144 ] Animal Friends and Helpers 



(whose ancestors may have come from Central Asia) , and to 

 breed them carefully for many generations. This resulted in the 

 breed we know as the St. Bernard. Not only are St. Bernards still 

 used in Europe to find people lost in the snow and bring them aid; 

 these dogs are beloved pets in many homes of our own country. 

 Their gentle and benign character makes them perfect com- 

 panions for children. 



SEEING EYE DOGS 



In almost any city or town in America you may chance to 

 see a remarkable man-and-dog-team walking along quickly and 

 confidently. Before you are fully aware of the implications, the 

 boy or girl with you may exclaim: 



"There's a Seeing Eye dog!" 



It seems incredible that up to the last few decades there were 

 no Seeing Eye dogs. And there might still be none if not for the 

 extraordinary pioneering work of Dorothy Eustis a generation 

 ago. Mrs. Eustis happened to own a particularly wise and faithful 

 German shepherd dog. The animal's joy in serving his mistress 

 started her on a long road of research, breeding, and training to 

 develop superservice dogs. 



After establishing a school that graduated dogs thoroughly 

 trained to work with policemen, help patrol penitentiaries, and 

 aid in war maneuvers, Mrs. Eustis carried on a work that had 

 already been started in Germany educating dogs to be the "eyes" 

 of blind people. Her pioneering eventually led to the establish- 

 ment of The Seeing Eye organization. 



THE GERMAN SHEPHERD 



The chances are that the Seeing Eye dog you will encounter 

 on your walk is a German shepherd. Your young companion is 

 likely to inquire, "Are shepherds always used for Seeing Eye 

 dogs?" 



As a matter of fact they are not though it is true that most of 

 the dogs graduated by The Seeing Eye are shepherds. The ability 

 not only to assimilate education but to use reasoning power as well 

 is inherent to some degree in most shepherds. Other breeds may 

 respond brilliantly to training, but there is a difference. 



