[Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

[Mike Freeman]

All:

To take legal action, one must decide what statute(s) and/or regulation(s)
are being violated. As I said previously, if Federal law is considered, if
the shelter is a public accommodation, you're home free. You'd be OK in
Washington state also as this would probably be a violation of our Human
rights statute. But one must determine what law is being violated or else,
even if a thing is discriminatory, court action will be for naught.

One must also understand that the cat will most certainly no longer be with
us by the time anything legal could happen; the litigant would be doing this
for other blind persons.

Hence, negotiation and the personal touch are almost always preferable.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Anita
Adkins via blindtlk
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 10:04 AM
To: Lucy Sirianni; Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

Hi,

This makes me think of the cases I've heard about where the NFB has helped
the victims take legal action as a result of someone discriminating against
us just because they think we can't possibly safely or effectively perform a
task, such as caring for a child. I do feel bad for the cat. I think you
should first try talking and explaining to the person who is questioning
your abilities, which it sounds as if you have done, And, also try talking
to the individual's superior to try to explain and get them to override the
decision. For me, the key here is to first peaceably teach others that blind
people can accomplish their goals using alternative techniques. Next, decide
whether or not you are willing to take it further, meaning to take legal
action,  because it certainly is not right for you to be discriminated
against because you are blind and also it is not right for the cat to die
just because someone wrongly thinks it won't be safe in your home. Maybe you
could also try to switch to a different individual at the shelter who might
be more open about the situation? Anita

-----Original Message-----
From: Lucy Sirianni via blindtlk
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 12:07 PM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

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

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