US to provide guide dogs for the blind in Singapore
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 October 2008 2006 hrs

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SINGAPORE : Guide dogs for the visually handicapped may be a more common sight in Singapore soon, thanks to an agreement signed on Wednesday between Singapore's Guide Dogs Association of the Blind and its US counterpart.

One example is Kendra, who came to Singapore from the US three years ago, and is currently the only guide dog here for the visually handicapped.

Under the agreement, the US-based Guide Dogs for the Blind will provide guide dogs to Singapore for free.

It will also provide instructors who can train visually handicapped individuals here on how to handle the dogs.

Kendra's owner and honorary secretary of the Singapore's Guide Dogs Association of the Blind, Cheng Hock Kua, said that compared to using a cane, guide dogs raise the level of safety for the visually handicapped.

He said: "You can avoid danger with a cane, but a guide dog assesses what is ahead and can sense danger. It can lead you away from danger."

The event on Wednesday also saw a S$50,000 cheque presentation to the Singapore's Guide Dogs Association of the Blind. The donation was made by FMC Technologies. - CNA/ms