Do you know about guide dogs? Guide dogs are not just regular dogs, but partners of the blind and have been thoroughly educated. A guide dog is trained to protect the blind by guiding or informing them of danger. It is a partner and an important role in a blind person's life. A few months ago, there was an issue when Lotte Mart blocked the entry of a guide dog that was undergoing training.

On November 29, 2020 a guide dog entrusted to Puppy Walker entered a Lotte Mart and a shouting emplyee refused to allow the customer entry. The Lotte Mart came under fire because of this situation. To become a guide dog, a puppy starts by being born in a guide dog school called Puppy Walking. It is entrusted to a general family and needs to go through a socialization process. Young guide dogs can have their training hindered if they are denied entry to places during the training process.

In an entertainment program, a couple of blind college students said that there are still many restaurants that refuse entry with a guide dog, although their recognition has improved compared to before. As such, disabled people suffer from discrimination in daily life and other people's perceptions.

The disabled person welfare law states that anyone with disabilities accompanied by a guide dog should not be denied without justifiable reasons. They can use public transportation and enter public places, lodging facilities, and food service establishments. However, guide dogs are still being discriminated against by people who don't know about this law.

There is some etiquette regarding guide dogs. ① Do not feed guide dogs without asking the owner. ② Don't pet or touch guide dogs without permission. ③ Do not take pictures of guide dogs. ④ Access to public places with guide dogs is not illegal. ⑤ Don't draw the attention of guide dogs, this could be dangerous to the person it is helping.

We need to pay more attention to the laws about guide dogs. It is necessary to understand a little more about the hardships of blind people who use them. In addition, minimal consideration is needed to check whether the studded paving blocks are well connected and whether there are any inconvenient obstacles in the footpath.

L.L.F reporter Su-bin Song