Service Dog Education Campaign Launched by Two Visually Impaired Men in Augusta

Two men with visual impairments now run free classes that show the public how to act around service dogs, helping make life smoother for those who need service animals.

At local spots across town, Joey Johnson teams up with Walker Jones to share what they know. With their dogs Tucker and Loki at their sides, they teach kids and adults the basics of working with guide dogs. Each class mixes real stories with hands-on tips.

"I went to Leader Dogs for the Blind and got my guide dog, Loki. Ever since then, he and I have been trying to go around and spread awareness about blindness and how to act around guide dogs so we can make it a little easier for people like myself," said Jones per WRDW/WAGT.

Both men have retinitis pigmentosa. Johnson puts it simply: "Think of looking through something smaller than a paper toilet tube," he said to WRDW/WAGT. "A normally sighted person has about 180 degrees of field vision; I currently have about four."

The classes stress three main points: don't touch, feed, or chat with service dogs. These simple rules keep the animals focused on their vital work. 

By law, service dogs can go anywhere their handlers go. Their course goal is to teach people that blindness can look very different for each person and to challenge wrong ideas about what blindness means. They share real stories and encourage people to ask questions so everyone can better understand and respect those who are visually impaired.

Visit their Facebook page for more information. They'll come to any spot in the CSRA area to share their know-how.