Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-25

all the help
we can give
them.
Most Of the I'd
guide dogs in - 9
Detroit are MIR. PICKERING
trained by the Leader Dog
League for the Blind, which Is
similar 10 the Seeing Eye or
eanization except that IL is not
as expensive. Its chief trainer,
Incidentally, learned his work al
the Seeing Eye kennels in New
Jersey.
One dog has been paid for by
group of children who call
themselves the Children De
Tenders. Mrs. uean Woodruff of
2025 w. Euclid supervises the
children who have raised money
for a dog for n soldier, and have
sI2 toward another dog for a
sailor.
Another group Is the Eli Levin
Auxiliary OF the Jewish War
Veterans which will hold a card
party the night of Nov. 5 at
B'Nai Mashe Center. Others
who have raised funds, and will
raise more, are the Eastern
Star, some Catholic groups. the
House OF Providence Auxiliary
of Providence Hospital, the Ser
veny Woman's Club and the
Junior Red Cross. There may
be others.
Dogs have proved that blind
ness does not prevent a normal
life for a victim. Many sight
less Detroiters are earning their
own livings, since getting Leader
dogs. and IL will the same with
soldiers.
Harold Warman. blind him
self. is business manager of the
Leader Dog League. He told me
the other day. Medical science
is doing wonderful things, but
it can't replace an eye. With
these dogs, soldiers can lead
normal, happy lives. I won't say
that they will be AS happy as
before, but they will be far, far
happier than they otherwise
would be" Warman knows, be-
cause after he was stricken
blind. he moped for long time
several years If / remember
right-before he got a dog.
The cost isn't 80 very great,
considering the results. The
dogs cost $500, which includes
training. For civilians, $3.50 Is
paid by relatives, friends or
some organization, and the blind
person Il required 20 earn $3.50.
This In done with the purpose OF
giving dogs only to sightless
owners who will appreciate
them fully. 1t also helps the
blind owner 90 realize that he
once more IL able to earn his
own living.
For soldiers, the league will
permit the whole cost TO be paid
by some donor. and the soldier
needn't pay anything himself,
although If a soldier wants 10
pay the $50. il probably will be
better for him.
So far, no Leader dogs have
been turned over TO soldiers I'm
this war, but they probably will
be soon. Incidentally, IL Is pos
sible to become adjusted to
blindness more quickly than
many suppose.
One of the employees Of the
League Is blind--Mrs! Elyira
Willoner. She not only gives
lectures, but does stenographic
work as well.
One year ago, Mrs. NillODer
was teaching school. Last No
vember she had to admit that
she couldn't tell one pupil from
another-the optic nerves were
falling. BY January sh was
totally blind. Already she N
leading a normal life again,
helped by her dog, Princess, a
German shepherd.
The same thing can be done
o. e1Idtorc AIfhcifCb xua do
not know yet how much blind
ness is resulting from the war.
you can make some sort Of a
guess on the basis OF the last
war. in that, 400 Americans
were blinded.
RANDOM NOTES: The police
are assigning men 20 guard John
Roy Carlson, author Of Under
Cover" when he speaks at the
Fisher Town Hall Wednesday.
He named some Detroit names
In his book. =. Two 20-year-old
WAC recruits, who signed up
here, learned that they had lived
in the same apartment house IN
Baldwin, L. l., but never had
met before. Both girls had
been Canadian WACs because
Canada accepts them at Is. At
20, they returned 10 the l.. S.
Glasses in "dltching get
ting out of disabled planes
y Ia -