million people with visual impairments in the country. Yet there are only 20 guide dogs currently receiving training in Dalian.
Hopefully, with the achievement and publicity the paralympic games in Beijing brought, a groundswell of public opinion can change this. With only 20 guide dogs training in China’s only guide dog training center, unless a huge push is made, progress will be slow
An open question: Are the blind included in plans for a 'harmonious society', or those in a wheelchair, or those with a learning problem? If Dalian, or any city, inside China or outside, is prosperious enough to have it’s roads clogged by Audis and BMWs, it is able to help the disadvantaged live a normal life.
Above picture adapted from http://flickr.com/photos/iainalexander/2181171072/sizes/l/ Creative Commons Licence by-nc-sa-2.0
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Comments
I see big dogs everywhere in Dalian.
It seems like it's a growing trend to own large dogs.
_______________
Seize the Carp!
In my apartment building, there are about 10 full-sized huskies, all owned by different people. There are a handful of golden labs, and a Sharpei dog that's a bonified killer.
All these dogs are kept in apartments that are all about 50m2 in area. i.e. fucking tiny. I have a dog, a tiny pekinese, and I think the apartments are too big even for him.
So what's the deal with all these Chinese city folk buying massive, expensive dogs? You're right McG, it is a trend for sure. I figure it's like everything else in China. You buy a big ol' expensive dog, and you are buying status. You're trying to look like you have money. Baofahu...
Here's my dog. Or more specifically, my wife's dog. He's a much better city dog than a husky.
Rick in China
http://www.pandapassport.com
It's bad enough the blind are not given a guide dog. They can't even register one, and an official, doing a job intended to help society, instead of doing nothing, explicitly refuse an application? I hope they sleep well at night.
While those that want a big dog for the sake of having a big dog (in a small apartment like Rick says) get away with it for all sakes and purposes.
Sickening.
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