[nagdu] Does a 'seeing-eye horse" go too far?

[Sherri]

It's not really a seeing eye horse if she "rides" it. Maybe I'm just not 
opening my mind up enough to accept every animal no matter what they may be 
as a service animal. Kind of ambivalent on this opinion. But then, knowing 
me, what's new? *lol.
Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 4:12 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Does a 'seeing-eye horse" go too far?


>>>> Does a 'seeing-eye horse" go too far?
>>>>
>>>> By DAVID SCHECHTER
>>>> WFAA-TV, March 20, 2009
>>>>
>>>> CAPTION: Tabitha Darling goes shopping with the help of her seeing-eye
>>>> pony.
>>>>
>>>>   FORT WORTH - If horses could talk, they'd surely say nice things
>>>>   about Tabitha Darling. The horse she's currently training was abused
>>>> by a previous owner.
>>>>
>>>>   "It's kinda like raising a kid," Darling explained. "You gotta teach
>>>> them the basics, and on their level."
>>>>
>>>>   Once, she even trained a horse to work with the disabled, providing
>>>>   confidence and independence. "I do think there should be an
>>>> allowance for comfort and therapy animals, simply because who are we
>>>> to judge when somebody needs something?" Darling asked.
>>>>
>>>>   Carolyn Finefrock is blind. She relies heavily on her dog, Ellie,
>>>> who even picks up the important things she frequently drops.
>>>>   Finefrock is concerned that an expanding list of service animals -
>>>> from snakes to ferrets - are used by people who may not really need
>>>> them. "Are they disabled enough to have the right? Are they disabled
>>>> at all? Are they faking?" she asked.
>>>>
>>>>   Tabitha Darling is not just a horse trainer, however; she is also
>>>>   legally blind. Though her vision is better than Finefrock's, Darling
>>>> relies on the service and friendship of her pony.
>>>>
>>>>   CAPTION: Carolyn Finefrock wonders whether the definition of
>>>> "service animals" is too broad.
>>>>
>>>>   On this day, Trixie is carrying Darling six miles to downtown Fort
>>>> Worth.
>>>> The horse has the route memorized, including a stop at the drive-thru.
>>>>   "She gives me the independence in getting out there that I need,"
>>>>   Darling said. "Because of that, my life is happier."
>>>>
>>>>   The use of service animals in public is protected under law. But as
>>>>   the variety of service animals has expanded, the federal government
>>>>   is considering limiting use to dogs only, as originally intended.
>>>>
>>>>   "It is a very touchy situation," said Charlotte Steward, an advocate
>>>> for the rights of the disabled.
>>>>
>>>>   She is opposed to any changes. "If you need that to feel comfortable
>>>> or sure in yourself, or to deal with your disability, why shouldn't
>>>> you be able to?"
>>>>
>>>>   CAPTION: Tabitha Darling at the checkout counter.
>>>>
>>>>   "It's just like using a walker or a cane, in my opinion, to get
>>>>   around in the community," Steward said.
>>>>
>>>>   It's one thing to debate what should and should not be a service
>>>>   animal while it is working outside. But what happens when a disabled
>>>> person brings an animal inside a business - and it's not a dog?
>>>>
>>>>   That's what many folks wonder when Darling rides Trixie inside a
>>>> Fort Worth Target store.
>>>>
>>>>   Under the law, businesses must welcome all service animals or risk a
>>>> discrimination lawsuit.
>>>>
>>>>   CAPTION: Tabitha Darling and Trixie leave the Target store in Fort
>>>> Worth.
>>>>
>>>>   The government says limiting service animals to dogs only means more
>>>> predictability for stores and continued public acceptance for those
>>>> who need animals the most, like Finefrock, who relies on her service
>>>> dog. "It would be better than letting people abuse it and put it at
>>>> risk for everyone else that have real, legitimate disabilities," she
>>>> said.
>>>>
>>>>   But is there someone who can say the way Trixie - a horse - opens up
>>>> Tabitha Darling's world is not legitimate?
>>>>
>>>>   E-mail dschechter at wfaa.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa0
>>>>   90320_w
>>>>   z_serviceanimals.541d8299.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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