[nabs-l] Students with guide dogs

Mon Sep 2 19:39:46 UTC 2013

Hi all,

First of all, though the issue of fake service dogs complicates
things, it is not helpful to treat the guide dog school ID as an
access card that will prove the legitimacy of our dogs.  I know plenty
of owner trainers who have very well-behaved dogs.  They would not be
able to prove that they got their guides from a school.  So then, what
would happen?  They would be kicked out of establishments or forced to
make their own IDs.  What would this accomplish?

As for showing documentation to housing, dorms and other on campus
housing are covered under the FHA(fair Housing Act).  Under FHA, it is
illegal for a housing association of any kind to ask for health
records on service dogs.  We could debate all day about whether or not
this is a good idea.  Frankly, I can see both sides of it, at least
for dorms.  But it doesn't matter because it is actually illegal.  So
are pet deposits, size requirements, and of course, refusal of the
service dog for any reason.  This covers public housing accomidations
and depends on numbers.  Anyone renting a certain number of rooms,
apartment complexes, and dorms are covered.

I would also point out that it is the handeler's choice where to take
a guide dog.  Noone can or should decide that for anyone else.  I, for
example, will always take my current dog to convention, but I
understand and respect those who choose not to do this.  It is also
not up to anyone but the handeler to decide when to use the dog.  We
guide dog users get a lot of opinions from others about when, how, and
what to do with our dogs.  Yes, some of them are well-meaning, but
much of the time they are uncalled for.

I do agree that some guide dog users make a bad name for the rest of
us.  But at the same time, every guide dog user makes a mistake.  I
have had moments where I dropped the leash for a second, and my dog
ran after another dog.  I got yelled at and deserved it.  We are only
human and make mistakes and get distracted.  Remember that the next
time you see a dog relieve itself in the hotel at convention.  My dog
has never done this, but she has done other embarrassing things at
convention.

I think we need to give each other a little grace here.  It's time for
the cane users to support the dog users and their rights to take
charge over their own dogs.  (This goes for other dog users too.)  And
it's also time for the dog users to stop worrying about the dog verses
cane debate and use their dogs and canes when and how they want.  Yes,
dog users still have to use canes some of the time.

My last point I would like to make is that it is within the law for
the owner of an establishment to refuse access to a dog who is dirty
or otherwise disruptive to business. This is what a lot of people tend
to forgot about the ADA.  So if a dog is not groomed and is not clean,
the handeler will have other problems besides bothering people with
allergies.

On 9/1/13, Robin <robin-melvin at comcast.net> wrote:
> I presume it is a health question because as I
> recall the initial EMAIL post to this list was
> wondering whether or not it is permissible under
> the ADA guidelines for a college or university to
> request  vaccination records of a service/guide dog.
>
> I presume it is NOT an ADA guideline issue. I
> don't SEE the difference between requesting a
> service/guide dog's vaccination records or a
> students immunization records  especially with
> all of the concern of contageous diseases  such
> as the flu. They are, in my humble opinion, just
> trying to be proactive to protect the
> staff/student population, who regularly
> attend/visit their campus of learning, and that
> is what, in my EYES makes it a health concern/issue.
>
> Sent From Robin M.
>
> At 12:46 PM 8/31/2013, you wrote:
>>BS"D I only want to point out some things. It is
>>not the dog's coat which gives the allergic
>>reaction, it is the dog's saliva. The saliva
>>consists of allergen which make some people
>>sick. Actually, every dog owner carry allergen
>>and therefore the dog is not the only problem
>>for people with dog allergies. A dog who is well
>>cared of, bathed and gromed do not cause more
>>problems for a person with dog allergies then a
>>dog owner in general does. Many persons with dog
>>allergies can take medecins but for few people
>>this do not work, for them it would be a problem
>>to only meet a dog owner. I do not hope none
>>take this personally but I only want to clear up
>>things. I live in a country where the Allergic
>>lobby has a very strong voice which makes it
>>hard to live with a guide dog here. We get
>>refused to enter shops, restaurants and
>>universities because 'a person can get an
>>allergic attack'. Okay, therefore this subject
>>is close to my heart. I understand that it can
>>be a problem for people with allergies but it is
>>not my problem, my dog is well taken care of and
>>she will not be upin  people faces. I really
>>feel for Joshua and others, it must be difficult
>>but I wish it would be more respectful
>>especially in my own country where it sounds
>>lile my dog would kill people with dog allergies
>>which is not true. Kind regards, Mlle.
>>Leye-Shprintse Ãberg Courriel :
>>leyeshprintse at ymail.com Journal :
>>http://leyeshprintse.blogspot.com EnvoyÃ© de mon
>>iPad Mini
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16