Blindsided by society (2)

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By Xie Wenting (Global Times) 09:03, October 14, 2013

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Bystanders stare at Chen Yan and Jennifer at a Changping district mall. Photo: Li Hao/GT

New leash on life

Jennifer is one of Beijing's eight guide dogs. The 5-year-old black Labrador is owned by Chen Yan, China's first blind female piano tuner. Chen and her husband, who is also blind, live with Jennifer in a quiet residential compound in Tiantongyuan, Changping district.

During a recent trip to the supermarket, Jennifer showed her playful side by enthusiastically leading Chen directly to the pet food aisle.

"Jennifer, is this what you want?" Chen, holding a packet of dried dog food, asked her faithful canine.

Jennifer's response was to continue standing, indicating "no," prompting Chen to go through small and medium packets. Eventually, Chen reached for a large packet. Jennifer showed her approval by sitting.

"Jennifer is like my child, she is so helpful. She takes me to the park, supermarket and mall. Depending on sidewalk Braille tiles, which often lead into parked cars, is awful by comparison. Jennifer knows how to tell the female restroom from the male one. Even I can't figure that out," laughed Chen.

Jennifer has come a long way from her puppy days spent at the China Guide Dog Training Center (CGDTC) in Dalian, Liaoning Province.

The center is the only Chinese mainland non-profit organization that trains and provides guide dogs to the blind for free.

Wang Yan, director of administration at the CGDTC, said it usually takes two years of training worth 120,000 yuan ($19,608) before a guide dog can serve its blind master.

Before Chen, 40, adopted Jennifer, she had a hired assistant to help her with daily tasks. Even though Jennifer has helped Chen lead a more fulfilling life by assisting her in daily tasks and providing greater independence, the duo frequently faces discrimination by being denied entry to various public places and aboard public transportation. However, most of the time they are denied due to misunderstanding rather than malice.