If you happen to see Marsha Katona strolling around downtown Oxford with her dog, Minor, make sure you ask permission before you pet her pooch because he’s busy keeping her safe.
Minor is no ordinary 3-year-old standard poodle, he’s a professionally-trained leader dog.
‘I will let people pet him if they ask and if they put their hand up to him and let him sniff them,? said the 29-year Oxford Township resident.
Minor’s been trained to only focus on Katona while he’s wearing his special harness. Petting a leader dog, without permission, is distracting and could lead to disobedience and behavior problems.
That’s why Minor’s harness has a sign that reads ? ‘Do Not Pet Me/I Am Working.?
Katona brought Minor home from the Rochester-based Leader Dogs for the Blind on Aug. 26 after completing a 26-day, live-in training program where dog and owner are taught to work together by using verbal commands, hand signals and a special harness.
‘I’ve never had a leader dog and I thought it was time,? she said.
Funded by donations from Lions and Lioness Club members, individuals, foundations and corporations, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides dogs free of charge to qualified individuals. The estimated value is $38,000, which includes travel and 26 days of room and board at the organization’s 1039 S. Rochester Rd. facility.
A preemie baby born with a retina problem, Katona has always been legally blind.
‘I can read large print,? she said. ‘I can see colors and people. But I’m very nearsighted. I’d have to be closer to you to see you than the average person who might see you across the street. I can’t do that.?
Whenever she traveled, Katona used to rely on a ‘sighted guide? to help her navigate the outside world.
About a year ago, Katona decided she wanted more ‘independence? and that’s where the decision to get a leader dog came in.
‘I don’t need a sighted guide anymore,? she said. ‘I can go just about anywhere. You can pick up and go.?
Katona can tell Minor to find everything including curbs, elevators, escalators, sidewalks, stairways, even her husband of 33 years, John, should the couple get separated in a store.
‘I’ll say ‘Minor, go find John? and he’ll take me right to my husband, which is pretty cool,? she said.
When she goes to workout at her gym in Rochester, Minor finds the stairs for her, then quietly lays beside the treadmill while she exercises.
Most people are familiar with leader dogs as a way to help blind or visually impaired people cross streets safely.
‘When you come up to the light, I can see that his head will go back and forth like he’s watching the cars,? Katona said.
But crossing a busy road safely isn’t just the dog’s responsibility, it’s a team effort.
‘You just can’t walk up to a busy street and let him know you want to cross the street,? Katona said. ‘You have to be aware of the traffic patterns yourself.?
In order for the dog to begin crossing, the owner must give a command such as ‘forward.?
The leader dog then makes a determination whether or not this is a safe command to follow.
‘If cars are whipping by, he’s not going to go,? Katona said.
When it’s safe, the dog will begin a forward motion, bringing the team to a stop at the opposing curb.
‘A lot of people think you can cross a street anywhere when you have a dog,? Katona said. ‘You really need to be crossing streets on your own. You can’t depend upon that dog that he knows when to cross the street. You have to be fully aware of when it’s time to cross the street.?
As part of the process to obtain a leader dog, Leader Dogs for the Blind took Katona to downtown Oxford to see how she crossed on her own.
‘I had to cross all four corners,? she said. ‘If I didn’t have good travel skills, I would have to go to their mobility classes. I didn’t because I already had good travel skills.?
Although leader dogs can be used in homes to help their owners find things, Katona only uses Minor for trips outside.
‘I know my home well,? she said. ‘I’ve always cooked and cleaned with no problems.?
One thing Katona and Minor have in common is their ability to help give visually impaired individuals more freedom.
Katona accomplishes that by working as a tutor at the Library for the Visually Impaired in Pontiac. There she teaches braille and JAWS (Job Access with Speech).
JAWS is a screen reader, a software program that makes computers using Microsoft Windows accessible to blind and visually impaired users.
It accomplishes this with a text-to-speech system that converts the normal language which appears on the computer screen into speech and by allowing users to create custom scripts to make keyboard interaction easier and faster.
‘Anything you can do on a computer, a visually impaired person can do with these commands,? Katona said.
Katona said she would like to do some teaching on her own at senior citizen centers.
‘A lot of seniors think just because they’ve lost their vision or some vision, they can’t get on their computers,? she said. ‘They’re not aware of all this stuff you can teach them.?
Although she can read large print, Katona prefers braille.
‘I can read braille quicker than large print ? your eyes tire (with print),? she explained. ‘I was glad I learned it young. A lot of people who have vision are reluctant to learn it, but it’s a great tool for them.?
For more information about Leader Dogs for the Blind call (888)-777-5332 or visit www.leaderdog.org.