CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCHVOLUME 10
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Woman: “Awww two blind women that is so sad.”
A blonde woman in a white top with a light colored Guide dog and her friend in a black top with a white cane walk outside and are interrupted by a woman with short blonde hair.
Lily the Guide Dog: “Save your awwww for kittens with mittens. My two friends are more badass than you can imagine.”
WTF - What’s the Fact? When you see a person using a white cane or a Guide fog you are seeing a person who has completed a lot of training, and has gained many orientation and mobility skills.
BADASS
Approximately 10% of all blind and visually impaired people use a white cane or a guide dog to travel independently. Confidence, skills and determination make this possible. It is not for the faint-hearted, and pretty much defines bad ass!
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCHVOLUME 9
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Woman in black dress with a fake service dog and a blonde woman in a white dress with a light colored Guide dog outside.
Lily the Guide Dog: “That cute costume can’t possibly disguise your bad behavior.”
WTF - What’s the Fact? Service dog vests and patches can be bought online. Service dogs are recognized by the service they are trained to provide their owner, not by their outfits.
BAD BEHAVIOR
This cartoon is inspired by all the fake service dogs that have barked and/ or growled at Lily while she was guiding me through restaurants, airports and stores.
Fake service dogs cause problems for people who actually rely on their dog’s service. Poorly behaved dogs distract service dogs
that are necessary for the safety and independence of their humans.
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCHVOLUME 8
FAKE NAME
I talk to Lily constantly as we are traveling throughout our day. This makes it difficult to keep her name a secret to the people around us. But, I ask people not to call her by her name because it distracts her as she is guiding me. It’s almost like grabbing the steering wheel.
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Person to Lily: “Oh, aren’t you sweet, what’s your name?”
Child standing on a tree stump and a blonde woman in a black dress with a light colored Guide dog talk outside.
Lily the guide dog: “If you know my real name, you may distract me. Let’s just call each other Trixie.”
WTF - What’s the Fact? Many guide dog owners have a fake dog name to share with strangers. The most common one is Juno.
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCHVOLUME 7
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Wendi: “Can you tell me where the ketchup is?”
Clerk: “It’s over there.”
Blonde woman in black dress at grocery store, asking for directions from clerk with short hair who is pointing without looking at the customer.
Lily the guide dog: “Super helpful, dude. She can’t see your face, let alone where you’re pointing. Why do you think she has me?”
WTF - What’s the Fact? It is best to give exact instructions or walk the customer over to what they are looking for.
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCHVOLUME 6
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Flirty Man: “Oh you’re blind? Well then, I look just like Brad Pitt.”
Lily the Guide Dog: “Her blindness isn’t a portal to another universe.”
Middle-aged man and woman sitting at a bar the man has short hair and a T-shirt and the woman has long light colored hair and a black top.
WTF - What’s the Fact? All people have discernment, people with low or no vision are no different. Be respectful and tell the truth.
BRAD PITT
This cartoon is dedicated to the men who have told me they look just like Brad Pitt.
If even half of them are telling the truth, there are a lot of Brad Pitts out there.
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCH VOLUME 5
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Rude man on plane: “I wish I could take my dog on the plane.”
Lily the Guide Dog: “Well, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be blind one day.”
Man with his hands raised bringing attention to a woman seated with her Guide dog quietly at her feet on a plane.
WTF - What’s the Fact? It is inappropriate to call attention to the presence of a guide dog. And it is even more impolite to act as if a person traveling with a guide dog is doing something wrong.
AIRPLANE
It’s best to ignore Guide dogs. There is no need to call attention to the presence of a Guide dog. Just let them do their job.
Do not add more stress for travelers with low or no vision by taking it upon yourself to question the validity of a working Guide dog.
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCH VOLUME 4
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Stranger: “My dog could never do that.”
Lily the Guide Dog: “You are right. Your dog is as likely to be a guide dog, as you are to becoming a Navy Seal.”
Woman in skirt with her leashed pet and a blonde woman in a black dress with a light colored Guide dog speak outside.
WTF - What’s the Fact? Very few dogs have the temperament to be chosen for Guide dog training. Out of this elite group, only 50-70% complete the program.
NAVY SEAL OF SERVICE
Nearly every day, someone comments on Lily’s exemplary behavior. Even as a young puppy she demonstrated calmness and a willingness to serve. That is why she was chosen for the Guide dog program.
Lily successfully completed two years of extensive training and passed each evaluation along the way. I also received orientation and mobility training. Together we are ready to take on traffic, stairs, and the world.
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ADVOCACY IS A B*TCH VOLUME 3
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Restaurant maître d’: “Madam, no dogs allowed.”
Lily the Guide Dog: “Comparing me to an average dog is like comparing a wheelchair to a go-kart.”
Man behind a host booth and a blonde woman in a black dress with a light colored Guide dog stand inside the entrance of a restaurant.
WTF - What’s the Fact? Guide dogs are allowed everywhere because they are professionally trained, and they are necessary for the independence and safety of their owner.
RESTAURANT
Guide dogs are allowed everywhere. They are necessary for the safety and independence of their human.
There is no need to ask a Guide dog user any questions.
There are only two questions staff are allowed to ask:
Is the animal a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?
Have you ever been denied access with your Guide dog?
What did you do?
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
ADVOCACY IS A B*TCH VOLUME 2
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Cab Driver: “I don’t want that dog to poop in my cab.”
Lily the Guide Dog: “You’re more likely to poop in this car than I am.”
Man in a cab and a blonde woman in a black dress with a light colored Guide dog outside of the cab.
WTF - What’s the Fact? Guide dogs are trained to go to the bathroom at very predictable intervals. They have very few accidents, probably less than most humans.
STRANDED
This cartoon is dedicated to the despicable rideshare and cab drivers who have left Lily and I stranded.
Have you been denied a ride with your Guide dog?
Any good ideas to stop this from happening?
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ADVOCACY IS A B*TCH VOLUME 1
Image Description: Advocacy Is A Bitch. Wendi Dwyer.
Lily the guide dog: “Some of us should be in the crosswalk right now and it is definitely not you. Back up Bucko!”
A car with two people oblivious to the fact they stopped across the crosswalk. Woman in black dress and sunglasses, led by her female guide dog. The guide dog speaks up as they wait to safely cross the street.
WTF - What’s the Fact? Guide dogs will not lead their human partner into an obstructed crosswalk. Stopping in a crosswalk is as rude as parking on a sidewalk and just as dangerous.
THE CROSSWALK
This cartoon was inspired by the many times Lily and I have been stranded waiting for someone to not stop on the crosswalk.
Have you had this experience?
Do you have any ideas for solutions or advocacy actions?