By Rachel Au-Yong, The Sunday Times, 2 Feb 2014
It is now easier for guide dogs to live in their owners' Housing Board flats, said Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan in a blog post yesterday.
Previously, residents who are visually impaired had to appeal to HDB for exceptions, then apply to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for a licence.
With the streamlined process, they need only approach the AVA for licensing now.
The Sunday Times understands that this is mostly a formality, with licences most likely to be granted as long as the dog does not belong to certain breeds, like the rottweiler or Japanese akita.
Although there are about 4,000 people who are visually impaired in Singapore, there are just three guide dogs here - two of which live with their owners in HDB flats.
Mr Khaw's announcement comes on the heels of Law Minister K. Shanmugam's call for clearer rules on guide dogs last year.
At a dinner organised by the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind, Mr Shanmugam had asked for a "compassionate, proactive inter-agency approach" in addressing problems faced by the visually impaired.
Mr Khaw referred to two other agencies under the Ministry of National Development.
The National Parks Board, he said, is "guide-dog friendly," while the Building and Construction Authority released a guide last year for professionals to design spaces suitable for a guide dog and its owner.
The minister said Singapore is not as guide-dog friendly as other cities, which allow them in restaurants, because they are not as common here.
Citing the report of a guide dog that protected its owner who had fallen onto a subway track in New York, Mr Khaw said: "To the visually handicapped, a trained guide dog is more than a life partner. Sometimes, it is a lifesaver."
Psychotherapist and guide dog owner Cassandra Chiu said it is "welcoming that government agencies are attempting to do more for the blind and their guide dogs".
Psychotherapist and guide dog owner Cassandra Chiu said it is "welcoming that government agencies are attempting to do more for the blind and their guide dogs".
However, more must be done to ensure the authenticity of guide dogs before they are imported and for the welfare of guide dogs that are retired from duty, she added.
"Any misbehaviour of a supposed guide dog at HDB estates will erode the painstakingly gained tolerance at the moment."
The AVA requires proof that the dog has been trained by a school registered with either The International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International.
It also requires the following information before the dog is imported:
- The owner's disability and need to have the dog accompanying him or her at all times; and
- Evidence that the dog has assisted the owner, or has attended an assistance dog training school for at least six months.
Do more to help the blind integrate
Making it easier for guide dogs to live in HDB flats is a move towards helping blind people integrate into society ("Easier to get HDB guide dog licence"; last Sunday).
Blind individuals are just like any other person with disabilities - they need to be accepted by society.
Singaporeans have learnt to share common spaces with wheelchair users, and it's time they did the same for blind people with guide dogs.
We should put ourselves in their shoes to understand what it is like to be turned away at some places.
Using legislation to mandate acceptance of guide dogs is a step backwards because discrimination against these animals should not exist in the first place.
I hope the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind will bring in more guide dogs to cater to our blind population. The authorities could also set up a school to train more such dogs.
Also, museums under the National Heritage Board should consider allowing guide dogs on their premises, thereby setting an example for others to follow.
Lastly, the Land Transport Authority could advise taxi operators to bring in a few special cabs for blind people and their guide dogs.
Francis Cheng
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
Be more open-minded on guide dogs
While I was walking my dog in the Holland Village area recently, I noticed a blind woman and a blind man standing with a guide dog, waiting for a taxi.
When they managed to flag one down, the woman spent a considerable amount of time explaining to the driver that her dog was not a mere pet but a licensed guide dog. However, the driver refused to let them board.
The dog, while curious to see other dogs, was well trained and did not bark or jump when my dog was near.
In another instance, I was taking an SMRT bus towards Jalan Jelita when a blind woman boarded with her guide dog.
The bus driver seemed surprised but did not raise any objection. The dog was big but well behaved. It found a spot under its owner's seat and lay there until she gave the command that it was time to alight.
The dog then waited for the bus to come to a complete stop before stepping down slowly and carefully from the bus.
There have been reports of blind people with guide dogs being turned away by taxi drivers and staff of shopping malls and cafes, making it difficult for them to go about their daily routines.
I urge Singaporeans to be more open-minded and well-informed of the stringent training guide dogs undergo.
Joanna Chua (Miss)
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
Thanks, for sign of greater acceptance
I thank National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan for his compassionate and timely response to Law Minister K. Shanmugam's call for clearer rules on guide dogs ("Easier to get HDB guide dog licence"; last Sunday).
As someone who depends on a guide dog as a mobility aid, I view this as a signal of deeper acceptance and integration of people with disabilities, for them to play an active and contributing role in Singapore's rich socio-economic landscape. It is also very heart-warming to read of Mr Khaw's concern over the unorthodox training of a supposed guide dog.
Last December, Mr Shanmugam noted that Singapore has "not been able to recognise guide dogs in accordance with international protocols". He called for clearer regulations and "a supportive regulatory framework" that can serve as a system for proper recognition of guide dogs.
It is important to have an accountable mechanism to ensure that blind handlers and their guide dogs continue to behave appropriately in Singapore's multicultural and multi-religious society.
A legislated framework, like Queensland's Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009, will allow blind individuals like myself to enjoy the privileges of enhanced mobility with a guide dog, while allowing for accountability and responsibility for our actions as handlers as well as those of our dogs.
Cassandra Chiu Mei Mei (Ms)
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
ST Forum, 9 Feb 2014
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