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

[Carly Mihalakis]

Good morning, Jamie,

Thank you for naming a source of people's personal crisis, an 
unsureness of the dog vs. stick question.
Reacters to such a stark question might be rendered on the edge of 
their seats merely  by this lifestyle choice. Everyone, get over it, 
then, or shut up!
Car08:55 PM 3/19/2015, Jamie Principato via nabs-l wrote:
>Why are people so sensitive about their choice to use a cane or a 
>dog that they'd get upset over someone's choice of subject line? If 
>you are confident in your choice to have a guide dog, one person's 
>subject line on a casual mailing list isn't going to rattle that or 
>harm you or effect your life and that of your dog in any way, 
>especially once you actually read the well thought out and well 
>composed blog post attached to it. No one has to agree with your 
>reasons for having a dog or a cane, and they shouldn't have to walk 
>on eggshells to be careful not to offend that choice. You should be 
>proud of what you choose, or at least secure in your choice, enough 
>that a simple subject line doesn't put you immediately on the defensive.
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 19, 2015, at 7:00 PM, 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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