VOA常速英语:导盲犬--盲人的伙伴

They are loving companions.
And for the blind, these dogs are a lifeline.
Lorri Bernson lost her vision 25 years ago and had her current guide dog named Captain for one year.
"He is so sweet, and so devoted, and so makes me smile.
You know these dogs are they’re not just your eyes.
I mean they become your heart.
They become part of your soul.
They become part of your being,
Because when theyre not with you, you notice the difference."

Many dogs are bred and trained here at Guide Dogs of America outside Los Angeles.
Owners and dogs move in tandem step by step, navigating obstacles, including cars.
If a car gets too close to them, and they have what we call a buffer zone.
Its anywhere from ten feet to two feet being a very tight buffer zone.
But if a car were to come and break that buffer zone, and the dog feels uncomfortable, they’re gonna stop."
The dogs bred at this facility are mostly labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, or a mix.
They are screened to ensure that they have the right temperament.
Guide dogs are allowed to go where other animals are not, boarding airplanes, for example, and trains.
Pamela Metzs guide dog Franklin has been with her for four years.
"We travel a lot together, and hes made it easier to travel independently."
Franklin has kept her spirits up since her husband passed away two years ago.
"He made me have to get up in the morning to take care of him and the cats,
made me have to get up and move, and stay mobile and keep busy."
Guide Dogs of America recently merged with another organization that provides service animals, tender loving canines assistants dogs.
This assistance dog is working with a trainer and volunteer to learn how to help a child with autism.
Other assistance dogs work with disabled veterans.
Some are trained by and helped prisoners, providing a needed pair of eyes as well as love and companionship
And even in an age when advanced technology is helping the disabled, the role of guide and assistance dogs is only expanding.