A little about why we don’t have livestock dog(s) yet due to blindness concerns

Living and farming with limited vision presents unique challenges that most people don't consider. From my experience, managing a farm without full sight means relying heavily on adaptive strategies rather than conventional solutions. Livestock guardian dogs are widely recommended to protect poultry from predators like foxes, but for someone like me with progressive blindness due to choroideremia, the situation is more complex. The presence of multiple dogs on my property could interfere with acquiring a guide dog, which I may need as my vision declines further. This balancing act between protecting my animals and maintaining the possibility of using a service dog highlights the difficult decisions farmers with disabilities must face. In my day-to-day farm work, I use a white cane off the farm and careful familiarity with the land helps me stay safe on my property. But managing risks such as predators requires alternative measures since I cannot fully monitor the animals visually as others might. This means sometimes accepting losses without standard guardian dogs, or exploring other protections like donkeys or secure enclosures. This experience has taught me resilience and the need to adapt farming practices to personal health realities. It also means challenging the assumptions of online critics who may not understand the complexity behind why certain livestock protection tools aren’t in use. Sharing this perspective helps raise awareness about the intersection of disability and agriculture and the creative problem-solving it demands. For those who farm with similar conditions or are interested in inclusive agriculture, consider that the best solutions aren’t always traditional. Embracing personalized approaches and advocating for support systems that allow both effective farming and accessibility is crucial. Farming with vision impairment doesn’t mean giving up on animal care and safety—it means finding new ways to coexist and thrive despite limitations.