[Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.

Sun Jan 30 17:55:26 UTC 2011

Marion:
I would agree that Mr. Russman seems to be hiding behind the confidentiality 
policy.  His explanations seem a little vague.  I am not a dog guide user, 
however, I do work in rehab and I have witnessed consumers who treat their 
dogs in an improper manner.  I have sceen dogs who were not properly groom 
and dogs who lack the necessary care to keep them healthy and happy.  I have 
heard the way in which some users talk to their dogs.  I have also sceen a 
great number of consumers who are great to their dogs.

How can we support your organization?
Steve
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.

> 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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