[nagdu] LCB & Guide Dogs

[JULIE PHILLIPSON]

my gosh that's more work than my dog has ever done!
Julie Phillipson
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 7:23 PM
Subject: [nagdu] LCB & Guide Dogs


> 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
>
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