If a handler does not want to talk about the experience, then periodic follow-up telephone calls every other week for a month offer the opportunity to discuss the incident at a later date. Some handlers may request no additional contact. This request needs to be respected. The brochure may be made available to handlers during training and following the processing of experiences of the attacks, so they may implement the strategies for coping with an attack.
Workbooks are available that reinforce and further develop strategies for coping with stress Burns, ; McGrath, Such strategies include self-nurturing, time orientation, engaging in positive self-talk and thought stopping, and recognizing choices in life.
Self-nurturing: Self-nurturing involves engaging in activities that are revitalizing and refreshing. These activities include a wide variety of enjoyable, pleasant, and fulfilling interests or hobbies, such as listening to or playing music, cooking, and reading.
Physical exercise and eating a well-balanced diet are healthy ways to nurture oneself. Rest and sleep are imperative. Abstaining from using alcohol or substances as a means of coping with stress is necessary. Relaxation and body awareness exercises may assist in alleviating stress and tension in muscles and may enhance sleep. Nurturing oneself involves taking time to rejuvenate and replenish energy resources for coping. Time orientation. It is important to live in the present.
This is especially important following an attack on a dog guide because the handler may think about the past attack and relive the attack in his or her mind, which creates anxiety. Handlers are encouraged to learn from the experience, focus on the present, and identify a plan of action for the dog guide team. Self-talk and thought stopping: Handlers are encouraged to observe their thought processes. If they engage in negative self-talk related to the attack, they are encouraged to stop these negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts.
I will be aware of dogs off their leashes and will address each situation as it arises. I have a plan of action for addressing a dog that approaches us. Recognizing choices in life:A handler has a choice of whether to focus on the attack or learn from the experience and move beyond it.
Conscious effort is required to move forward, so that the attack is not his or her focus. Social support and networking. A response to stressful events may be to isolate oneself. Handlers may feel as though they do not want to be around others following an attack on their dog guides. It is important that they remain socially engaged.
Social support, understanding, and encouragement may assist handlers in moving through the experience. Handlers may be surprised at the support, assistance, validation, and empathy they receive from others, especially if they felt abandoned in their attempts to seek assistance following an attack. Being around others offers handlers an opportunity to redirect their focus away from the attack, which may have occurred while they were alone. Empowerment of the Handler As is the case with most dog attacks, handlers may be left feeling powerless, helpless, and perhaps hopeless.
They are encouraged to identify positive, proactive ways to empower themselves. There is no limit to how empowerment may be accomplished, depending on the handler. Handlers may empower themselves by educating the public about leash laws and laws providing special protection for dog guides, informing the public about dog attacks through television and newspaper coverage of the incidents, writing letters to the editors of local newspapers expressing concern related to the incidents, meeting with representatives of local law enforcement or animal control agencies to discuss the attacks and how they may assist handlers and their dog guides if future incidents occur, and so on.
Notifying special-interest groups may serve to promote the cause of educating the public about dog guides, their work, and resources invested in training dogs for guide work. Handlers may legally empower themselves if the owners of attacking dogs are known. Speaking engagements at schools and sharing information with students and teachers about dog guides, their training and purpose, may heighten public awareness of appropriate and inappropriate behavior when encountering a dog guide.
All these activities may serve handlers in a positive manner to increase awareness about dog guides. Special Considerations Considerations for staff members: It is not easy to hear horrific accounts of violence on dog guides.
It is likely that staff members of dog guide schools have invested much time and energy in the cause of using dog guides. Hearing about these experiences, in itself, may be traumatic. Thus, it is important that staff members who assist handlers following such attacks also have an opportunity to process their experiences.
The staff members may share feelings and concerns with other staff members or the staff counselor after assisting the handlers. They may prefer to process experiences formally with mental health professionals or informally through support networks of friends. Formal processing may involve the use of Employee Assistance Programs or health insurance, if available, and may be an option if a staff counselor is not available.
Processing by formal means ensures that the information that is addressed remains confidential unless otherwise identified prior to the consultation. Referrals to medical or mental health professionals:Staff members who are assisting handlers following dog guide attacks may find themselves in a difficult situation, depending on how the handlers respond to the attacks.
They are not to be placed in a position of functioning as mental health professionals. Referral sources may include professionals who are trained to evaluate the potential need for immediate intervention, including physicians, other medical professionals, or mental health professionals like psychologists, counselors, or social workers.
If the handlers indicate that they are feeling suicidal, then they should immediately be referred to the emergency room of their local hospital or a medical or mental health professional for evaluation, since these feelings indicate a high risk to their safety When You Fear Someone May Take Their Life, n.
These instances are likely to be rare and typically involve underlying mental health problems that may complicate reactions to stress. Conclusion The model presented in this article is intended to provide assistance to dog guide instructors and handlers following attacks on dog guides. It takes into account addressing attacks, expressing thoughts and feelings following attacks, and ways to cope with and move beyond attacks. The model is a first step in developing an approach to assist handlers that is organized and structured.
Empirical study of the model is necessary for validation and refinement. For example, it may be discovered that dog guide instructors perceive that providing direct guidance during the stabilization stage is more helpful to handlers than is offering them an opportunity to direct their own support. Studying emotional responses to dog guide attacks through case studies, surveys, or other types of research may reveal specific or unique trends in the emotional responses of handlers, which may indicate the necessity for revising the coping strategies presented in the model.
Similarly, handlers may discover other effective ways to empower themselves. The model has not yet been implemented.
Implementing the model is likely to come from dog guide schools. Coping strategies may be posted on the web sites of dog guide schools, brochures may be developed to address the three stages of the model and be made available to handlers. The model may serve as a means to organize the process of coping with an attack. It may provide mental health professionals with a better understanding of the complexity of issues involved in experiencing attacks on dog guides.
The role of handlers in communicating with their dog guides is an important variable involved with the post-attack behavior of dog guides and the recovery of the team. Instructors have observed that if handlers demonstrate confidence and composure and effectively communicate them to their dog guides during the initial exposure to dogs following an attack, then the potential for recovery of the team is increased.
We contend that if handlers are given the post-attack support that is suggested in the response protocol described here, then their potential to develop emotional and mental health problems may be lessened.
The ultimate goal is to increase the probability that dog guides will continue to be successful companions and mobility aids for handlers. Cheryl A. Godley, Ph. Marc A. Dog Attacks on Guide Dogs. They recommend the following protocol for responding officers: To ensure a priority response from the police department, inform dispatch: 'We were attacked'.
Sergeant Herndon feels strongly that a guide dog user should say to dispatch: 'We were attacked by a pet dog, please respond and assist'. The reason is that a crime was committed, even if the dog or person was not injured.
A guide dog is an extension of the handler and the person's safety and independence is in jeopardy if their guide dog is attacked or injured. Sergeant Herndon sees no liability concerns with guide dog handlers saying this phrase to dispatch. When police officers or Animal Control agents arrive, get badge number and name of these officers in case they do not follow proper procedure, so they can be contacted later.
Have documentation available with regards to State Laws, County or city ordinances, to give to responding officer to help educate them about the Guide Dog handler's rights.
In a situation where a guide dog handler has challenges with proper response to an incident, the handler should contact the city Chief of Police. Police Chiefs are servants of the public and MUST respond to any public inquiry and they have the power to change policy.
My job was to keep us moving, making it far less likely for the dogs to engage in a staring match the typical precursor to actual fighting. I was always very worried.
I knew my dog would try to protect me, but he was outnumbered, and I wondered if his harness might prevent him from avoiding injury. The owner of the chows refused to discuss the situation with me. Leash laws existed, but animal control said they could not act until an attack occurred.
Check out the Seeing Eye web site for a list of states and their existing service animal legislation. Comments may not reflect Easterseals' policies or positions. Please read our community guidelines when posting comments. June 3rd, at pm I was curious if you ever thought of changin the layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more inn the way of content so people could connect with it better.
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Become a campaigner. Dog Attacks. On this page. Why we're campaigning Sadly, every year we hear of more than guide dogs being attacked by other dogs.
Incidence and impact of dog attacks on guide dogs in the UK: an update What we have achieved We successfully campaigned for measures to bring an end to attacks on guide dogs through encouraging responsible dog ownership, compulsory microchipping of dogs, and the introduction of tougher sanctions for the owners of dogs that attack a guide dog.
The time to make change is now. Are you with us?
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