“Dogs Are Affectionate, Trustworthy, and Protective” by Joan Y. Edwards

I like to write about things that interest my readers. Emma Shipes wrote that she would like for me to write about dogs. This story is for you, Emma.

Emma said, “I think that all dogs are cute. Big or small they all are adorable. I love that dogs give me their attention.

“Most dogs like to cuddle and be on your lap. They jump in your lap and just wanna be loved. Some dogs sleep in the bed with you. They just wanna cuddle and be with you.

“Other dogs just wanna be fed treats. They will do tricks, like give you there there paw. They know many commands to get treats.

“In all, I think that dogs are your best friend. They know when you’re sick. They  know when you’re happy! They know when you’re sad. It’s the best feeling to have a dog!”

Thank you, Emma, for sharing about your love of dogs.

One of my favorite dog stories is about “Buddy, the first seeing eye dog.”

In 1927 the lives of blind people were on the brink of a big change. Frank Morris was blind. He wanted to be able to do things like he used to do. To be independent and go here and there by himself. But he couldn’t.

The Saturday Evening Post posted an article by Dorothy Eustis. She talked about schools in Germany that trained guide dogs for veterans who had lost their vision during WWI. She also talked about  how she trained dogs for Switzerland’s nation’s customs and police services, and to the Red Cross.

Morris Frank wrote Dorothy Eustis and asked her if she would train a dog to help him maneuver. If he could get public support for the blind people to use guide dogs in public places, it would be very beneficial for blind people in America. He believed strongly that having a guide dog could change his life and the lives of many blind people.

💡 Why this moment mattered so much

Up to that point, critics
believed that:

1. Dogs could only follow commands. 

2. A blind person would always be at risk.

3. The dog would cause accidents

Three events helped Morris Frank prove Buddy was a thinking partner.

1.They got to New York City. A newspaper reporter asked Morris if he could cross a busy street. Morris said, “Sure.” And off he and Buddy went dodging trucks, cars and buses. The reporter finally met Morris on the other side of the street. He told Morris, “Buddy took you safely across. I had to take a taxi to get over here.”

2. One time Morris pushed the elevator button in a tall building. The doors opened. Morris tried to walk forward. Buddy got in front of Morris and wouldn’t let him.
A lady hollered, “Stop. Don’t go forward.”
Morris said, “Why Not? The doors are open.”
She said, “That’s true; however, there is no elevator there.”

3. Senators, newspaper reporters, and a few select others gathered at Carnegie Hall. The idea was to set up a way to prove once and for all whether guide dogs like Buddy could be trusted to protect their owners. They set up barriers in the center aisle. Chairs, stools, ladders, trash cans -turned this way, that way, upside down and across. This center aisle was where Buddy was supposed to go through to lead Morris up to the front to the microphone to give a speech. Everyone was told to be silent. (This part is so cool.)

Buddy looked at all those things. His eyes searched the auditorium. He saw another path. He took Morris down a different aisle to the front. Morris made his speech. This final act helped make it possible for people to believe that guide dogs are thinking partners who can and have saved many blind people’s lives many times over.

Morris and Buddy earned the public trust and taught people that the seeing eye dogs are thinking partners who can and will protect their owners from harm. 

What Emma Shipes feels about dogs and what I feel about dogs is that they contribute to the well-being of men, women, and children. They encourage us so that we can keep on going and never give up.
Thank you to all the people who encourage others.

May each of you believe in yourself! You can do what is giving you a hard time right now. There are people and resources to help guide you or perhaps just a puppy to make you laugh and say, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”

I would love to hear from you.  Share your favorite dog story with Emma and me in the comment area.

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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2009-2026 Joan Y. Edwards

The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey
The Golden Arm
Flip Flap Floodle
Joan’s Elder Care Guide

All of my books on Amazon

References
Disney movie Love Leads the Way
“Morris and Buddy: The Story of the First Seeing Eye Dog” Becky Hall. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger.