[nagdu] Welcome Haben

[Haben Girma]

Hi Marion,

I actually didn't properly introduce myself, thanks for reminding me. I 
live in Portland now but used to live in Oakland (I attend college in 
Portland, I'll very likely go back to California in a year). I've been 
involved with the California Association of Blind Students and am 
currently working with a friend to start an Oregon Association of Blind 
Students. As I mentioned in another post, I am currently in the process 
of applying for my first dog guide, and the school I've chosen is The 
Seeing Eye.

Best,
Haben

Marion & Martin wrote:
> Dear Haben,
>    Somehow I missed your original introduction to the list! Let me 
> offer you a belated welcome and hope you enjoy the list. NAGDU also 
> hosts other virtual activities, such as Board meetings, round tables, 
> and workshops via teleconference that i hope you will choose to 
> participate in. Where do you live? Are you a member of a Chapter or 
> affiliate of the NFB? I apologize if I'm asking questions that you 
> already answered in your intoroduction, but i like to get to know our 
> members! (smile)
>
> Fraternally,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Haben Girma" <habnkid at aol.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 12:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Welcome Haben
>
>
>> Hi Mardi, thanks for the explanations. I love the names of your dogs. 
>> I actually don't have a dog, I'm in the application process for a 
>> Seeing Eye dog right now. So, I'm patiently waiting to learn my fate.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Haben
>>
>> Mardi Hadfield wrote:
>>>  Hi every one,     Welcome Haben.   No, I don't live in Alaska.  My 
>>> Huskies
>>> are "south paws"  We live in Tucson, Arizona.  When I first needed a 
>>> guide
>>> dog, I was told that the schools did not train for wheelchair 
>>> users.Since I
>>> already had a service dog, who was a husky, I hired a trainer to 
>>> help me
>>> train Lily  to guide me. I had to retire her at age 8 as she had health
>>> issues and she died month later, leaving me with out a guide dog.  I 
>>> tried
>>> out a border collie and he did not work out as he had been abused 
>>> before I
>>> got him and he could not handle being out in public. Then I got another
>>> husky, Nala,who was a fantastic guide. She will soon be 10 years old 
>>> and has
>>> health issues now.She has guided me for 8 years and it has been hard to
>>> retire her as she does not want to retire. When she sees me getting 
>>> ready to
>>> go out, she brings me her harness and get all excited. She started 
>>> picking
>>> fights with Wanagi, the dog that I was training to take over for 
>>> Nala. She
>>> is a lot happier now that she is working again part time. Wanagi 
>>> came up
>>> lame with a hip problem, so she was  career changed. I am keeping 
>>> her as a
>>> pet. I have been looking for a dog to take over as my new guide for 
>>> over 10
>>> months. I think I have finally found a dog.I would love to get a dog 
>>> from
>>> Fidelco,but when I asked about it ,I was told that they don't train for
>>> wheelchair users.I would have to pay my way to and from South 
>>> Eastern Guide
>>> Dogs, which I could not afford, and really can't be away that long. 
>>> Guide
>>> Dogs for the Blind would take me ,but again, I can't be away  from 
>>> my home
>>> and business that long. So I guess I will just continue to train my own
>>> guides with the help of my trainer.  Haben, do you have a guide dog? 
>>> If so ,
>>> what breed is it? I love hearing from others and about their dogs.  
>>> Have a
>>> great day,  Mardi and Nala,semi-retired, and Shaman , possible trainee.
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>>>
>>
>>
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