Deni Elliott–author of the new memoir, “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself,” and writer or editor of ten previous books—explains the impetus for penning the new one. 
Befitting a longtime teacher—she’s professor emerita in the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication at
the University of South Florida—Elliott emphasizes her desire to educate folks about guide dogs, including ways you should (and shouldn’t) react when encountering these animals. One possibly-surprising tip: don’t ask the dog’s name. Too, I’ve long been intrigued by a striking aspect in the realm of guide dogs: for all their training, and the enormous importance of adhering to their handlers’ commands, these canines are smart enough to override a command when they recognize it would be problematic—maybe dangerous—to follow that command. Noting the official term for this is “intelligent disobedience,” Elliott describes her own experience with this phenomenon, which amounts to guide dog as problem solver. We discuss a singular aspect of “Catching Sight”: the element of ethics. For starters, Elliott is a retired ethics professor. Also, she was born with limited vision, and over the years, the condition progressed until she was rendered legally blind. She makes clear in the book that she grappled with the ethics of concealing her diminishing vision amidst the ambitions of cultivating a significant career in academia. 
She recounts a long string of dogs that marked her life, starting with Marty, a Newfoundland who towered over the newborn Elliott, and was highly protective, alerting Elliott’s mother when the child was crying, up from a
nap, otherwise needed something. She also recalls grabbing tufts of Marty’s fur, and then he’d lead baby Deni into a different room of the house; some might suggest this foreshadows her guide dog scenario that would materialize decades later. Indeed, the first genuine guide dog she’s paired with—in a transformative development–is Alberta, a yellow lab deemed a good fit with Elliott in part because they were both viewed as overachievers. That matchmaking was done by Graham Buck, a trainer and instructor at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. “Catching Sight” is written with Buck, who’s led a fascinating, canine-centric life, literally growing up amongst dogs—Elliott explains Buck’s mom bred and raised Great Danes, while his dad was the first professional dog walker. (Photo of Deni Elliott by Kristine Paulsen Photography)
ALSO: I spoke with Dr. Carol Osborne–a veterinarian, author, and educator–who offered some tips on
how to keep your cats and dogs safe and calm during the 4th of July weekend. Based in Ohio, where she runs her own practice, Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic, Dr. Osborne had compiled a list of tips designed to reduce the stress of what’s intended to be a joyous celebration. She began with the number-one topic on everyone’s mind—not fireworks, in this case, but the record-setting heatwave blazing across huge swaths of the country, and how best to protect pets against the effects of those soaring temperatures. She also urged pet owners to double-check collars and tags, since so many animals—frightened by fireworks—escape their homes. Additionally, Dr. Osborne suggested soothing pets amidst the noise by giving them homeopathic calming remedies, which she likened to pouring them “a glass of wine.” (https://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com/)
COMEDY CORNER: Tom Papa’s “Fake Service Dogs” (https://tompapa.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
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