[nagdu] LCB & Guide Dogs

[Marion & Martin]

Dear All,
    There has been some discussion on this list about NFB centers' policies regarding guide dogs and treatment of guide dog users. I wrote a message to Kathy Davis, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida and a guide dog user. Kathy is currently attending LCB with her guide dog, Davey. I asked if she would write an article for Harness Up, but she is extremely busy with her training at LCB, so is unable to do so for the next issue. In lieu of an article, Kathy wrote the following message and gave me permission to send it to the list. kathy's message is pasted below in its entirety.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

Dear Marion,
I do not have a minute to write an article at this time but I will be happy to tell you about the guide dog situation here at the Louisiana Center for the
Blind. I have felt absolutely no discrimination about my use of my Seeing Eye Dog, Davey, here at the center. Of course I am not allowed to use him in
any of my classes but certainly may use Davey walking to and from my apartment, at lunch and any other time after classes are over or on weekends. Moreover,
they get lots and lots of practice going here and there around Ruston and in particular crossing busy streets. There are four of us who have guide dogs
and they stay in a centralized room on the second floor of the Center. That particular location is lovingly called the "Guide Dog Room." Often I have to
be caught up in activities making it necessary for me to be gone for an entire day whether on bus travel or some other center activity. When this happens,
one of the instructors or even Pam Allen, Executive Director of the LCB, takes my dog to the relief area. Our dogs feel like they are part of the LCB family
and Davey's tail begins wagging as soon as I am ready to walk the approximate one mile to the center. He is always greeted warmly by the staff and the
other guide dogs are well accepted. In addition, all four dogs are bonded strongly to one another. It's really kind of neat because when I am changing
classes I can pop by the "Dog Room" and give my Davey a hug and chat a few minutes with him.
I should note that Carlos Montas and I both took our Seeing Eye Dogs to the Washington Seminar and no one from the LCB had a negative word to say. In fact
our dogs were often the center of attraction when we met with Florida legislators or their aids.
I am extremely pleased at how well Davey and the other guide dogs are treated. They are happy and obviously contented with their new home away from home.
I hope this information is helpful!
Warmly,
Kathy Davis, President
NFB of Florida