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

Fri Mar 20 02:34:43 UTC 2015

Hi all,

I am a senior in high school, planning to attend LCB next year. I 
am also hearing impaired and thus have to wear a hearing aid. 
During my O&M lessons at school, I've discovered that though I 
can hear perfectly well when a car is coming, my hearing aid 
makes it difficult to localize that sound. I haven't made a final 
decision as to whether I will get a dog--that will wait until 
after my LCB training--but I believe that because of my hearing 
problem, it would make me safer.
     That's my personal story. I don't really see why this blog 
is "offensive" or "garbage" as previous posts have stated. The 
subject line is definitely an attention getter, especially for 
someone like me who just skims through their Inbox. Everyone is 
entitled to their own opinion, even if others don't share it. The 
five reasons, far from being childish, are valid. When making a 
decision, it's important to know all of the factors beforehand so 
that you can make a logical and fully informed decision. With 
regard to the letting the dog out and cleaning up after it part, 
that applies to any kind of dog. I personally have two dogs at my 
house right now, and we have to do those things, sometimes 
getting up at 4:00 in the morning when they start crying to go 
out. This is just my opinion. Have a good Friday!

Yours,
Sophie

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Dierckens via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>,National Association of 
Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:50:07 -0400
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] 5 Reasons Why Guide Dogs Are a Terrible 
Idea!

I would have to agree with Aleeha and Min here.
As a soon to be handler, I found this post rather offensive and 
someone disturbing. Now, I understand that a dog may not be ideal 
for everyone, but there are better ways of letting people know 
that having a guide dog isn't always going to be cake and roses. 
If I were to read this, say, 6 years ago when I was first 
becoming interested in getting a dog, I would definitely be put 
off by reading this and would be second guessing my decision. 
There is a large difference between writing an opinion piece, and 
just plain garbage.
Just my two cense worth.

God bless. :)
Matthew Dierckens
Certified Assistive Technology Specialist
Macintosh, Windows and IOS  Trainer
Personal Email: matt.dierckens at me.com

 On Mar 19, 2015, at 21:29, Darian Smith via nabs-l 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

 Hi all,
 Thanks  Joe for sharing this.

 If   your aim in the subject line is to get oneâ€™s attention 
than Iâ€™sure youâ€™ve done it.
 Knowing what I know, seeing what Iâ€™ve seen and understanding 
what I do, It seems like a very important thing to think about, 
the considerations   surrounding  getting a dog  guide.
  There are many reasons why people might decide that a dog might 
be the best mobility tool for them (Yes, the dog  is an animal, 
but consider that when they are in   harness they are as much a 
travel tool as a cane would be.
 A cane requires far less   moving parts in itâ€™s usage   than a 
dog might,  and yet the dog  requires that you interact with your  
physical environment  much less than a cane might.
 I  personally know of folks who love dogs, but would not    go 
to train for a guide   because of the responsibilities that come 
with the puppy.  I also know of folks who have gotten a dog guide  
though otherwise they wouldnâ€™t have a dog in their lives.
  I think  that though  I  may oversimplify the topic,  there
      ). are many reasons why a blind person may have either a 
cane or dog in their lives, though I personally believe that a 
solid  foundation in the former can be absolutely key in 
maximizing the ability to work the latter, thereâ€™s nothing 
wrong with deciding to get a dog.
 What I think Joe points out are valid reasons  why if you 
donâ€™t really think it through then getting a dog guide could be 
a bad idea.  itâ€™s not a  dig  and I doubt it  destroys  the 
image  of guide dogs, their owners and the schools they come 
from.
 This, however is just my humble opinion on the matter.
  Best,
 Darian

 On Mar 19, 2015, at 5:26 PM, 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-ter
rible-idea/

 --
 Musings of a Work in Progress:
 www.JoeOrozco.com/

 Twitter: @ScribblingJoe

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