[nagdu] The Response I received from PETA

[Margo and Elmo]

peta does not understand that we don't want a human assistance program, and, 
actually, there's a better partnership between us and our dogs than there 
would be with this so called human assistance program.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Response I received from PETA


> Out of curiosity, what exactly is a "human assistance program?" What
> humans are trained for what tasks? Does this mean that my everyday
> sighted guide needs to go through this program in order to guide me
> effectively? Hmm. And, how do these "human assistance programs" fit
> into PETA's jurrisdiction?
>
> Wayne
>
> On 1/15/09, Merry Schoch <merrys at verizon.net> wrote:
>> Here is the response I received PETA:
>>
>> Dear Ms. Schoch,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you for your e-mail. Please allow me to respond on behalf of Ms.
>> Nachminovitch. We appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts 
>> with
>> us about Ms. Nachminovitch's comments on the Los Angeles Times 
>> "Unleashed"
>> blog, and we apologize sincerely for any offense this interview may have
>> caused.
>>
>>
>>
>> What we wished to communicate in this interview was that dogs, guide dogs 
>> or
>> not, are affectionate animals who crave contact, play, and love from 
>> their
>> human families, and we encourage their guardians to give it to them and 
>> make
>> the best choices they can when considering bringing an animal into their
>> home.
>>
>>
>>
>> It is our hope that guide dog guardians (as well as anyone who cares for 
>> a
>> dog) do provide only the best care, and make every effort to keep their 
>> dogs
>> even after their "retirement.' It is encouraging to hear that both of 
>> your
>> dogs will have a home with you forever. We understand that it is 
>> impossible
>> for some people to keep more than one animal, whether for assistance
>> purposes or not, due to rental companies' and landlords' arbitrary (and
>> often discriminatory) policies. We often hear from people whose living
>> situations leave them unable to accommodate their beloved animal 
>> companions,
>> and our hearts go out to them.
>>
>>
>>
>> To clarify, we do not campaign against using guide dogs, but we do answer
>> honestly when asked our stance on them. We encourage alternatives to 
>> using
>> animals, and feel that human assistance programs are more appropriate 
>> than
>> trained animals for helping people who have disabilities. Please know 
>> that
>> we hold no animosity toward people who opt to work with assistance dogs. 
>> We
>> know that most people who make this choice genuinely love their dogs and
>> give them only the best care.
>>
>>
>>
>> As an animal rights group, however, we cannot remain silent when there is
>> even the smallest chance for an animal to suffer-to do so would be a
>> betrayal of our members and a disservice to the animals we strive to
>> protect.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you again for your letter and for the opportunity to address your
>> concerns. We appreciate your feedback.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>> Heidi Parker
>> Mail Coordinator
>> The PETA Foundation
>> http://www.PETA.org
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> From: Merry Schoch [mailto:merrys at verizon.net]
>> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 9:10 PM
>> To: Daphna Nachminovitch
>> Cc: nagdu-request at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: L.A. Times Blog Post - PETA
>>
>>
>>
>> Ms. Nachminovitch,
>>
>>
>>
>> Your comments on the Los Angeles Times blog L.A. Unleashed is full of 
>> myths
>> and misconceptions.  It is unfortunate that you have such views, and I am
>> curious how such ideas have been created for you to promulgate such 
>> myths.
>> I am hoping that individuals who read this blog do not buy into these
>> untruths.  I find you comments very offensive; however, ignorance and 
>> lack
>> of experience of certain situations can cause one to promulgate such
>> atrocities.
>>
>>
>>
>> I  have not only been a puppyraiser I am also a guide dog user.  My first
>> guide is 12 years old, and he will be with me until he expires.  He lives
>> with two other dogs, and when he was working he had many hours in the day 
>> in
>> which to play and relax.  One of his playmates belong to my husband, and 
>> she
>> is a guide dog as well.  She will be 12 years old in a few months and 
>> will
>> also be with us until her life has ended.  Some individuals may not be as
>> fortunate as us by being able to keep their retired dogs, but these
>> individuals do not need to be bashed when they are giving up a guide that
>> they have loved for many years.
>>
>>
>>
>> I invite you to visit guide dog users and guide dog schools from across 
>> this
>> nation.  We will meet in Detroit in July.  Please go to www.nfb.org and 
>> find
>> details regarding our national convention.  You will learn so much about
>> guide dog schools, the dogs, and the users.  Most of all, you will learn 
>> the
>> immense capabilities of the blind regardless of the mobility tools they
>> choose.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Merry Schoch
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/wcmerritt%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> -- 
> My blog:
> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
> My websites:
> www.wayneism.com
> www.whitecaneday.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%40verizon.net