[Flagdu] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Sat Jan 7 20:13:58 UTC 2017

Dear All,

	When I was a SEGDI consumer working "Superdog", I sat on their first graduate advisory council. It was I who advocated for ownership, as SEGDI only granted custody, much like Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Leader Dogs, and Guide Dogs for the Blind currently do upon completion of training. Admittedly, these programs do allow consumers to apply for ownership; however, it is never complete ownership but has many of the strings attached, including the limited rights when facing accusations of abuse or neglect.

	No program should give any weight to anonymous complaints. As a consumer of the Guide Dog Foundation, I know they will not accept anonymous complaints. If someone is unwilling to identify who they are, they are unwilling to accept a complaint. Ownership with strings attached and the forfeiture of rights when accused of wrongdoing is not ownership! Removing property without due process is theft.
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.

-----Original Message-----
From: FLAGDU [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lee Pupo via FLAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2017 11:46 AM
To: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Lee Pupo
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Ha ha! No, they've moved it to Facebook. 

LEE  😎

On Jan 7, 2017, at 11:33 AM, Mike via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Thank you I agree! Didn't that school do away with their graduate counsel also a few years ago. Because they were asking to many questions.
Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: FLAGDU [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via FLAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2017 9:19 AM
To: 'Florida Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Dan Weiner
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Thank you so much for sharing this, well guess what school I'm not going to apply to next time around. No, guys I'm not casting asspursions on SEGDB's training I have no reason to think iit's worse or better than anyone else, but that contract annoys and concerns me and fortunately we have a choice of programs.

Cordially,
Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: FLAGDU [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of NAGDU President via FLAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2017 6:33 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users; flagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: NAGDU President
Subject: [Flagdu] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Dear All,

               FYI, I am sharing with you the ownership agreement of Southeastern Guide Dogs. This agreement was shared with me by a graduate of the program. I would like to call your attention to paragraph 3 of the agreement which states in part

"3.    RETIREMENT. It is understood and agreed to that the Dog  

will be retired if, in the sole opinion of any SEGDI staff or representative, the Dog is not healthy enough to continue as a  guide dog.
It is also understood and agreed to that the Dog  MUST be retired on or before his/her eleventh (11 th) Birthday"

Personally, I have some serious concerns about this paragraph. My first and obvious concern is that it allows Southeastern to repossess a dog with the sole discretion of any staff member of Southeastern should that person determine the dog is not healthy to continue as a guide dog. It does not require any objective evidence nor that the person making such a decision be competent to do so.

               This paragraph also requires an owner to retire their dog on or before its 11th birthday. My second guide dog, incidentally from Southeastern Guide Dogs, worked until he was nearly 15 years old. Mike Sergeant used to refer to him as "Superdog"! My third guide dog, also from Southeastern, worked until she was 13 years old. It is my opinion that, if we own our dogs, no one has the right to require we retire the dog and the 11-year-old mark is arbitrary. Many of us have had guide dogs that have worked well past the 11 year mark.

               Also, please pay attention to paragraph 5 in which Southeastern has the right to repossess the dog for reasons of "suspected abuse or negligence". This is troubling because it does not require any evidence of abuse or neglect, simply a suspicion of abuse or neglect. 

               Many other training programs have similar conditions which I believe are paternalistic and arbitrary. I encourage each of you to consider what you would do and how you would feel if someone levied an unfounded, anonymous complaint of abuse or neglect against you and, based upon this anonymous, unfounded complaint and, inspite of the assertions of your veterinarian and close family and friends, there was no evidence of abuse, your dog was repossessed. Lest you say this would not happen, let me tell you it has and is currently occurring!

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

President at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.

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