[nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com
lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com
Thu Feb 19 00:17:20 UTC 2009
No, Rebecca, it was the Director of Training from GDA that told GDB that I
gave my retired dog to my friend to work with a harness she already had. He
did this even though he heard the truth from both me and my friend and he
took the GDA harness back. GDB believed the story from GDA and refused me
for violation of the contract claus that said that you were never to give
your dog to someone else to work and also that you were not to give your
retired dog to someone else to work in harness. So, the schools weren't
being my friend (grin!). The California schools have identical contracts.
The friend who used my retired dog as her guide didn't think about the
ramifications on me when she did that. She told me that she only had my old
dog in harness to get her on the bus and she used the cane instead of
actually working the dog. I no longer see her. Her husband was arrested for
tax fraud and she divorced him. She went to Lions World for IRS training
and married another guy and moved back east somewhere. While at Lions
World, she accidently overdosed on pain meds and died in her sleep. She had
a short and tragic life so I couldn't be mad at her about using my old dog.
So, it all led me back to Seeing Eye and I'm happy. And I'll NEVER go to a
school with a contract!
Linda and Landon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (IT)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
> Incredible.
> Where was the person who said "the friend was using friend's harness on
> Linda's retired dog" when you needed him?
> Very odd story.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 1:57 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>
> Hi Lora,
> I went to Guide Dog Foundation, Guide Dogs of America (when it was
> International Guiding Eyes), Eye Dog Foundation, and Seeing Eye.
>
> Guide Dog Foundation was a good school. I went there when John Byfield
> was Director of Training there. GDA is good, Eye Dog Foundation was not
> very good. Why I didn't go back to GDF or GDA is the fact they have
> contracts and I found them kind of paternalistic. I found that the
> contract can come back to bite you even after you retire a dog! This
> happened at GDA.
> Because they thought I broke the contract after I didn't even have the
> dog anymore, I was turned down for another dog. It's like you have to
> euthanize the dog in order to never violate the contract.
>
> Basically, I retired the dog with a friend who had a dog from GDA
> herself. I intended the dog to be her husband's pet. They moved out of
> state. While there, the friend gave up her dog but kept the harness.
> When retiring my dog, I mailed the harness back to the school. She began
> to use my retired dog with her harness she never sent back. GDA and I
> found out about this when the family moved back here and the lady was
> seen on the bus with my old dog in harness. GDA's Director of Training
> came to see for himself and he spoke to both me and the lady. He then
> seemed to be OK with that and took the harness back from the lady.
>
> All was well - so I thought - until I applied to GDA about a year later
> after I had to give up my Eye Dog Foudation dog after a back injury. I
> was medically cleared to get another dog and wanted to return to GDA. I
> also applied to GDB. I was turned down by both schools. I was turned
> down because they said I violated the contract by "giving someone else
> my dog and a harness to work her with"! I never did that. What
> happened was totally out of my control as I didn't own the dog anymore
> and I also explained that to GDA!
>
> So, you are held to that contract even if you retire the dog to a
> friend. I wanted no more of that so I applied to and obtained my next
> dog from Seeing Eye. They have no such contract. They never had one
> and, I hope, never will have one!
>
> When I was refused a new dog from GDA, I felt betrayed by thinking the
> issue was over when they took their harness back from the woman. So, it
> all came back to bite me in the end. That's OK, I'll never go to any
> other school other than Seeing Eye!.
>
> I was refused by Guide Dogs for the Blind because they believed the
> story from GDA. They never asked me about what really happened with
> that. That didn't give me a very high opinion of them.
>
> With that, both GDA and GDB do a good job as far as their training goes
> and the quality of their dogs. But, for me, Seeing Eye is the best!
>
> Linda and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lora and Myrtle" <blindhistory at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 10:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>
>
>> What other schools did you go to?
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 11:14 AM, <lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Haben,
>>> Unfortunately, the Naval Medical Center cannot pay us. They're
> cutting
>>> their paid staff! And wasting money to revamp several areas on the
> base.
>>> It
>>> would be nice to be paid, but...you know how that is. I'm glad you
>>> enjoyed
>>> the articles. We enjoy what we do pay or no pay. I'd say that our
> "pay"
>>> is
>>> the contribution to the healing of our Wounded Warriors. These
>>> servicemembers are all mostly 18 and 19 year olds who went into the
>>> military
>>> because they wanted to serve the country they love. We feel that the
>>> program is a way that we can also serve our country - we can't serve
> in
>>> the
>>> military ourselves. We see first hand what this long war in Iraq and
>>> Afghanistan is doing to our young people. Most of the wounded are
> brain
>>> injuries, depression, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
> Unlike
>>> in
>>> the war in Vietnam, the current servicemembers have to be deployed
> for
>>> over
>>> a year at a time and they are also deployed over and over. Even sick
>
>>> folks
>>> are sent back! Not good. Many of our patients are so sick and
> affected
>>> for
>>> life that they are forced out of the military. They all say in their
>
>>> exit
>>> interviews that the Paws That Heal program was a huge help in their
>>> recovery.
>>>
>>> Well, until yesterday, all the Paws That Heal canine staff were
> Seeing
>>> Eye
>>> dogs! We have accepted our newest staffmember and her dog is from
> Guide
>>> Dogs for the Blind - San Rafael Campus. We didn't ever discriminate
>>> against
>>> dogs from other schools - we just didn't have any who qualified until
> now
>>> (smile!).
>>>
>>> Now, about Seeing Eye. You are treated as the mature adult that they
>>> assume you are. The campus is really nice - nestled in the lovely
>>> rolling
>>> hills of Washington Valley in Morris Township, New Jersey. The
> living
>>> arrangements are comfortable and homey. The grounds are nice to walk
>>> around. There's a leisure path with two gazebos. The staff is very
>>> friendly and professional in their interactions with the blind
> people.
>>> The
>>> Seeing Eye is a tough place to find job openings - even jobs like
> cooks
>>> or
>>> housekeeping. They are a great employer and people don't want to
> leave!
>>> All of the staff is comfortable with blindness. I've heard that the
>
>>> staff
>>> spends some time under blindfold for them to gain a sensitivity
> towards
>>> the
>>> blind people they work with. You have your own room to yourself with
>
>>> your
>>> own bathroom. There are lounges to hang out in with stereos and TVs.
>>> There's an exercise room, laundryroom, dog grooming room, and a
> computer
>>> room with CCTVs and a Ham Radio if you are qualified to use that. In
>
>>> each
>>> room is a radio, I think they still have Satellite radio that a
> graduate
>>> donated for the dorm. They got this right after I was there.
>>>
>>> The diningroom similates a restaurant setting. At lunch time during
> the
>>> weekdays, the whole staff eats there. One or two staff people sits
> at
>>> each
>>> table with the students. Other staffmembers eat in another area that
> the
>>> students must pass through as the staff come to eat about ten minutes
>
>>> before
>>> the students are called to lunch. Now, this teaches us how to handle
> our
>>> new dogs in a situation where people are already eating at tables and
> we
>>> learn how to keep proper control of our dogs in a place where there
> is
>>> food
>>> around. The food is delicious and is much like that served in a
>>> fine-dining
>>> restaurant. They feed you so good that we have to make use of the
>>> exercise
>>> room and the leisure path!
>>>
>>> The training is the best I've experienced. I have attended three
> other
>>> schools before I attended The Seeing Eye. After experiencing The
> Seeing
>>> Eye, I will not even consider any other school. The other schools do
> a
>>> decent job, but the Seeing Eye still shines brighter.
>>>
>>> The instructors are very good and thorough in teaching us EVERYTHING
> we
>>> need to know aboout guide dog care and use. We train in Morristown -
> a
>>> lovely town - and other nearby communities. We have four basic
> routes
>>> that
>>> we do in the beginning. Towards the end we do "free lance" which is
> any
>>> particular aspect of training that you feel you need. With one dog,
> I
>>> was
>>> living nearby my sister-in-law who has horses. I was always over
> there
>>> and
>>> riding. I needed to have a dog who wouldn't freak out over horses.
> My
>>> instructor arranged a visit to a barn full of horses. With Landon,
> my
>>> instructors knew about my work with Paws That Heal. I was taken on a
>
>>> visit
>>> to a nursing home and Landon got to visit with the patients. He
> loved
>>> it!
>>> We have lots of good lectures. We get training with traffic checks,
> even
>>> with the hybrid Prius car! Each instructor has four students in his
> or
>>> her
>>> class so you get alot of personal attention.
>>>
>>> I would say that the experience is like a working vacation. Learn
> all
>>> you
>>> can and have fun! If you have any concerns - no matter what - talk
> to
>>> your
>>> instructor. The only "stupid question" is the one never asked
> (grin!).
>>>
>>> Also, you have a ready made community right here on the NAGDU List.
> We
>>> are
>>> a wealth of information and experience here as we represent many,
> many
>>> years
>>> of hands-on experience with using guide dogs.
>>>
>>> Hopefully, this has answered your questions (grin).
>>>
>>> Take care and let us know when you go to Seeing Eye.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Linda and Landon
>>> ----- 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: Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:41 PM
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hey Linda, I loved the articles. It's very touching, such a truly
>>>> marvelous program. You should ask the Naval Medical Center to pay
> the
>>>> blind
>>>> volunteers? The program has proven its benefits, its successfulness,
> and
>>>> I'm
>>>> sure many of the military men you serve in the program would agree.
> It
>>>> wouldn't hurt to ask.
>>>>
>>>> I've heard many good things about The Seeing Eye. I'd love to hear
> your
>>>> reasons for ranking it as the best school. I laughed when I read
> that
>>>> only
>>>> Seeing Eye teams had passed the interviews for Paws that Heal.
>>>>
>>>> best,
>>>> Haben
>>>>
>>>> lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Haben,
>>>>> Yes, isn't it a shame that governments get in the way sometimes.
> The
>>>>> singer/songwriter Sting has a song about the Cold War between the
> US
>>>>> and the
>>>>> old USSR. There is a reoccuring line in the song about the
> Russians
>>>>> loving
>>>>> their children as the Americans love theirs! Thanks for the
>>>>> explanations
>>>>> about Eritrea and Ethiopia.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hey! Wonderful about you going to The Seeing Eye! I've been to
> several
>>>>> other schools over the years - I've had dogs since 1973. I like
> The
>>>>> Seeing
>>>>> Eye the best. I would have started out with them back in 1973 but,
> at
>>>>> that
>>>>> time, The Seeing Eye didn't accept people who still had some usable
>
>>>>> vision.
>>>>> They soon realized that some people with limited vision do well
> with
>>>>> guide
>>>>> dogs and began to accept us. There are some people who have some
>>>>> vision and
>>>>> they don't learn to trust the dog and it doesn't go well for the
> team.
>>>>> Some
>>>>> people with partial vision second guess the dog and the team gets
> in
>>>>> trouble. You get hurt because the envirnment isn't what you thought
> you
>>>>> saw.
>>>>> The dog gets real confused and stops doing its job. The Seeing Eye
> will
>>>>> work
>>>>> you under blindfold if they suspect you are having trust troubles
> with
>>>>> your
>>>>> dog. Most people learn to trust their dog.
>>>>>
>>>>> There are ways to use the usable vision with the dog. I do that
> all
>>>>> the
>>>>> time. However, I "listen" to my dog if he doesn't want to go
> through
>>>>> something or he takes me around a black spot on the sidewalk - that
>
>>>>> tells me
>>>>> that the black spot was actually a hole! So, TRUST YOUR DOG!
> (grin!) I
>>>>> also
>>>>> have no night vision - just lights "floating" in the blackness of
> the
>>>>> night.
>>>>> I HAVE to trust my dog as if I were totally blind.
>>>>>
>>>>> I also use ZoomText for the PDF files. What did you think about
> the
>>>>> Paws
>>>>> program?
>>>>>
>>>>> You take care,
>>>>>
>>>>> Linda and Landon
>>>>> ----- 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: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:08 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Linda,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia do not get along at all,
>>>>>> they've
>>>>>> been at the verge of war for the last few years, with fighting
>>>>>> breaking out
>>>>>> at the border every now and then. The typical civilian does not
> hate
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> civilians of the other country. I have family on both sides of the
>
>>>>>> border,
>>>>>> and quite a lot of people have family on both sides. The cultures
> are
>>>>>> very
>>>>>> similar, almost identical, and some parts of each country share
>>>>>> languages.
>>>>>> Most Eritreans don't like Ethiopia, but they have Ethiopian
> friends.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, I was able to read the attachments. I use ZoomText, so the
> pdfs
>>>>>> weren't a problem. I hope the interview with the woman goes well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hope to have a dog by this summer, I'm in the application
> process
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> The Seeing Eye at the moment. I've heard lots of good things about
>
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> place.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> best,
>>>>>> Haben
>>>>>>
>>>>>> lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Haben,
>>>>>>> Thanks. We have alot of Eritrians here in San Diego. I heard
> that
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> Eritreans and the Ethiopians don't like each other - is this
> true? I
>>>>>>> hope
>>>>>>> not - I don't like people having age-old grudges against each
> other -
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> know - it limits your friendships with people. (grin!)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Were you able to read the Paws That Heal attachments I sent you?
> I
>>>>>>> know that screen readers and PDF files don't always agree with
> each
>>>>>>> other.
>>>>>>> Tell me what you think.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tomorrow, we're interviewing a local woman and her guide dog for
> the
>>>>>>> Paws program. I want to make sure we have another good person in
> it
>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>> I have to leave in July.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't know if I missed something - do you have a dog? If so,
> what
>>>>>>> kind is it and what's its name? I do know that we have people on
> the
>>>>>>> list
>>>>>>> who are between dogs, exploring the possibilities for a first
> dog. My
>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>> Landon is a Golden/Lab mix and he's red. He's from the Seeing
> Eye in
>>>>>>> New
>>>>>>> Jersey.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Take care,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Linda and Landon
>>>>>>> ----- 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: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 5:13 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks for the articles, Linda!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I identify as female, born in California with family from
> Eritrea,
>>>>>>>> East Africa. Haben is actually a gender neutral name in Eritrea,
> so
>>>>>>>> it's a
>>>>>>>> legitimate question all around. I like the ambiguity, especially
>
>>>>>>>> when
>>>>>>>> filling out applications for various things.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> best,
>>>>>>>> Haben
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi Haben,
>>>>>>>>> Attached are a couple of articles and a flyer aboout the Paws
> That
>>>>>>>>> Heal program. One article and the flyer are in PDF files and
> the
>>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>>> article is in a work doc.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I can't tell from your name if you are a male or female - I
> just
>>>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>> to know what I'm talking to! (grin). What nationality is your
>>>>>>>>> name? I'm
>>>>>>>>> half Polish. It took me an age to find out that Marion Gwizdala
> is
>>>>>>>>> a man!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Enjoy the articles.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Linda and Landon
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> PS: Your home e-mail didn't work so this is on the list.
>>>>>>>>> ----- 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: Monday, February 09, 2009 7:03 PM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Dog Therapy and Paws that Heal
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Linda, I am absolutely intrigued! That is such a lovely
> program! I
>>>>>>>>>> really hope I can find something like that in the Portland,
> Oregon
>>>>>>>>>> area. I
>>>>>>>>>> am a college student currently taking an anthropology class
> that
>>>>>>>>>> requires
>>>>>>>>>> students to go out and do fieldwork. I am considering doing
>>>>>>>>>> something with
>>>>>>>>>> Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring, Oregon. Right now I'm
> going to
>>>>>>>>>> search
>>>>>>>>>> the Internet for a dog therapy program in Portland. Thanks for
>
>>>>>>>>>> sharing
>>>>>>>>>> LInda!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Haben
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Haben,
>>>>>>>>>>> There is no web page for Paws That Heal. We are a 3 year old
>>>>>>>>>>> program that is run out of the Health & Wellness Department
> for
>>>>>>>>>>> the Naval
>>>>>>>>>>> Medical Center of San Diego. The program manager is their
>>>>>>>>>>> Diabetes
>>>>>>>>>>> Instructor. She is visually impaired with a guide dog and she
>
>>>>>>>>>>> started the
>>>>>>>>>>> program after an encounter in the elevator with a Wounded
> Warrior
>>>>>>>>>>> in her
>>>>>>>>>>> building. The servicemember had a profound stutter and it
> took
>>>>>>>>>>> him five
>>>>>>>>>>> minutes to stutter out, "May I pet your dog?" My friend -
> the
>>>>>>>>>>> instructor -
>>>>>>>>>>> allowed him to pet her dog and the stutter went away just
> like
>>>>>>>>>>> that! He
>>>>>>>>>>> then shared his war experiences with her - the servicemember
> was
>>>>>>>>>>> wounded in
>>>>>>>>>>> Iraq.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Anyway, the Diabetes instructor happens to have been a friend
> of
>>>>>>>>>>> mine for years. She also knows several of the other guide
> dog
>>>>>>>>>>> users in the
>>>>>>>>>>> San Diego area who already had a program with the local blind
>
>>>>>>>>>>> center where
>>>>>>>>>>> we bring our dogs to an outdoor, fenced in dog park to allow
> the
>>>>>>>>>>> guide dogs
>>>>>>>>>>> play time together. We had exclusive use of one of the
> fenced in
>>>>>>>>>>> areas for
>>>>>>>>>>> two hours once a month. The friend of mine worked with us
> and
>>>>>>>>>>> her chain of
>>>>>>>>>>> command at the hospital and permission was granted to bring
>>>>>>>>>>> several wounded
>>>>>>>>>>> servicemembers to the park to play with our dogs - and Paws
> That
>>>>>>>>>>> Heal was
>>>>>>>>>>> born. We also have a portion of the program where we go to
> the
>>>>>>>>>>> locked
>>>>>>>>>>> mental health ward to work with the servicemembers with PTSD
> and
>>>>>>>>>>> depression.
>>>>>>>>>>> More great stuff happened as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I do have a flyer for the program but it is in a PDF file and
>>>>>>>>>>> turned sideways - don't know if a screen reader can desipher
> it!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The program manager has written to Marion Gwizdala and he in
> turn
>>>>>>>>>>> had her contact Mike Hingson about the program. We are
> looking
>>>>>>>>>>> for some new
>>>>>>>>>>> teams to work with us who live in the San Diego area. The
> Paws
>>>>>>>>>>> program
>>>>>>>>>>> happens three times a month at the hospital so we need people
> who
>>>>>>>>>>> can get
>>>>>>>>>>> there, can commit the time, and pass the interviewing process
> -
>>>>>>>>>>> both human
>>>>>>>>>>> and dog.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I forgot, where do you live?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> HTH
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Linda and Landon
>>>>>>>>>>> ----- 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: Sunday, February 08, 2009 1:13 AM
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Welcome Haben
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Linda, those volunteer programs sound awesome! Would you send
> me
>>>>>>>>>>>> the web address for Paws that Heal? I'd love to read more
> about
>>>>>>>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> thanks,
>>>>>>>>>>>> Haben
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Welcome to the list, Haben.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm Linda and I live in San Diego - soon to move to
> Vermont.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Landon is my 3 year old red Lab/Golden cross from The
> Seeing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Eye. I got him
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in the October 2007 class. I am 58 years young and have not
> had
>>>>>>>>>>>>> a paid job
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in eons. I've done lots of volunteer jobs to get experience
> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> put on a
>>>>>>>>>>>>> resume! Right now, Landon and I work at two pet therapy
>>>>>>>>>>>>> programs. One for
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the Humane Society where we visit various facilities for
>>>>>>>>>>>>> disabled kids and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> adults. Landon is certified by the AKC's Canine Good
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Citizenship Test.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Landon is their program's first actual working assistance
> dog
>>>>>>>>>>>>> they've had.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lots of guide dog and service dog pups, but we are their
> first
>>>>>>>>>>>>> working team
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to be in the program. The other one is a program called
> Paws
>>>>>>>>>>>>> That Heal that
>>>>>>>>>>>>> is at the Naval Medical Center of SD. Both Landon and I had
> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> pass a series
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of interviews for this. We do a combo pet therapy,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> socialization, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> reintegration work with our Wounded Warriors from Iraq and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Afghanistan. We
>>>>>>>>>>>>> work mainly with the patients on the mental health ward.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Haben, you'll enjoy this list - it's alot of fun.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Linda and Landon
>>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- 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: Friday, February 06, 2009 9:27 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your
> account
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> info for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your
> account
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> info for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your
> account
>>>>>>>>>>>>> info
>>>>>>>>>>>>> for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>
>>>>>>>>>>>> info
>>>>>>>>>>>> for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info
>>>>>>>>>>> for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info
>>>>>>>>>> for nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/habnkid%40aol.com
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>
>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>>
>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blindhistory%40gm
> ail.com
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Lora and Leader Dog Myrtle
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40pe
> oplepc.com
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
> 40ngc.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lindagwizdak%40peoplepc.com
>
More information about the NAGDU
mailing list