The impact of guide dogs on the identity of people with visual impairments

This paper explores the effect of peoples' association with guide dogs on h ow they understand and feel about themselves and how they are regarded by t hose with whom they interact. The concepts of personal, collective, and soc ial identity are used to situate the discussion. Of central importance is t he way working with a guide dog shapes public interaction and how owner' se lf definitions and social identities are extended by being intimately invol ved in the owner-dog team. (C) 2000 International Society for Anthrozoology .