[nagdu] PETA Response

[Marion & Martin]

Kolby,
    In my opinion, you have written a very good response. It was a pleasure 
to read it!

Fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kolby Garrison" <kolbygarrison at triad.rr.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:13 PM
Subject: [nagdu] PETA Response


> Here is my response to PETA's propaganda. I tried to be both thorough and
> diplomatic in my writing, and it felt good to express myself on this 
> issue.
> PETA claims that the relationship between dog and human should be one of
> mutual respect, and my relationship with my Guide Dog is exactly that. We
> share an equal partnership, 50% work on her part and 50% work on my part. 
> I
> work with her and she works with me; I make mistakes and she makes 
> mistakes;
> I have bad days, she has bad days, and We have bad days simultaneously; I
> have my faults and she has her faults; however the love and respect that I
> have for her and the love and respect that she has for me are the recipe 
> for
> the partnership that we have. The success that enables us to be the team
> that we are.
> PETA feels that Guide Dog facilities should rescue dogs from animal 
> shelters
> over breeding dogs because breeding contributes to the over population of
> animals. Guide Dogs are bred because specific traits are necessary for 
> guide
> work. Guide Dog facilities do not rescue dogs from animal shelters because
> the dog's history is often not known. It is true that people who train 
> their
> own Guide Dogs may choose to get the dog from a breeder or an animal
> shelter. I am for rescuing dogs from animal shelters, and giving them 
> homes
> to live in or jobs to do if applicable. At the same time I understand and
> prefer the reasons that Guide Dog facilities breed their dogs. Guide Dogs
> are bred for physical stability, mental stability, and so on. For the dogs
> who are not suited for guide work, the list of other jobs that they can do
> to help people is endless. Hearing dogs, mobility dogs, therapy dogs, drug
> dogs, bomb dogs, search dogs, rescue dogs, pets, ETC.
> PETA states that humans should replace animals that assist people with
> disabilities, but what PETA does not understand is that people with
> disabilities do not want to have to rely on other people to be able to 
> live
> their lives. The majority of people with disabilities want their
> independence. People with disabilities are people 1st. The disability is a
> characteristic. A characteristic that can certainly present challenges to
> work through, but people with disabilities work through the challenges 
> that
> their disabilities present day by day. I do not want to have to rely on
> someone to do what I can do for myself with the help of my Guide Dog. My
> dignity and independence are very important to me. I will ask for 
> assistance
> if I need it, but I want to be as independent as I can be. Partnering with
> Guide Dogs affords me greater independence than using the cane. Please do
> not misunderstand the above statement however. Blind people who use the 
> cane
> as their primary mobility aid can be as independent as blind people who 
> work
> with Guide Dogs. My personal preference is working with Guide Dogs rather
> than using the cane.
> PETA is opposed to the transitions that the Guide Dog goes through. The
> Guide Dog goes from its canine mother to its puppy raiser, from its puppy
> raiser to its trainer, from its trainer to its blind handler, and from its
> blind handler to its retirement. PETA feels that the transitions that 
> Guide
> Dogs go through are difficult on the dog, and this statement holds part
> truth. What PETA does not understand is that every person who is involved 
> in
> the life of every Guide Dog makes sure that the transitions are as easy as
> possible for the dog
> PETA states that blind people cannot care for their Guide Dogs because 
> they
> cannot tell when the dog is ill or hurt due to not being able to see the
> dog. Because blind people and their Guide Dogs are together 24/7, they are
> very aware of even the smallest change in the behavior of their dog. Their
> senses of hearing, smell, and touch are very acute.
> PETA claims that Guide Dogs are kept in harness nearly 24/7, but this 
> claim
> is false. The Guide Dog is only in harness when it is working. When the
> Guide Dog is not working it is free to be a dog.
> PETA says that people are prohibited from interacting with the Guide Dog
> while it is working. The reason for this is that the Guide Dog must
> concentrate on its work, and any distraction can be a danger to the dog 
> and
> the handler.
> PETA wants Guide Dogs to interact with other dogs. Blind people make sure
> that their dogs are able to interact with people and dogs if applicable.
> Some Guide Dog handlers do not want their dogs to interact with other 
> dogs,
> and some Guide Dog handlers want their dogs to interact with other dogs. 
> The
> decision is a personal preference.
> PETA states that Guide Dogs are forgotten when they retire, but that is 
> not
> the case at all. Some blind people keep their retired Guide Dog with them
> until the end of the dog's life, some blind people give their retired 
> Guide
> Dog to a friend or family member, and some blind people give their retired
> Guide Dog back to the Guide Dog facility. Guide Dog facilities let the 
> blind
> person decide what works best for them and their retired Guide Dog. I will
> give my Guide Dog to a friend or family member when she retires. I will 
> have
> the best of both worlds because I will be able to see her and work with my
> new Guide Dog.
> I am a totally blind College student, working with my 1st Guide Dog Sunny.
> She is a 5 year old female Golden Retriever, and she has without a doubt
> changed my life for the better. Her love for her work and for me shows 
> when
> I pick up her leash or her harness, evident by her dancing paws and 
> wagging
> tail. She is ready to go anywhere and do anything at anytime. The
> independence, confidence, and grace that I feel while traveling with my
> Guide Dog at my side is difficult to describe in words, though I have been
> told that all you need do is look at my face when my Guide Dog and I are
> working and you will understand. When we are not out and about, you can 
> find
> me playing with her and loving on her. Other people also play with her and
> love on her, and other dogs play with her when opportunities arise. We 
> share
> a bond that knows no boundaries. I do not let people interact with her 
> when
> she is working, because interaction even be it with the best intentions 
> can
> place Sunny and myself in danger. I care for Sunny to the best of my
> ability, and I am fortunate that I have sighted people around of whom I 
> can
> ask questions if I feel that something is off kilter with her. I feed her 
> a
> good quality dog food, groom her and play with her every day, and she goes
> everywhere with me unless I feel that where it is that I am going is not
> suitable for her to accompany me. She interacts with people and dogs, she 
> is
> healthy and she loves life, and her energy and enthusiasm are endless. I
> will not ever use the cane as my primary mobility aid again, because
> partnering with Guide Dogs is 100% for me!
> Thank You,
> Kolby
>
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