The History of Guide Dogs. Beautiful France. Part Three
For many of us, France conjures images of wine, fashion, castles, kings, the Great French Revolution, and Napoleon. In short, a country that is rebellious and even somewhat carefree.
However, upon arriving in France, one quickly realizes that neither the storming of the Bastille nor the emergence of new fashion in 1947, just two years after WWII, seem like random events. The widespread perception of French citizens as unserious and even frivolous is merely a stereotype, as even food in France is a serious and respected endeavor.
Royal Favorites
In Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and especially in the South of France, it quickly becomes clear how tenderly and seriously the French regard their pets. Beautiful collars, elegant ID tags and leashes, charming, sometimes extravagant jumpsuits for protection against bad weather — all of these reflect care, love, and adoration.
Why is this so? Where does this touching love come from, and what are its roots? By delving into the country’s history, much becomes clear and easily explained.
Sources indicate that in the Middle Ages, every French king adored his dogs so much that he cared for them even more than his courtiers. Nothing changed during the Renaissance under King François I. Well-known are the portraits of the Sun King’s dogs (Louis XIV) made by Alexandre-François Desportes (Folle and Mitte) and Jean-Baptiste Oudry (Misse and Turlu), as well as the famous triple portrait of the royal hounds — Bonne, Nonne, and Ponne.
Even during the Napoleonic wars (though it’s no secret that Napoleon himself was not particularly fond of dogs), France’s dogs did not remain in the shadows. One such dog was the famous black Moustache, a French water dog. The legend of Moustache tells of his participation alongside Napoleon’s grenadiers in the Battle of Austerlitz and Marengo. This legend may not be entirely accurate, but it beautifully illustrates the French people’s attitude towards dogs.
Guide Dogs of France
The history of regular training of guide dogs in France began in 1951 when Paul Corteville decided to train guide dogs. He already had experience training dogs for the police and customs service, so he decided to use this experience to help his blind friend, René Blin. In 1952, René received his guide dog, a German Shepherd named Dickie.
The year Dickie was handed over, 1952, is considered the year the official training of guide dogs began in France. Interestingly, most French people learned about the start of guide dog training not from the press, as in the USA, but from what is called “word of mouth.” The effectiveness of such word-of-mouth, even in the internet age, is no less than it was in the 1950s. After all, what are social networks, for example, but a more technological and efficient form of word-of-mouth?
Paul Corteville, born into a farm laborer’s family, started working early (at 11, he got a job in a textile factory) and was not wealthy. Unlike Dorothy Eustis or Morris Frank, it was harder for him to find funds, but that did not stop him from training dogs and providing them to blind people for free.
By 1970, circumstances were such that Paul Corteville could no longer train dogs, as his financial situation had become so dire that he could no longer cover the expenses for training guide dogs. He seriously considered leaving this work and trying to do something that would allow him to make at least minimal savings for himself and his wife.
Помощь Paul Corteville пришла от тех, кто ему помогал. В том же 1970 году Pierre Delecolle, один из тех, кому Paul передал собаку-гида, написал письмо в редакцию газеты Le Parisien Libéré о том, что «…est impensable de ne pas pouvoir aider pour une fois ces hommes qui, depuis des années, paient de leur personne et de leurs deniers, sans essayer d’en tirer ni gloire, ni profit… »[2]
Help for Paul Corteville came from those he had helped. In the same year, 1970, Pierre Delecolle, one of the recipients of a guide dog from Paul, wrote a letter to the editor of Le Parisien Libéré, stating,«…est impensable de ne pas pouvoir aider pour une fois ces hommes qui, depuis des années, paient de leur personne et de leurs deniers, sans essayer d’en tirer ni gloire, ni profit… » (“…it is unthinkable not to help these people who, for many years, have paid with their efforts and money without seeking glory or profit…”)
The then-editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Albert Plécy, became interested in Paul Corteville’s work and personality, and organized a campaign to support his ideas and work. Albert Plécy not only wrote articles but also collected donations and organized special events to support P. Corteville. A. Plécy’s efforts were successful, and Paul Corteville continued his work in his own center.
History with Geography
France is not the largest country by size but boasts astounding geographical diversity. Most regions of the country still differ from each other and strive to preserve these differences.
The west of the country differs from the east; in the south, in Nice or Toulon, life is different from Normandy in Rouen. What is eaten and drunk in Normandy is unlikely to be popular in Brittany, and Paris, with its omnivorous nature, is more an exception. Something similar happened with the associations and other organizations for training guide dogs.
When, in 1973, the first association received not only public but also government recognition, the process of creating associations in other historical and geographical regions began.
Thus, in addition to the national federation of guide dogs, Fédération Française Des Associations De Chiens Guides D’Aveugle, there are also regional associations in France:
– Chiens Guides d’Aveugles De L’Ouest
– Association De Chiens Guides d’Aveugles De Lyon Et Du Centre-Est
– Les Chiens Guides d’Aveugles Du Centre-Ouest
– Chiens Guides – Grand Sud Ouest
– Les Chiens Guides D’Aveugles De Provence Côte d’Azur Corse
– Association Chiens Guides Grand Sud Ouest Aliénor Bordeaux
The efforts of the national and territorial associations in France have been so successful that nowadays, it hardly surprises anyone to see a guide dog not only sitting next to its owner on a café veranda but also accompanying them in stores. This is supported by witty, elegant, satirical, and even ironic videos from the national association and the efforts of members of the French Parliament and Senate.