Katy's support for Guide Dogs

Local MP Katy Clark has backed a call to stop attacks on guide dogs.

Ms Clark attended a reception at the Houses of Parliament on London, where the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association revealed eight of the highly-trained animals are attacked by other dogs every month.

Commenting on the situation, David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs' Campaigns Manager, said, “An attack on any dog is frightening, but for a guide dog owner it is much worse.  The trauma caused by these unprovoked attacks could leave a blind or partially-sighted person a virtual prisoner in their own home.”

Katy Clark, MP for North Ayrshire & Arran, was pleased to support the Guide Dogs' campaign, saying, “The Government needs to ensure that attacks on guide dogs are taken seriously as this is the first step in tackling the rising number of attacks. 

“I very much hope that this is effective in protecting blind and partially-sighted people.”

David Cowdrey added, “We welcome Katy Clark’s support for our campaign, and ultimately we want the law changed so an attack on an assistance dog is treated as seriously as an attack on a person.”

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was founded in 1934. The charity provides guide dogs to thousands of blind and partially-sited people across the UK, and states it is “working towards a society in which blind and partially-sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.”