They are loving companions. And for the blind, these dogs are a lifeline.

他们是可爱的陪伴者，对于失明人士来说，他们是生命线。

Lorri Bernson lost her vision 25 years ago and had her current guide dog named Captain for one year.

萝莉·本森25年前失明，一年前她得到了这个名叫“船长"的导盲犬。

He is so sweet, and so devoted, and so makes me smile. You know these dogs are, they're not just your eyes.

他很可爱，很忠诚，他会让我欢笑，他们不仅仅是你的眼睛。

I mean they become your heart. They become part of your soul. They become part of your being,

他们变成了你的心，他们成为了灵魂的一部分，成为身体的一部分。

because when they're not with you, you notice the difference.

因为当他们不在身边时，你会感受到不同。

Many dogs are bred and trained here at Guide Dogs of America outside Los Angeles.

在洛杉矶外的美国导盲犬机构养育了很多狗，培训了很多狗。

Owners and dogs move in tandem, step by step, navigating obstacles, including cars.

狗主人和狗一起走，一步步走，穿越障碍物，包括汽车。

If a car gets too close to them, and they have what we call a buffer zone.

如果汽车离他们太近，他们有我们称之为“缓冲带”的地区。

It's anywhere from ten feet to two feet being a very tight buffer zone.

紧凑的缓冲带是从10英尺到2英寸。

But if a car were to come and break that buffer zone, and the dog feels uncomfortable, they're gonna stop.

但如果汽车过来，并冲破了缓冲带，狗就会觉得不舒服，他们会停下来。

The dogs bred at this facility are mostly labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, or a mix.

这个机构养育的狗多数是拉布杜拉寻回犬，金毛寻回犬或是杂种狗。

They are screened to ensure that they have the right temperament.

他们是经过筛选的，保证他们有着温和的性情。

Guide dogs are allowed to go where other animals are not, boarding airplanes, for example, and trains.

他们可以去其它动物无法去的地方，比如上飞机，比如地铁。

Pamela Metz's guide dog Franklin has been with her for four years.

帕米拉的导盲犬富兰克林陪伴了她四年。

We travel a lot together, and he's made it easier to travel independently.

我们一起旅行了很久，他让我的旅行更加独立。

Franklin has kept her spirits up since her husband passed away two years ago.

富兰克林让她保持活力，自从她的丈夫2年前去世。

He made me have to get up in the morning to take care of him and the cats, made me have to get up and move, and stay mobile and keep busy.

他叫我早上起床，照顾他和猫，让我起来活动，让我保持活动的状态，让我忙起来。

Guide Dogs of America recently merged with another organization that provide service animals, Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs.

美国导盲犬机构近期和另外一个组织合并，来提供服务型动物，该组织叫“温柔援助犬”。

This assistance dog is working with a trainer and volunteer to learn how to help a child with autism.

这个辅助犬正在和培训师和志愿者合作，学习帮助自闭症儿童。

Other assistance dogs work with disabled veterans. Some are trained by and help prisoners,

其它辅助犬和残疾的退伍老兵在一起，监狱犯人会训练辅助犬，同时帮助犯人，

providing a needed pair of eyes as well as love and companionship.

为人们提供一双眼睛，同时还有爱和陪伴。

And even in an age when advanced technology is helping the disabled, the role of guide and assistance dogs is only expanding.

即使在现在高科技可以帮助残疾人，但导盲犬和辅助犬的角色在扩大。

Mike O'Sullivan, VOA news Los Angeles

麦克·奥沙利文，VOA新闻洛杉矶报道。