[nagdu] occupaws ownership policy

[Allison Nastoff]

Hi List,
I have been reading your discussion about ownership policies at 
the various schools, but I have a different perspective.
I received my dog from Occupaws, and the policy at Occupaws is 
that they technically own the dog until he is retired.  My 
trainer said the reason for this policy was liability.  While it 
is rare, unfortunately some people do mistreat their dogs, or do 
not make wise judgements about when it is time to retire them, 
and the decision of Occupaws to maintain ownership of the dog is 
simply a precaution.  At first when I learned of this policy, I 
was disappointed.  But I soon realized that while Occupaws has 
legal ownership of him, in every other regard, he is my dog.  
Occupaws has contacted me every couple of months to make sure 
things are working out, but they have never interfered in any 
way.
Personally, I support this precautionary measure.  In the rare 
case that a dog is mistreated, it would not be fair to the dog, 
or to another handler who would appreciate this dog and take good 
care of him, if the school gave full ownership to a handler, and 
then was powerless to reclaim the dog from a handler if it came 
to the school's attention that there is a problem.
I realize that some of you will be furious with me for saying 
this, but it is my personal opinion.  The fact that I technically 
don't own my dog has not prevented me from bonding with him, or 
interfered with our work as a team.  I think that legal ownership 
is just a technicality, and that emotional ownership is what 
really matters.
Allison and Gilbert