Irish Guide Dogs appeal for consideration of the blind on Hallowe’en

Guide-dog owners have been urged to remain indoors today as preparations for Hallowe’en and bonfire night get underway.

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has appealed for consideration of blind people during the day’s and night’s celebrations.

The group say dogs are particularly sensitive to fireworks and become spooked easily, and this has caused serious accidents in the past as dogs can run away or drag their owners into danger.

They say that this can have longer-term consequences for blind people, because if their guide dog walks them into danger because they are afraid, the dog has to be retired and it can take up to a month to find a replacement.

The group has already reported that a blind man was seriously injured after a group of teenagers threw fireworks at him and his dog.