[Blindtlk] The Dog Dilemma

Tue Jun 21 20:07:07 UTC 2011

Hi Dianne,

I know you can "test drive" a guide dog during the NAGDU business 
meeting.  Marion Gwizdala, the President of NAGDU is on this 
list, so you may be able to get more information from him.

 Chris

"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
To learn more about Camp Abilities and find a local camp near 
you, just click on this link to their national Web site: 
www.campabilities.org.

The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in 
Maryland have the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click 
on this link to learn more and to contribute: 
www.icanfoundation.info.

 Sent from my BrailleNote

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:31:53 -0400
Subject: [Blindtlk] The Dog Dilemma

Greetings Federationists,

I posed this question on here a few weeks ago, and didn't get any 
responses, but the question was included in a response that I 
sent to another thread, so I'm thinking that maybe it was missed 
somehow by those who would have had the answer.  Anyway, I wanted 
to give it another try.

For years now, I have been toying with the idea of getting a 
guide dog, wondering if it would be a good fit.  But I have a lot 
of questions and concerns.  Anyway, I've been waffling.  It's 
kind of like having children I guess, there are a lot of things 
to consider before you take on the responsibility.  There are 
other considerations In terms of practicalities, such as the 
space a dog takes when traveling by car, the cost of veterinary 
bills and so forth.

Anyway, my question is whether they ever have events at the 
convention where you can get some actual hands on experience with 
a dog and how it might feel to walk with one? I would really hate 
to make such a decision and then realize that I had made a 
mistake and have to send the dog back, do you know what I mean?

One of my major concerns, in terms of travel, one which I have 
never been able to get a satisfactory answer to is how flights of 
stairs and curbs and so forth are negotiated.  When I have asked 
a fellow Federationist  here who is a long time user, I am told 
that, when her dog comes to a drop off, it will stop and then she 
just sticks her foot out and sees that there is a step there and 
just goes for it.  That doesn't quite feel right to me, because I 
don't know how you know exactly what you are dealing with.  When 
I come to a drop-off with a cane, I can extend my cane and tell 
whether we have a flight of stairs, whether it is a single step, 
whether the steps are narrow, whether it is a high curb, or a 
seemingly huge drop-off...  I can also extend the cane to the 
left or right to see whether there is a banister.  I am told that 
dogs tend to take steps really quickly.  I am not particularly 
agile, and don't do steps quickly.  It's a bit unsettling to 
think of a dog dragging me down the steps.

Anyway, I would really like to get these, and other questions 
answered before I  decide to "take the plunge."  Otherwise I 
probably won't.  There are other ways in which a dog would be 
really beneficial.  For instance, they are doing a lot of 
construction around my work place now.  My understanding is that 
the dog would help me avoid such things, take me around the 
debris and relieve me of the stress and frustration that comes 
with trying to negotiate the mess.  When traveling alone, 
especially at night, the dog might serve as a deterrent to those 
who were up to no good.  We all know, of course, that the dogs 
are not trained to attack and protect, but most of the general 
public doesn't know that.  They think that they are so trained, 
so would be more apt to leave you alone.  At times when an area 
is devoid of landmarks, a dog would help ease those frustrations 
as well.  There are other advantages that I see as well, but 
before I take on the added responsibilities, expenses and minor 
inconveniences, I really want to be relatively sure that the 
tradeoffs will be worth it.  Does that make sense?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,
[cid:image002.gif at 01CC2FF2.8517C3A0]

Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647

"It is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver

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