[nagdu] here's what I wrote to daphne

[Margo and Elmo]

here's what I wrote to the peta woman and I hope she doesn't send PETA after me.

it's below my signature.

margo and Elmo

I must respectfully wonder how you got the information we keep our dogs in harnesses 24 7.  That simply isn't true.  My dog is in harness about 2 to 8 hours a day.

also, you state that the dogs do not get to romp and play with other dogs.  Well, most of our dogs do.  My dog has several best friends who are canine and he has two feline siblings right here at home and they get along.  he romps a lot with them and with other dogs and we play and he has human friends with whom he plays.

You say a blind person cannot tell if blood is in the urine.  There's a smell that's different.  Remember, we have our other senses.  somehow, you believe blind people are cruel, insensitive, and pitiful and helpless.  We are not.

I was not raised to be pitiful and helpless and most of us weren't.  I am wondering how you came to these inaccurate conclusions about blind people.  

Our guide dogs have many wonderful experiences and truly love what they do.  You should see my dog prance happily into his harness and his excitement because of wondering where we'll go now.  

I do not allow people to pet or talk with my dog while he is working but when he is not working which is most of the time, he has many friends who pet, hug and frolic with him.  

You say hearing dogs live with a family.  Do you not think blind people have families?  or do you think blind people live alone all the time?  Blind people marry or don't, we raise kids, and, we can do these things without sight.  

I am totally blind and live a very enriched life.  I do not need sighted caretakers to tell me about my dog's urine or other things--things I can judge for myself.  My dog also gets good veterinary care and I take him for the slightest question I may have about something.  

I also want to emphasize that I am a capable, independent person and  do not want or need sighted caretakers; I do not want or need sighted guides to guide me everywhere.

I hope you will find out the true capabilities of blind people and therefore throwing out the negative attitudes and stereotypes you now have about blind people.

  
Margo Downey