As National Public Affairs Representative for the organization Guide Dogs for the Blind and a Guide Dog user himself, Michael Hingson knows about the relationship between humans and animals. On Tuesday, September 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Hampton Room of the Malott Commons, located on the Scripps College campus, Hingson will share his knowledge about this amazing bond in a discussion titled, The Power of the Human/Animal Bond: Labrador Lessons. The lecture is part of the Alexa Fullerton Hampton Speaker Series, “The Power of Influence,” at Scripps College. This lecture is free and open to the public. A pre-lecture reception and dinner at 5:30 p.m. are also available for $15 per person. Please call the Malott Commons Office at (909) 607-9372 for reservations and information. Deadline for dinner reservations is Friday, September 10th.
Thrust into the international spotlight after he and his Guide Dog emerged from the World Trade Center Tower 1 on September 11th, Hingson and Roselle, a yellow Labrador, have since become well-known representatives of the strength of the human/animal bond. Hingson has traveled with a Guide Dog for 40 years. His bond with Roselle is a prime example of the lifelong partnerships created by Guide Dogs for the Blind and those they serve.
On the relationship between he and Roselle, Hingson says, “Everyone thinks the dog leads the person. In reality, it’s a team effort. The best analogy is that the dog is the pilot and I’m the navigator. It’s my job to understand the route. Her job is to make sure we walk safely. She’s looking to me for guidance and assurance just as much as I’m looking to her. It’s an empathetic relationship that is second to none because we depend on each other every day.”
After September 11th, Roselle received the Dickin Medal from Britain for her devotion to duty after leading Hingson to safety in the World Trade Center tragedy. The medal is recognized worldwide as “the animals’ Victoria Cross.” In American terms, the award is the animal equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Roselle also received an award from Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the leading guide dog school in the United Kingdom and the AKC ACE Award.
Prior to becoming the National Public Affairs Representative for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hingson was district sales manager for Quantum Data Protection Division of Irvine, California, overseeing a sales force and field operations. He holds a master’s degree in physics from the University of California at Irvine. He is a former member of the California State Guide Dog Board, and is a member of the National Federation of the Blind.
The Alexa Fullerton Hampton Speaker Series is made possible through the generous bequest of Alexa Fullerton Hampton, Scripps class of 1942.