[nagdu] Your Ignorance Astounds Me!

[Marion & Martin]

    Dear Ms. Nachminovitch,
    As the President of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the blind, I felt compelled to respond to your very misinformed comments about guide dogs. The biggest problem we face as blind people is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. This is true about guide dogs, as well. It is unfortunate that you choose to promulgate the myths that create barriers to our full inclusion in society on terms of equality. It is also unfortunate that you compromise the integrity of People for the Ethical Treatment of animals by making such foolish assertions. By doing so, you call into question the veracity of any valid information published by PETA.
    In an effort to set the record straight, guide dogs are not "kept in harness 24/7". The truth is that guide dogs are only in harness when they are working.
    As to your assertion that our dogs are virtually disposed of when they are no longer able to "serve" their handlers, the fact is that, more often than not, our dogs live out their lives with their blind caretakers. As an example, my previous guide dog worked until he was fourteen years old and lived out the remainder of his sixteen years with me. My current guide will soon be twelve years old and is enjoying her semi-retirement by lying under my dining room table on the cold tile floor where she loves to lie.
    As for your statement that guide dogs are never given the opportunity to romp and play, my guide dog plays with the two other dogs in our household and with the guide dogs of my blind colleagues on a regular basis.
    Petting a guide dog is discouraged while it is working, as doing so is a distraction to its work; however, when the harness is off, my family, especially my three-year-old granddaughter, is welcome - even encouraged - to pet and play with my guide dog.
    PETA would also like the public to believe that guide dogs are forced against their wills to work for a blind person because that promotes its radical agenda. The truth is that it further demonstrates PETA's ignorance of canine behavior. Dogs are, by nature, pack animals and each animal in a pack has a job. Guide dogs enjoy their work and become excited when the harness is presented to them! My guide dog comes running when the harness is taken off its hook by the door and slips her head into it, excited at the adventure to come! unlike the pet that stays at home with absolutely nothing to do - quite contradictory to the nature of a dog - our animals get to spend most of their time with their "alpha dog"! By the way, my dog doesn't care if anyone else pets her because I give her all the love and attention she could ever want! Furthermore, when the weather is bad or the place i am going is not conducive to my guide, she stays at home where she again, lies in her "cave" under the dining room table and probably romps and plays with our other dogs!
    In summary, PETA is fabricating lies to justify their irrational, radical stand. I realize that this correspondence will probably do little to convince PETA of the truth nor cause them to retract their lies or alter their stand. they are too entrenched in their misgivings that the facts would only confuse them. however, this correspondence is offered to present the facts to those willing to consider rational, accurate information.

Sincerely yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the blind president at nfb-nagdu.org