Don't forget your coat

January 25, 2010 • Posted in guide dogs, Seeing Eye dogs, travel, Uncategorized, visiting schools by

The woman sitting behind me on the train tapped my shoulder. “You dropped your coat,” she said.

Funny. I was pretty sure I had my coat on, but I reached for the big buttons along the front just to make sure. Taking this as a sign we were near our stop, Hanni started shuffling at my feet, trying to stand up. The woman behind me shrieked. The coat on the floor was moving.

Thus began our trip last Friday to Kipling Elementary School in Deerfield, a suburb of Chicago. During my speech to the Kipling kids, I explained the three rules to keep in mind if you happen to see a guide dog with a harness on: don’t pet the dog, don’t feed the dog, and don’t call out the dog’s name. One reason you shouldn’t feed Hanni is that she only eats dog food. Eating snacks from the table or any sort of people food makes her sick. “Do any of you ever go to Taste of Chicago?” I asked, and received a chorus of “Yes!” Our neighborhood in Chicago is very close to that festival, and sometimes people drop their food on their way home and don’t pick up after themselves. Hanni and I will be walking, I feel the harness go down all of a sudden, and before I know it she’s snarfed a fried turkey leg or a slice of pizza. “She always, always gets sick after that,” I told the kids. “She’s such a nice dog, it’s sad if she gets sick. Plus, if she’s sick, I can’t go anywhere. I need her to get me around!”

During the Q&A part of the presentation, students asked if Hanni likes other dogs, does she ever slip on the ice, what does she do if she comes across a whole in the sidewalk. One second-grader must have thought long and hard before raising her hand. “If Hanni can’t work when she gets sick, how do you get her to the vet?” This was a very good question. I can’t ask Hanni to work when she doesn’t feel good, and I wouldn’t expect her to judge traffic or know her rights from her lefts when she’s sick.

I told them that I’d take Hanni’s harness off and find someone to walk her to the vet with me. If I couldn’t find anyone to help me, we could always call a cab. “But that could be a problem, you know, because when Hanni gets sick like that, she usually throws up or poops all over the place, and I don’t think the cab driver would like that!”

Ooooo! Gross! Ewe! Yuck!

I have a feeling the kids at Kipling will remember our visit for quite a while. I’m guessing they’ll pick up after themselves if they drop food on the sidewalk. And I’m pretty sure none of them will ever, ever feed a Seeing Eye dog people food.

Bob On January 25, 2010 at 1:36 pm

I can relate to Hanni — I always get sik, too, when I eat fried turkey legs or pizza at outdoor festivals!

Marilee On January 25, 2010 at 7:13 pm

Kids LOVE the gross stuff! Also enjoyed your winter coat encounter- too funny!

Beth On January 26, 2010 at 9:39 am

A testament to how still Hanni stays when traveling on a train, I guess.
Or, perhaps, a testament to how old she’s getting. Hanni turns ten years old in a week or two — she sleeps a lot now!

Cheryl On January 26, 2010 at 11:06 am

I can relate to Hanni turning older…Rich sleeps a lot now too! Liked the story of your coat on the floor. A very pretty coat I must say.

bethfinke On January 27, 2010 at 7:57 am

Yes, when strangers see us on an elevator and say things like “Pretty girl!” and “Nice coat!” I pretend they are referring to me. But we all know better…!

Trina Sotira On January 27, 2010 at 3:26 pm

Everybody loves a good dog poop story! (Er, or maybe it’s just us kidlit folks.) Thanks for sharing, Beth!

Paxson On January 28, 2010 at 7:31 pm

I know a lot of people in my neighborhood are afraid of dogs, how well does Hanni handle this? I think this would be a great next article.

bethfinke On January 29, 2010 at 12:03 am

You know, I think the people who are afraid of dogs simply avoid us when we come down the sidewalk –they either cross the street or move way over to the side. On trains and buses I guess they just move to different seats without saying anything. In that way hanni and I are oblivious.
The only time we notice is when we’re forced to be in small spaces with other people, like on elevators, sometimes I hear a shreik or just feel the fear in the air — I look towards the person who seems scared and ask if they are afraid of dogs. If they admit they are, I tell them that I used to be a little bit afraid of dogs when i was a little kid –it’s true — so I understand their fear. I think (hope?) this gives them some comfort, at least I understand why they might be afraid and don’t scold them for being scared.
As for hanni, whether people love her or are afraid of her, she treats them the same. She’s always a loveable tail-wagging dog. I don’t think she notices.

Jenny On January 30, 2010 at 6:54 am

Hi Beth. I haven’t commented here in a while, but your posts have been great.
Love the story about the coat. I always like hearing what the kids ask you as well.

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