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A guide dog works in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

According to data from the Shaoxing Disabled Persons' Federation, the total number of disabled individuals in Shaoxing is 330,000, with approximately 33,000 experiencing visual impairments.

However, the national count of guide dogs stands at only around 200, with Shaoxing having a mere two.

Challenges such as the difficulty in training guide dogs and high costs have kept their numbers low. Moreover, the adoption criteria for guide dogs are stringent, making it challenging to extend their availability to all blind individuals.

"Owners must be fully blind, capable of independent travel, aged below 50, and the entire family must be fond of dogs," explained an official. Adoption centers conduct on-site inspections to find suitable owners for guide dogs.

In the "Shaoxing City Urban Rail Transit Management Regulations," implemented on January 1, 2022, guidelines for guide dogs using rail transit are outlined. Article 37 explicitly prohibits carrying live poultry, cats, dogs, and other animals that may hinder urban rail transit operations, with an exception for "guide dogs accompanying blind individuals."

Addressing the broader question of integrating more blind individuals into society, Dong Dazhai, chairman of the Shaoxing Blind Association, has been contemplating solutions.

"Currently, over a dozen volunteer teams, totaling more than 100 individuals, rotate shifts to ensure that blind individuals receive assistance every day," Dong explained.

The initiative is currently being piloted in downtown Shaoxing, with plans to expand it citywide once proven successful, enabling all blind residents to venture out safely.