[BlindTlk] Court Ruling Affirms Ownership of Guide Dog by Blind Handler

[Sheila]

this is fantastic. I'm so glad to see this

On 6/8/2021 3:53 PM, Marion via BlindTlk wrote:
> Please distribute the following message as widely as appropriate. If you
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>   
>
> COURT RULING AFFIRMS RIGHT OF GUIDE DOG HANDLER'S OWNERSHIP
>
>   
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> June 7, 2021
>
>   
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>                  On March 4, 2021, without warning, without cause, and
> without authority to do so, Southeastern guide Dogs cruelly and forcibly
> removed the guide dog of Rev. Susan Blake, an Episcopal priest for the
> diocese of Orlando. Deanna Miller, a guide dog mobility instructor from
> Southeastern showed up at Rev. Blake's home unannounced and demanded to see
> Rev. Blake's guide dog, Didi. Ms. Miller told Rev. Blake that Didi appeared
> to be about four pounds overweight, a violation of their contract and a
> cause for repossession. Ms. Miller literally pulled the harnessed guide dog
> from Rev. Blake's arms as she pleaded with Deanna Miller to not take Didi
> away.
>
>   
>
>                  On May 20, a Columbia County Sheriff's Office deputy, acting
> upon a court order known as a writ of replevin, retrieved Didi from the
> puppy-raiser's home where Southeastern had placed Didi. Representatives of
> Advocates for Service Animal Partners traveled to Columbia County, retrieved
> Didi, and returned her to Rev. Blake seventy-seven days after she was
> snatched away.
>
>   
>
>                  On June 7, 2021, the Honorable Sara Carter held a
> preliminary hearing in Columbia County Civil Court to determine whether Rev.
> Susan Blake or the puppy-raiser is Didi's rightful owner. The judge's
> preliminary ruling is that Southeastern Guide Dogs had no legal right to
> repossess Rev. Blake's dog without an injunction for specific action as
> provided for in their "Transfer of Ownership" agreement. Judge Carter
> affirmed Rev. Blake owns Didi and she should remain with Rev. Blake until
> the final hearing. A final hearing will be held in the near future in which
> the puppy-raisers will be afforded the opportunity to contest these findings
> of fact.
>
>   
>
>                  "This is a major victory for guide dog users across the
> country explains Marion Gwizdala, president of Advocates for Service Animal
> Partners which supported and guided Rev. Blake through this process. "The
> judge has ruled that Southeastern Guide Dogs cannot interfere with our right
> to own our guide dogs without a court order."
>
>   
>
>                  Gwizdala contends Southeastern Guide Dogs is not the only
> guide dog training program that treats their consumers with such cruelty and
> disregard for their fundamental right of due process by employing
> intimidating heavy-handed authoritarian practices. This ruling puts those
> training programs on notice that their blind consumers will not stand for
> this Draconian maltreatment.
>
>   
>
>                  "This case has created a lot of buzz within the guide dog
> training industry," asserts Gwizdala. "It is causing them to review their
> policies and practices to ensure they are treating their blind consumers
> with dignity and respect." Says Gwizdala.
>
>   
>
> About ASAP
>
>                  Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is a network of
> volunteer service animal advocates. Our goal is to encourage, educate, and
> support service animal handlers through printed and electronic publications,
> Informational webinars, recorded educational materials, and direct advocacy
> support, intervention, and mediation. In support of this mission, we also
> work to educate employers, governmental entities, private companies, housing
> accommodations, and the airline industry about the rights, responsibilities,
> and limitations of access under state and federal law. For more information,
> please contact
>
>   
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
>
> Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc.
>
>   <mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com> Advocacy411 at gmail.com
>
> 386-2727411 (386-ASAP411)
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>
>   
>
>   
>
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