Katalenić (73) deeply values her bond with her dog, Star Wars. The connection they share allows her to cheerfully feel the world without being alone. “Those moments of ours, in the early morning, while I make my coffee, Star Wars comes immediately to get his dose of cuddles. That is irreplaceable.”
Freedom
“A guide dog has the most complex and responsible task of all assistance dogs. Because, for example, a person in a wheelchair can see if his dog understood her at a given moment that she gave a certain order and whether she will immediately carry it out or maybe she needs to correct it.”
“When you need to go to the store, if you have forgotten something, you need to ask someone else to do it. He will do it when his other obligations allow him. With my dog, this is always normal and possible when I need it.“
“Well, that priceless feeling that I could always go when I wanted and when I needed to (… ) It’s that feeling that you don’t depend on anyone or anyone’s help.“
Emotional bond
“Because of that emotional connection and good cooperation, we can really feel relaxed and, above all, safe.”
A service dog can, through the simplest of actions, change the life of a blind person better than a cane. “The guide dog is a miraculous being… If I were to compare using a white cane and a dog, the latter makes me more relaxed and at ease.”
“And only for people who live alone or who have no one, a guide dog is, I would say, everything in life. Personally, I believe that each of my dogs was worth more to me and, to sound a bit cliché, I value them more than my life.”
Making a difference
After losing her sight at 15 because of glaucoma, Mira went on to produce phonograms following high school graduation. Alongside a group of 11 people, Mira was involved in the creation of the Guide Dog Training Association in Zagreb.
“When it comes to being a guide dog user, our companion does 99% of its work in outdoor spaces, a role which comes with a great responsibility. “
Mira believes that social change is necessary, as aggression towards people with disabilities is still a common habit. “A girl from Rijeka was not allowed on the bus in intercity transport. She called the police and was eventually released.”
“Every society must find ways and opportunities to respect the differences that make it up.”
Text by Viktoria Tankó and Paul Ungureanu
