[Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

[Lucy Sirianni]

Hi all,

      I'm Lucy, a doctoral student and graduate student 
instructor in the English department at the University of 
California, Berkeley, and a new member of this list.  I wanted to 
reach out to this group to ask for suggestions regarding a 
situation I'm currently attempting to resolve.  Over the weekend, 
I contacted a local animal shelter who had indicated a need for 
foster homes for its animals, thinking this would be something 
I'd enjoy doing and knowing I met all of the specified 
qualifications.  The staff member I talked to initially expressed 
a lot of interest and immediately matched me with a cat who 
seemed like a great fit with me and who was going to be 
euthanized in a matter of days if no one stepped forward to take 
her (unlikely, I was told, since she's on the older side).  I was 
eager to meet this cat and seriously consider taking her into my 
home, but when I happened to mention to the staff member in 
charge that I am blind, she became concerned and is now uncertain 
of my ability to care for the cat.  Her main concern is that I 
may not be able to keep the cat from leaving my house, despite 
the fact that I have explained to her in detail the measures I 
would take to ensure the cat's safety and assured her that I have 
countless blind friends who routinely and successfully care for 
animals.  I've told her that I would plan to have a bell on the 
cat's collar so I'd consistently know where she was, as well as 
my name and contact information so that she could be returned if 
she were ever to get lost; I've also suggested that, before 
leaving my home, I simply place the cat in a comfortable area 
from which she wouldn't have access to the entrance to my 
apartment.  This is all in addition to pointing out the rather 
obvious fact that vision can't in fact keep a cat indoors and 
that sighted pet owners have to deal with similar worries.  I 
would welcome hearing from blind cat owners who may be able to 
suggest other techniques or allow me to mention their situations 
in further conversations with the people in charge at the 
shelter.  I'd hate to see this cat end up dying because of 
ignorance surrounding blindness.

Thanks, everyone, and I very much look forward to being a part of 
this group!

Lucy