[nabs-l] 5 Reasons Why Guide Dogs Are a Terrible Idea!

[minh ha]

I agree with Aleeha's sentiments one hundred percent. Over
generalization is a huge mistake to do under any circumstances, and
this blog post was offensive to me and other guide dog handlers on so
many levels. If you want to write a fair and informative blog post
about the guide dog lifestyle, then by all means, point out the
negative aspects, but do not conveniently forget to mention the
thousand of other more positive and beneficial impacts that a guide
dog can have on a person's life. Yes, a guide dog is not the right
choice for everyone and a blind person needs to think long and hard
before getting one, but for the right reasons, a guide dog can
completely turn someone's life around and give them the confidence in
order to live life more productively. Honestly, your five reasons seem
very childish, and i have to wonder if they are that important to you,
then you should be contemplating about getting another guide dog at
all.

Respectfully,
Minh and my hard working little guide, Viva

On 3/19/15, Aleeha Dudley via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Personally, I find your subject line a bit offensive, as it assumes
> that guide dogs are a terrible idea for everyone. Being the proud
> handler of a wonderful dog myself, and a quite independent cane
> traveller before that, I am a bit upset as what I find to be a
> somewhat inflammatory post. You are right; guide dogs are not for
> everyone. They are a huge responsibility and need a lot of daily care.
> But to say that there are five reasons why a guide dog is a terrile
> idea seems to be going too far, especially addressing such a large
> body of people such as that on this list. Now, having clicked the link
> and read the blog, I know that you are making an attempt to be fair
> and point out the disadvantages, but to not point out that this was a
> blog post or an opinion article, can make some folks pretty mad fairly
> quickly. Can wa choose our words and subject lines a little more
> wisely next time?
> Aleha and Dallas, Seeing Eye dog extrordinaire
>
> On 3/19/15, Joe via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> If you're blind, you obviously read Braille. Your hearing must naturally
>> be
>> superior to your sighted peers, and of course you have a guide dog!
>> Right?
>>
>> Well, that last may not be as pervasive as the first and second. Someone
>> recently told me the number of guide dog users has actually declined in
>> my
>> millennial generation. I have no evidence proving this one way or the
>> other,
>> but for the general public, to see a blind person with a guide dog feels
>> as
>> natural as butter and toast.
>>
>> Thing is, I'm not so sure guide dogs are right for everyone. Or, maybe
>> I'm
>> just projecting my own uncertainties onto the rest of the community?
>>
>> Last November I took the first step in the application process to return
>> for
>> a second Seeing Eye dog. It's been more than three years since I lost
>> Gator,
>> and even though I've gotten around just fine with a white cane, I am
>> approaching what feels like the final years with sight, however minimal
>> that
>> sight might be. I admit it's unnerving if I sit still long enough to
>> contemplate total blindness. NFB philosophy be damned, and the thought of
>> an
>> extra set of eyes to help me navigate the world does bring a measure of
>> comfort. But, is it enough to go get another dog?
>>
>> In no particular order, here are reasons why a guide dog would be a
>> terrible
>> idea:
>>
>> Read more:
>>
>> http://serotalk.com/2015/03/18/5-reasons-why-guide-dogs-are-a-terrible-idea/
>>
>> --
>> Musings of a Work in Progress:
>> www.JoeOrozco.com/
>>
>> Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Aleeha Dudley and Seeing Eye Yellow Labrador Dallas
> Vice President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
> Email: blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
> Follow me on Twitter at @blindcowgirl199
>
> The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.
> - Arabian Proverb
>
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-- 
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence