Jewish tradition teaches, “Do not put a stumbling block before the blind.” Our sages interpreted this metaphorically, but it also is important in its literal sense. During the month of May, I may seem a little sad, and by June, I’ll probably be ecstatic! By now, most of you have met Karly. If you haven’t, the best way to tell you about her is what I recently told some of our Preschool kids:

My husband Scott is blind. That means he can’t see anything. He has a very special helper who lives with us and helps him get around. She makes sure he doesn’t walk in front of a car, or fall down, or hurt himself walking into something. Her name is Karly. You’ll know her if you see her because she has long, floppy ears… and shiny black fur,… and a long, black tail… and four legs.

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you’re at least as smart as a 3-year-old, so you’ve probably figured out that Karly is… a DOG!

Now that she lives in South Florida, Karly, who will be eleven in September, is ready to retire. So Scott is going away from May 7th – 31st to meet and train with his new dog at Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey. That’s why I might seem a little sad in May, and why I’ll be so happy when he gets home in June. The only hard part will be that I know I’ll want to get to know his new dog right away, but during the first year of working together, there are very specific rules. Nobody but Scott will be allowed to pay any attention to the new dog; we might not even get to know the dog’s name, because it could be too tempting to address the dog if we do.

While we might eventually get to interact with the dog when it’s off-duty, there are rules that we all should know, which apply to all working dogs.

When a dog is working, only the partner; in this case, Scott; is allowed to pay any attention to the dog. The rest of us need to pretend the dog is not even there. In the beginning, even when the dog is not working, since the partnership and bond are still forming, and training is continually ongoing, nobody but Scott will be allowed to pay attention to the dog. Even though we’ll live in the same house, I’ll have to pretend the dog is not there until Scott introduces us. When they’re out in public, including at the Temple, we’ll all need to remember that the dog has an important job, and if the dog is distracted by people calling its name, or offering it food or attention, Scott’s safety could be in jeopardy.

Our morning liturgy includes a blessing thanking God, who “opens the eyes of the blind.” These amazing dogs allow people without sight to be independent; acting as their eyes. As Scott often reminds me, it would be considered inappropriate and rude to ask someone in a wheelchair if we could pet their wheelchair… and even worse to do so without asking. A service dog, whether it is guiding someone without sight, assisting someone with mobility impairments, or helping someone with a less obvious disability, needs to direct all of its attention to its job. Any distraction could quite literally amount to “putting a stumbling block before the blind.”

As for Karly, part of her transition to retirement means that I need to establish a stronger bond with her while Scott is away, so it won’t be as hard for her to see him with a new dog. We’ve already begun this transition at home. For example, I’ve taken over feeding and walking her most of the time. Soon, I will begin bringing her to work with me sometimes. When I do, please ignore her; it will be good practice for Scott’s new dog! If you have an appointment with me and are allergic to dogs, please let me know the night before so I can either leave her at home or plan to meet with you in another part of the Temple while she stays in my office.

I’ll miss Scott while he’s away, but it’s good to know that I have my TBA family here to share this exciting transition with us.

5 Tips When You Meet a Seeing Eye® Dog:

Always remember, distracting a Seeing Eye dog can make its owner vulnerable to harm.

1. Please don’t let your pet near a guide dog, even if your pet is leashed. Even allowing your pet to visit or “say hi”, for just a moment can cause the guide dog to lose focus on the important job he has to do.

2. It’s helpful to let a person who is blind know that you are nearby and tell them if you have a dog with you.

3. Do not call the dog’s name, make eye contact, feed or talk to the dog. It’s always best to treat the dog as if he is not there.

4. Do not pet a guide dog when he is wearing the harness. If the dog is resting without his harness, ask the owner before you pet the dog and respect the person’s decision if they say no.

5. Do not shout directions, take the person by the arm or interrupt them when they are crossing the street. If you are concerned for their safety, ask them if they need help first.