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　　You can't go far on Taipei's streets without meeting a stray dog. Often underfed and ugly, they can sometimes be a nuisance. But did you ever stop to think that these dogs, If properly cared for and trained, could save lives? We often think of dogs as either pitiful strays or fun pets. But dogs can be trained to do amazing things.
　　Throughout the world, dogs help humans in many ways. They guide the blind, help police and rescue workers, and even fight in wars!

Dogs in Battle

　　In the last 50 years, 50 000 dogs have served America in wartime. The dogs that helped in the Vietnam War were credited with preventing at least 10 000 deaths. Dogs are alert and loyal, with a great sense of smell. These qualities make them good soldiers. They sniff out enemies and bombs. They also find and comfort wounded soldiers. Some dogs have even dragged the injured to safety.
　　Human soldiers also appreciate the company of their dog friends. The dogs comfort them and provide friendship in foreign lands.

Rescue and Police Dogs

　　Dogs also save lives as search-and-rescue team members. They go into dangerous, diffcult places: wilderness, mountains and disaster sites such as burned or collapsed buildings Because of their excellent sense of smell, dogs can find people trapped in the rubble.
　　Police dogs help fight crime in many ways. Some are trained to shase criminals. Jake, an American police dog, helped catch 235 criminals in his five-year police career! Other dogs are trained to sniff out illegal drugs, track lost people, or help with crowd control.

Eyes for the Blind

　　A guide dog can radically change a blind person's life. It helps its blind owner live a more independent lifestyle. It can lead its owner around heavy traffic and construction sites and through crowded malls.
　　A guide dog must know when to obey its master ---and when not to obey. For example, if the owner says "forward," but the guide dog sees a car coming, the dog will stop. The dog has an important job---protecting its owner's life! How can a dog handle such a heavy responsibility? It is carefully chosen and well trained.

Training a Guide Dog

　　Guide dog's training begins when they are puppies and lasts for about two years. To be chosen , puppies must be calm , good-natured and intelligent. They also must be willing to work and eager to please.
　　The dogs learn to go around obstacles and to stop for stairs or other possible dangers. They also must learn to ignore distractions such as cats or other dogs. If you see a guide dog working, don't talk to it or touch it. Remember, it has an important job to do!
Once a dog has been trained, its new owner comes to a training center for one month. The dog and person learn how to work together.
　　One guide dog owner says, "Having a guide has given me back my dignity, my reason to live. Until I had lsla, I was ignored, had been attacked, and was too frightened to leave the house. Now I feel like a human being again."
　　These are just a few of the significant ways dogs help humans. They have truly earned the title "man's best friend."