Blindsided by society (5)

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Instructors and their dogs take a break from training at the China Guide Dog Training Center (CGDTC) in Dalian, Liaoning Province. Photo: Courtesy of the CGDTC

Envisioning a better future

Dalian's municipal government has helped fund the CGDTC since 2010, reimbursing the center with 60,000 yuan each time a guide dog graduates. Donations also come from the public and companies, although Wang said the CGDTC's funding is "far from enough" to satisfy the needs of around 400 blind people on the national guide dog waiting list.

Asked of the center's goal over the next five years, Wang said it was to "catch up to international standards" in training guide dogs.

"Currently, the training center is outdoors. We want to build one indoors and have a sheltered one outdoors, which could cost more than 10 million yuan, so that dogs can be trained year-round," said Wang.

The center is currently training more than 60 dogs, although of these only 20 are expected to graduate and be assigned to blind owners. The ones that aren't qualified will be returned to foster families.

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