[Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.

Sun Jan 30 02:25:45 UTC 2011

Steve,
    I appreciate your message and hope I can share a few more details with 
you. I also appreciate your willingness to defend Fidelco. It is very 
difficult to believe that something like this could happen and understand 
your hope that there is a reasonable explanation. I know there are other
consumers who may be concerned about the pursuit of this action. Some may 
contact me but most will probably only chat among themselves. If you wish to
share this message with others, you may certainly do so.
    Please be assured that the National Association of Guide dog Users has 
exercised due diligence to obtain accurate information from this consumer 
and to hear Fidelco's explanation. The consumer in question signed a release 
of information granting Fidelco permission to speak with us. I spoke with 
Fidelco's Executive Director, Elliott Russman, on January 24 and he asserted 
the release was not sufficient, as it had not been notarized nor witnessed, 
and he could not verify that the signature on the form was indeed the 
consumer's. This, in spite of the fact that he has several other documents 
signed by the consumer to which he could compare the signature to verify its 
authenticity. I would add that probably none of these documents had been 
witnessed or notarized but were acceptable to Fidelco as authentic. When I 
asked if Fidelco had such an acceptable form for use under these 
circumstances, the question was evaded. I asked the question a number of 
times and in different forms and never received an answer.
    Mr. Russman asserted throughout the conversation that the dog was 
repossessed "for safety reasons", refusing to elaborate on this statement, 
again citing privacy and confidentiality concerns. He asserted I would find 
the same response if I contacted another program. Let me share with you that 
I have contacted another program to which this consumer has applied and they 
have agreed to discuss the consumers application with me based upon her 
verbal permission to do so.
    During our conversation, Mr. Russman asserted there was "a missing piece 
of information" the consumer was not sharing and I should obtain "another 
document" from the consumer. I asked for more information about what sort of 
"missing information or document" I should be seeking and he only replied 
that I should ask the consumer. The consumer states there is no missing 
information nor document.
    Mr. Russman also shared that the consumer's father had contacted him and 
they had a long conversation. He said the consumer's father was not a client 
and, therefore, their conversation was not protected by their privacy 
policy. He stated that this person, in closing the conversation, said, "If I 
were you I would not give my daughter another guide dog, either!" I 
contacted this person who stated, "He's a flat-out liar!" He further stated 
that the telephone call could be characterized as neither a conversation nor 
long, lasting a few minutes during which Mr. Russman said very little.
    I have given Fidelco an opportunity to respond and they have chosen to 
be evasive. Their choice to hide behind "privacy concerns" in spite of 
written permission to discuss the issue causes us to wonder what they are 
hiding.
    I advised Mr. Russman that I have heard there are others who have been 
treated similarly. He replied by quoting Mark Twain who said, "the rumors of 
my death have been greatly exaggerated!" I will share with you that, in just
a few short hours after disseminating my inquiry, I have had four people 
come forward with accounts of similar treatment.
    The primary concern of the National Association of Guide Dog Users is 
the protection of the consumer and their equitable treatment. As one of 
those consumers, I would hope that you share the same desire. Those who 
support the mission of a guide dog training program do so because they 
believe they are doing good work that enhances the lives of the blind 
consumer. As a stakeholder in this mission, should you find that the blind 
are being mistreated, I hope you would join us in correcting the 
mistreatment. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel
free to get in touch with me.

Respectfully yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://NAGDU.ORG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.


> If you are not giving the dog excellent care it should be removed.  This
> sort of stuff is ridiculous.
> Find out what type of care the person was giving the dog.
> Stevgfe
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion Gwizdala (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
> <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:49 PM
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.
>
>
>> Please distribute the following message as widely as appropriate.
>>
>>
>>         January 28, 2011
>>
>>
>>
>>             The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a
>> division of the National Federation of the Blind, has been contacted
>> by a consumer of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc., alleging that
>> they have arbitrarily and without just cause, removed her dog from
>> her. Fidelco contends that they removed the dog "for safety reasons"
>> but refuse to share any more details, citing confidentiality and
>> privacy concerns, in spite of a signed release of information form
>> granting permission to speak with us. Fidelco officials contend they
>> have given the consumer an explanation of the reason the dog was
>> repossessed, a fact the consumer denies. Fidelco has referred us to
>> their ownership agreement which states, "Fidelco may repossess the
>> dog. . .for any other reason as determined by Fidelco in its sole and
>> absolute discretion."
>>
>>             We have reason to believe that this is not an isolated
>> incident and there are other consumers who have been treated in a
>> similar manner by the Fidelco Guide Dog foundation inc. We are
>> interested in hearing from others who have had their dogs repossessed
>> by Fidelco without cause or explanation "in its sole and absolute
>> discretion." Fidelco consumers wishing to file such a complaint
>> should send their names, addresses (including email addresses), and
>> telephone numbers, along with the circumstances of the repossession to
>>
>>
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> <mailto:President at NAGDU.ORG>President at NAGDU.ORG
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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>
>
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