[nagdu] PETA Response

MS S TILLETT suetillett at verizon.net
Thu Jan 15 04:07:06 UTC 2009


Great response!  I hope you put it up on the NY Times blog.  Good work. 

Sue, and Wonder
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kolby Garrison 
  To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' 
  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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