[FLAGDU] Didi Comes Home

Thu May 20 22:50:14 UTC 2021

This is wonderful news!

JODY

To Boldly Go  🖖🏻 

thunderwalker321 at gmail.com 

"What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS  Erik Weihenmayer

> On May 20, 2021, at 6:25 PM, Debbie Malone via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> YAHOO! Great job ASAP!
> 
>> On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 4:51 PM Sherrill O'Brien via FLAGDU <
>> flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello to all,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Below my signature, you'll find some great news!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sherrill
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary
>> 
>> Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)
>> 
>> National Federation of the Blind of Florida
>> 
>> Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890
>> 
>> Email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>> 
>> FROM: Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)
>> 
>> DATE: May 20, 2021
>> 
>> TO: All Media
>> 
>> CONTACT: Marion Gwizdala 386-272-7411
>> 
>> RE: Stolen Guide Dog Returned
>> 
>> SHERIFF'S OFFICE RETRIEVES STOLEN GUIDE DOG
>> 
>> On Thursday, May 20, the Columbia County Sheriff's department notified
>> Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) that Didi, Rev. Susan Blake's
>> guide dog, had been retrieved and was in their custody. ASAP immediately
>> drove to Columbia County to pick up Didi.  Didi had been sent to Columbia
>> County by Southeastern Guide Dogs after the organization forcibly removed
>> the dog without warning, without cause, and without authority. The court
>> order known as a writ of replevin was supported by the same transfer of
>> ownership contract Southeastern claimed gave it the right of unilateral
>> repossession.
>> 
>> "The contract indicates that Southeastern must obtain an injunction to
>> retake the dog," explains Marcy I. LaHart, Susan Blake's attorney. "Once
>> the
>> issue of possession is fully resolved in Columbia County we are considering
>> further action against Southeastern Guide Dogs so the organization does not
>> unilaterally help itself to another disabled person's service dog based
>> upon
>> some trivial perceived shortcoming."
>> 
>> The saga began on March 4, 2021, when a representative of Southeastern
>> Guide
>> Dogs, a Palmetto, Fla. nonprofit organization that trains guide dogs for
>> the
>> blind, showed up unannounced at the home of Rev. Susan Blake, a blind
>> Episcopal priest for the Diocese of Orlando, and removed Rev.  Blake's
>> 9-1/2-year-old guide dog because the dog allegedly appeared to be about
>> four
>> pounds overweight. Blake pleaded for her beloved guide dog to be returned
>> and Southeastern refused, citing a contract that they claimed gave them the
>> right to unilaterally make such a radical decision. Southeastern gave Rev.
>> Blake the chance to appeal their decision; however, the appeal was a sham
>> heard by the same group that made the original decision. Rev. Blake was not
>> allowed to speak in her own defense nor rebut the lies Southeastern made
>> concerning the health of Didi.
>> 
>> Once the outcry from the public began to impact Southeastern, they began
>> changing their story and their web of lies began to crumble. They asserted
>> Rev. Blake had not had her dog to the veterinarian since 2018 while Blake's
>> records have her visiting the vet exactly one month earlier on February 4.
>> Southeastern claimed the dog had tumors on one of its eyes while Blake's
>> vet
>> noticed "a small growth on its lower right eyelid". Southeastern asserted
>> the dog needed dental surgery to address "severe gingivitis"; while Blakes
>> vet stated, "The gums are pink, the teeth a bit worn, and there is some
>> tartar", all to be expected for a dog of Didi's age. When confronted with
>> facts that contradicted their statements, Southeastern changed their story
>> again, claiming Blake "let Didi run free"; Blake admits Didi got out twice
>> but she did not ever intentionally let her dog roam. Still unable to
>> justify
>> their immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior, Southeastern changed the
>> narrative once again, asserting Susan Blake voluntarily returned the dog.
>> 
>> "The return of Didi is only the beginning of a process to hold Southeastern
>> Guide Dogs accountable and put the service animal training industry on
>> notice that they cannot treat their consumers with such blatant disregard,"
>> explains Marion Gwizdala, president of Advocates for Service Animal
>> Partners
>> (ASAP), the Tampa-based advocacy and policy organization that is supporting
>> Rev. Blake.
>> 
>> Gwizdala asserts these incidents are not uncommon. During his past
>> thirty-three years as a service animal advocate, he has heard this story
>> several times and has published other articles about these abuses.
>> Convincing consumers to take on the multimillion dollar nonprofits with so
>> much community influence and respect is a daunting prospect. Even when the
>> abused are willing to come forward, finding an attorney to take on the case
>> was problematic.
>> 
>> "For two months we just kept following the path that was unfolding before
>> us," explained Merry Schoch, a licensed clinical social worker and ASAP's
>> Vice President. "Susan finally came across Marcy LaHart and here we are!"
>> 
>> Gwizdala and Schoch were both involved in a similar case in which another
>> Southeastern Guide Dog consumer, Les Demers, had his dog removed without
>> warning and without cause on April 22, 2020. They did not know Marcy at the
>> time but they do now!
>> 
>> "Their cruel, immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior stops here!" asserts
>> Gwizdala.
>> 
>> Advocates for Service Animal Partners has created a special advocacy fund
>> to
>> help others like Susan Blake and Les Demers, as well as anyone in need of
>> advocacy support because of their choice to use a service animal. All funds
>> are used specifically for advocacy efforts; none of these funds are used to
>> pay salaries. You can support this fund by making a tax-deductible
>> contribution by visiting the following links:
>> 
>> http://www.facebook.com/asap411/
>> 
>> https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MEPNDCN89FDQ2
>> 
>> If you have a concern or need help, contact Advocates for Service Animal
>> Partners (ASAP) at 386-272-7411 (386-ASAP411) OR Advocacy411 at gmail.com.
>> 
>> # # #
>> 
>> About Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)
>> 
>>                Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is a
>> newly-organized network of service animal advocates across the United
>> States. 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.
>> 
>> About Marcy I. LaHart P.A.
>> 
>> Marcy LaHart Esq. is a solo practitioner focusing her practice primarily on
>> animal law and open government law. She represents persons with
>> disabilities
>> in matters relating to emotional support animals and service animals. She
>> also advises pet owners, rescue groups and other animal welfare
>> organizations that have legal issues regarding companion animals, including
>> defending allegedly dangerous dogs, pet custody disputes, and various
>> animal
>> related torts such as veterinary malpractice. Ms. LaHart has also handled
>> many public records law and government in the sunshine cases.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> *Debbie Malone*
> *InclusionEducation.com *
> *Unlikely Dancer* available on Amazon at
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945456477
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