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Ask ten people what they think of when you say ‘service animals’ and seven will probably say ‘seeing eye dogs.’ We most commonly associate working dogs with the blind. The history of these dogs goes back over one hundred years, and there are references to them even before that. The first training centers for dogs who see for people were established after the first World War, to train animals for blind veterans. Today they are commonly used in a number of countries as companions for the blind. Seeing eye dogs give those who cannot see a way to be largely independent, instead of having to rely on family members and friends to help them. There are some blind people who learn to navigate the world on their own, but in some places this can be dangerous. Companion dogs are a sort of compromise, given a person a measure of independence in the form of a dog. These dogs are trained to be like a set of eyes for their person, helping them avoid obstacles in their path and watching for potential hazards. For example, a blind person may be walking around a city. They might know to stop at a crosswalk until a safety signal beeps, but they cannot know if a car is speeding up to run a red light. A seeing dog will see the car and signal his owner to wait until the car has passed. Those who choose companion dogs can keep much of their independence while still ensuring their safety.
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