[nagdu] Fw: [buddy-l] A very bad legislative effort

Thu Dec 31 12:36:50 UTC 2009

Hi Tami,

In retrospect, I now believe that my two previous guides were indeed 
self-trained especially the one who is now 12 and living the life of Riley 
although his name is Ripley!  Smile!  Oh, the stories, and the best one was 
in regards to 2 9 inch pumpkin pies that were so beautifully and perfect in 
every aspect until that fateful day!  OMG, that boy had a sweet tooth, and 
something could be sealed in a locked container and he would manage to get 
it out.  Put a nice fresh apple on the counter, a cookie, and a sandwich, 
the cookie was the first choice every time...and then the sandwich!  The 
apple was just too healthy for him I guess!  The great thing though is that 
he looks great to this day, is only 2-3 pounds above his initial issue 
weight, and it is not the sweets now, but rather the fallen bird seed under 
the feeder that he pecks at everyday!

I am blessed that my newest guide, Misha is wonderful with food 
distractions.  Although not a perfect little angel, she is much more 
receptive to "leave it" and a quick pop with the leash.  This is much better 
than Ripley who could spot a cheeto on the ground 2 miles away and not give 
up until he got to it!

Have a great new year everyone,

SC Johnson & pups

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: [buddy-l] A very bad legislative effort

> Steve,
>
> Again, very good points!
>
> Although people who train their own service animals prefer the term
> "owner-trained" over "self-trained."  To steal a line from Julie:  My dog
> did not train herself!  /grin/
>
> Or did she?  While she was training me?  There is still debate on the 
> issue
> by the Mitzi admiration society.  /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Steve Johnson
> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 11:14 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: [buddy-l] A very bad legislative effort
>
> Hi Cindy,
>
> PWD = People or Persons with disabilities.
>
> I think that the points being made are very strong, and the certification
> issue does not broaden as Albert eluded to, but does indeed restrict the
> definition of who who could eventually access a place of public
> accommodation.
>
> So, if only a certified trainer, which the points are well-expressed on
> this, is allowed to access a place of public accommodation, then would'nt
> this essentially mean that unless an animal trained by a certified entity
> could only then access a place of public accommodation?
>
> There are a lot of frauds out there, and again we are speaking about 
> places
> of public accommodation.  The fair housing amendments act already provides
> for any person to have an emotional support, or even companion animals in
> Federal assisted housing, and this can also move into private housing 
> where
> emotional support animals can be granted access through a request for
> reasonable accommodation.  The underlying problem is that these are not
> highly trained animals that are specifically trained to provide a 
> functional
> support/service for the individual whether it be through a professional
> entity or an individual who chooses to self-train.
>
> I have to disagree with Albert in that his comment that this would expand
> the coverage of access as it clearly discriminates against those who
> self-train and again, I will point out that this language is specifically
> stated in the ADA.
>
> Furthermore, if the word certification were deleted from this, then we are
> where we are at now, and is this a bad thing?
>
> While this proposed legislation specifically addresses service animals, 
> the
> problem herein is that it creates this slippery slope that I mention in 
> that
> there will be a push like you have never seen by other groups to expand 
> and
> include emotional support, therapy, and companion animals.  Mark my word.
>
> Let's go back to the intent of the ADA, and you will further understand 
> that
> this narrows, not expands as these other types of animals are not 
> providing
> a service.  A support yes, a service no.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at qwest.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 12:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: [buddy-l] A very bad legislative effort
>
>
>> What is PWD?
>>
>> And you make a good point. Who certifies? If the schools where the people
>> train certify them, then what about these independents, particularly 
>> those
>> who train their own dogs. And, of course, NAC was a certification outfit
>> that certified places, but any of us who knows the history of NAC knows
>> what
>> certification meant for agencies and schools serving the bolind. So why
>> bother if you can't certify better than that? Suppose the Guide Dog 
>> School
>> Association, whose official name I don't remember, certified trainers?
>> Would
>> they be willing to certify an independent, and would such a person be
>> willing to do that (be certified by such a certifying body?)
>>
>> CL
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "The Pawpower Pack" <pawpower4me at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 12:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: [buddy-l] A very bad legislative effort
>>
>>
>> and who certifies the trainers?
>>
>> There is no certifying body for dog trainers.  If I want to call
>> myself a dog trainer, I can.  There are outfits like CPDT who are
>> trying to certify pet dog trainers but it's all voluntary.  The guide
>> and service dogs, with the exception of California, may "certify"
>> their trainers but it's about as valuable as the paper it's printed on.
>>
>> California "certifies" it's trainers but frankly, I would hate to see
>> an outfit like the California guide dog board become the norm.
>>
>> I also think it's a step awy from certifying trainers to certifying PWD.
>>
>>
>> Rox and the Kitchen Bitches
>> Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
>> "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you
>> earn it and win it in every generation."
>> -- Coretta Scott King
>> pawpower4me at gmail.com
>>
>> Windows Live Only: Brisomania at hotmail.com
>> AIM: Brissysgirl Yahoo: lillebriss
>>
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