[Flagdu] My Mistake: DOJ redefines service animal -- dogs only

Mon Aug 9 19:26:36 UTC 2010

thank you and i do apologize. i just do not understand the snake? are there any 
standards for the social comfort or agreeable socially comfort level of a 
animal. am i being unreasonable as to this concern? sometimes the public has a 
fear of dogs,what about the general fear of snakes? is this fear or 
acceptability of a particular animal? thank you and again sorry about being a 
problem ralph

________________________________
From: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Mon, August 9, 2010 2:27:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] My Mistake: DOJ redefines service animal -- dogs only

Ralph,
  The purpose of this discussion list is to share thoughts and ideas about guide 
dog use and related issues. Just about the only rules we have is to keep on 
topic and be respectful. Your message does not comply with the "be respectful" 
rule on this list. If you disagree with a post, please feel free to express your 
disagreement; however, please maintain respect for others on this list.

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://NAGDU.ORG

----- Original Message ----- From: "ralph narducci" <spadad1 at yahoo.com>
To: "Florida Association of Guide Dog Users" <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] My Mistake: DOJ redefines service animal -- dogs only

GO AWAY!

________________________________
From: David Evans <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>; Florida Association of Guide Dog
Users <flagdu at nfbnet.org>; NAGDU List <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sat, July 31, 2010 6:30:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] My Mistake: DOJ redefines service animal -- dogs only

Dear Marion,

The new ruling would seem to eliminate other accepted service animals, such as
Monkeys, that are used by Quads to feed them selves, ferrets, pot belly pigs
that are trained to open and close doors, turn on and off lights and retrieve
objects.
If this is true, this is a very sudden shift in policy.
The emotional support animals issues still needs to be addressed as they do
serve a useful function, but their rightful use still needs to be better defined
under the Law.
I deal with many of them in my area that ride on Para-transit and fixed route.
We have a young man, with mental disabilities who uses a emotional support snake
to keep himself calm on the bus. I know that it keeps him calm, but there are
other people who ride who don't feel that way.

Regs need to be defined as to how much freedom of movement these animals have on
our buses.
Unlike service Dogs, who must be free roaming to do their job, emotional support
animals may not need such freedom and may need to be confined in pet carriers
for their trips.
I will be glad to see this issue settled and regs defined as it will make
handling of such animals easier and training of drivers, on our transit services
easier and more uniform.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
Palm Tran Service Board
Para-transit Sub-Committee
TD LCB Board
South Florida Regional Transit Authority/Tri-Rail
----- Original Message ----- From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "FLAGDU List" <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>
Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 2:51 PM
Subject: [Flagdu] My Mistake: DOJ redefines service animal -- dogs only

> Dear All,
> In a previous post to the NAGDU list, I mistakenly asserted that the new
> rule included only dogs as service animals. I based this assertion on the
> information I had received; however, I also received a message from another
> source that states,
> 
> The rule permits the use of trained miniature horses as alternatives to dogs,
> subject to certain limitations. To allow flexibility in situations where using 
>a
> horse would not be appropriate, the final rule does not include miniature 
>horses
> in the definition of "service animal." See http://www.ada.gov/reg
> 
> I apologize for the misinformation I disseminated. As more information is made
> available to clarify this ruling, it will be shared with the list. The entire
> message I received concerning this new rule is pasted below.
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala, President
> National Association of Guide Dog Users
> National Federation of the Blind
> 813-626-2789
> President at NAGDU.ORG
> HTTP://NAGDU.ORG
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Service Animals. The rule defines "service animal" as a dog that has been
> individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
> individual with a disability. The rule states that other animals, whether wild
> or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Dogs that are not trained to
> perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that 
>are
> used purely for emotional support, are not service animals. The final rule 
also
> clarifies that individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals 
>that
> are trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA. The rule
> permits the use of trained miniature horses as alternatives to dogs, subject 
to
> certain limitations. To allow flexibility in situations where using a horse
> would not be appropriate, the final rule does not include miniature horses in
> the definition of "service animal." See
> http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/factsheets/title2_factsheet.html
> 
> 
> 
> 
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