[Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup

Thu Mar 21 21:23:20 UTC 2013

What left "much to be desired"? I'm honestly curious, as I usually
bristle at patronization or paternalism, and i didn't feel that I
encountered it.

On 3/21/13, Peter Donahue <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> Good afternoon everyone,
>
> Maybe by your standards but not by everyone's. This comes from someone who
> once had a guide dog from GDB. Their dogs were well-trained but the way they
>
> treated their students left much to be desired. Again this comes from one
> with direct experience with that school. At least SE is more progressive
> with how it treats its students and alumni. Now imagine how much better the
>
> blind themselves could do at operating a guide dog program.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelby Carlson" <kelbycarlson at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 12:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup
>
>
> I'll weigh in a little on this discussion, as I am a new dog user
> and a member of several guide dog lists.
>
> I work with Guide Dogs for the Blind, and I think their ownership
> policy is quite reasonable.  As someone who cares a great deal
> about these dogs, I think this is a good step to ensure that the
> dogs are well cared for and being used.  Guide Dogs hast strict
> standards of how its dogs are to be handled; I can say from
> personal experience that training is rigorous and expectations
> are high.  I can say with equal candor that it is a good thing
> most Guide Dog schools cover the costs, as it would be extremely
> difficult for an individual blind person to do it themselves.  I
> certainly never felt like a "charity case" at Guide Dogs, nor did
> I feel that my blindness was portrayed negatively.  Quite the
> contrary: getting a guide dog was one step in empowerment and
> independence for me, and that is how they treat it.  I have seen
> what seems to me to be a certain anti-guide dog sentiment in the
> NFB sometimes, and it makes me uncomfortable as my school and my
> dog have been great sources of help, encouragement and improved
> independence.
>
> Kelby
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com
> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:59:20 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup
>
> Oh,  Not really.  I don't have that many pieces of exercise
> equipment at my
> house, and I am in good shape.   I'm not saying they shouldn't
> have it, but
> they could improvise.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Julie J.
> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 12:34 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup
>
> I wasn't talking about numerous buildings, fancy food and
> expensive
> equipment for the dogs.  I meant that stuff was for the people.
> Sure it's
> nice to have a computer room, exercise equipment, a garden with
> manicured
> paths, food prepared by a chef and all the other perks, but are
> those things
> necessary?  I don't think they are.
>
> Julie
> On 3/20/2013 11:04 AM, justin williams wrote:
>  No, pamper the dogs.  They work hard and they deserve it.  I
> like the
>  other stuff you said though.
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Julie J.
>  Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 9:08 AM
>  To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>  Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup
>
>  I think the answer to protecting the dogs is two fold.  First I
> would
>  like to see a more in depth background investigation of the
> blind
>  applicant.  Do a criminal background check, require more
> references,
>  ask the neighbors...whatever it takes.  Adoption agencies place
>  children into homes surely we can figure out a way to more
> accurately
>  know what sort of situation the dog will be placed into.
> Secondly, I
>  think there are already agencies in place for dealing with
> animal
>  abuse, the police and animal control.  I don't see any reason
> why
>  these agencies can't be used in cases of neglect or abuse.
>
>  In regard to cost and the blind applicant absorbing the cost of
> the
>  dog in order to own the dog outright is an extremely valid
> point.  We
>  have to stop expecting everything for nothing.  I like the
> Seeing
>  Eye's concept of charging the student.  I do wish that the cost
> had
>  increased over the years with the cost of living.  It has been
> $150
>  since the beginning of the school in 1928.  I think that's the
> right
>  year.  $150 was a very different sum of money then and now.
>
>  I also think that guide dogs can be raised and trained for
>  substantially lower sums of money than $60,000.  If you look at
> the
>  various guide dog programs and how much each claims it costs to
> train
>  a dog, the numbers vary widely.  All those buildings, fancy
> food,
>  excessive equipment and other niceties cost money.
>
>  Julie
>
>
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