Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Love Is Blind Jose Montanez explains his love for his guide dog Davey By Joe Antol

Walk along West 23rd Street and you soon notice two things: a large dog population and blind people. Most sight-challenged residents of the neighborhood, however, choose either a cane for navigation or perhaps the assistance of their children or a spouse. The incongruity of a neighborhood that’s welcoming to the visually impaired, has one of the highest canine populations in New York City and yet has very few guide dogs is puzzling. So I sat down with Jose Montanez, a long-time Chelsea resident and guide dog owner, who, like many of the neighborhood’s sight impaired, lives at the Selis Manor (also known as the Association for the Blind) on West 23rd Street. Joining us were Christine “Woody” Curry, a trainer at guiding eyes for the blind, and Davey, Jose's new companion and guide dog. Expecting to discover the answer to the cane vs. canine question, I instead found someone who’s managed to crack some of life’s tougher mysteries.

If grace is achieved through adversity, then Jose Montanez and Davey Montanez’s life has provided him with a surfeit of opportunity. Born 20 blocks from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Montanez was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in his early twenties. RP is a congenital eye condition characterized by reduced night vision followed by gradually narrowing peripheral vision. By age 31, Jose’s sight had deteriorated to the point that he needed assistance. Having an affinity for animals he chose a dog over a cane. Now, the 38-year-old has only limited perception of light and dark in the central region of both eyes. He is both legally and literally blind.

“When I was a kid, I used to baby-sit German Shepherds and I just love dogs,” he explained. “For me, a guide dog was a natural choice.”

Montanez’s first dog was a Labrador Retriever named Valdez who was his constant companion for seven years until infirmities pushed him to retirement (retired guide dogs are adopted by willing families and lead long, happy lives after their service to mankind is complete).

Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides a 26-day, in-house class for new students at its facility in Yorktown Heights in Westchester County. Students and dogs live at the center for the entire training period. The third week in the program consists of “Manhattan Days,” when the student, dog and instructor venture into the city for training in an urban environment. Returning students, like Jose, are put through a more intense fifteen day program. “Both times Jose was one of my favorite students,” said Curry, Davey’s trainer at Guiding Eyes. “He was always willing to do extra work to get things just right.”

No longer the athlete of his youth, Montanez was an active member of a blind bowling league and ran three New York City marathons in the 1990s. “I’m relaxing now,” Montanez explains with a chuckle. “Even back then I couldn’t see very well, so I had someone with me as a guide. He was an Elvis impersonator and had a joke for every mile. He kept me laughing the whole way.”

Despite, or perhaps due to, his setbacks, Montanez has the serene demeanor of a Zen monk. He uses his hearty, whole body laugh as a punctuation mark. Every sentence is preceded with a smile and ends with a chuckle. While we talked, Davey lounged at our feet, occasionally twitching an ear when he heard his name.

“We try to match an owner’s personality to the dog’s,” said Curry. “Ninety nine percent of people choose a Lab because they’re better suited to a slower, more relaxed lifestyle. For those who are always on the go, a German Shepherd is the best choice. They love to work, need to have a strong purpose in life and prefer to be in constant motion.”

References to the blind being led by dogs are found in 19th-century literature, but the first formal school was set up in Germany after World War I to provide assistance to veterans blinded during combat. The first school in the United States, The Seeing Eye, was established in Morristown, NJ, in 1929. After the Second World War, other schools sprang up across the country, including The Guiding Eyes for the Blind in 1954. All schools train both the dogs and their handlers, but Guiding Eyes provides personalized training and extensive follow up.

The relationship between an owner and his service dog is more a partnership than the traditional master-pet paradigm. Each member of the duo complements the strengths and compensates for the weaknesses of the other; more Batman and Robin than Kato and the Green Hornet.

One of the more amazing things about guide dogs is the concept of “selective disobedience.” The dogs are taught to balance submissiveness with situational awareness to avoid hazards. This is especially so regarding traffic. Dogs are colorblind and can’t distinguish when a light has changed, nor can they be taught the “walk/don’t walk” signals, traits they seem to share with most of the city’s cyclists. Driveways are another hazard.

“I was walking across 23rd Street with my cousin Phyllis, who’s also blind, and her dog Percy,” Jose said, “when Davey just stopped and started walking backwards. I stepped back with him, and I heard the car pull out of the garage driveway and turn into traffic. People were applauding and a guy who said he was a fashion photographer took our picture!”

As we continue to talk, Davey gives a tongue-curling yawn and looks at me, glances back at Jose, then back at me, as if to ask: “Who is this stranger?” Davey has a friendly, come-hither face that says “scratch my ears.” Despite his dark, expressive eyes, twitching pink nose and attentive ears, I resist the urge to engage him. I ask if strangers petting the dog are a problem.

“Oh, it happens all the time,” Montanez replies with his characteristic chuckle. “Adults and kids are always trying to pet him, and he’s too nice to do anything about it.”

“It’s definitely the wrong thing to do,” interjects Curry. “It’s like someone grabbing the steering wheel of a car when you’re driving.”

As we start to leave, Davey, excited by the prospect of getting back to work, puts his front paws on Montanez’s lap, who, in turn, nuzzles Davey’s face and scratches the top of his head. Even after just five weeks there is a strong bond between these two. We left Starbucks and walked down Seventh Avenue to the corner of West 23rd Street. Montanez and Davey paused at the corner and once they got their bearings, turned left and walked home. Curry followed half a block behind.

Jose Montanez is a man who should be angry. Born in a poor section of The Bronx and robbed of his vision at the prime of his life he nevertheless is a man at peace with himself and his situation. Despite his handicap, he’s toured the United States, run three marathons and travels over 100 blocks to work at a Goodwill in Harlem. He has enthusiasm for life, a tranquil mien and takes pride in his accomplishments—a lesson for all of us as times get tough and material possessions less plentiful.

Guiding Eyes relies solely on the generosity of donors to continue its work. The average cost to breed, raise, train and support a guide dog is $45,000. The dogs and training are provided at no cost to the students. On Monday, June 15, NY Giants Quarterback and 2008 Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will host the Guiding Eyes for the Blind 32nd Annual Golf Classic at the Whippoorwill and Mount Kisco Country Clubs in Westchester County, NY. For more information check out www.guidingeyes.org.

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