[nagdu] 8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog

Fri Jan 23 15:48:06 UTC 2009

Craig,
    Thanks for sending this out to us. I attempted to make some comments, 
but am not sure why it was taking so long for the page to load. This sort of 
custodial, paternalistic interference is what NAGDU and the NFB has been 
fighting with the guide dog schools for years! Those who train service 
animals lie to their disabled consumers when they tell them that they have 
the final say as to whether or not their animals are "service animals"! 
Whether this dog is wearing its coat, exactly like whether or not our dogs 
are wearing their harnesses, is not a prerequisite for legal access. Making 
this woman jump through their ridiculous hoops is a graphic example of the 
sort of fear instilled by the guide dog schools when they hold their 
ownership of our harnesses over our heads! My dog has not worn her training 
programs harness in a very long time because I refuse to advertise for them 
until they demonstrate they are willing to listen to our input on such 
matters.
    Every school retains ownership of the harness with the primary purpose 
of maintaining control over their graduates. Leader Dogs went so far as to 
tell one municipal jurisdiction that they were no longer certifying 
someone's guide dog as a service animal and, therefore, it had no legal 
right of access, something that is an absolute lie!
    This program is doing the exact same thing. I think this woman should 
tell the program to keep their coat and go about her business, rejecting any 
attempt by them to control her. She doesn't need the coat for legal access 
nor their "certification". Her dog is a service animal under the law and 
nothing the program asserts will change this fact. If there is evidence of 
abuse, let the legal authorities who have jurisdiction decide this, not some 
program that treats us as their wards!

Fraternally,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <craig.borne at dot.gov>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 9:11 AM
Subject: [nagdu] 8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog


> Found at http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=9716940&nav=menu132_2
>
> There is an opportunity for comments on the site.
>
>
>
> 8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog
>
> Posted: Jan 22, 2009 03:01 PM EST
>
> Updated: Jan 22, 2009 03:30 PM EST
>
>
>
> By
>
> Chris Williams
>
>
>
> QUAD CITIES --  A Quad Cities woman may be a step closer to regaining
> her freedom thanks to an 8 On Your Side investigation. For her, freedom
> means venturing
>
> out without being harrassed by those who don't understand her
> disability. 8 On Your Side Reporter Chris Williams  has the story that
> may change the way you
>
> look at the disabled and their service dogs .
>
>
>
> We began working this case in October when a woman called with a
> heartbreaking story. She relies on a service dog to be her ears, help
> when she has a seizure
>
> and pick up objects she can't reach. But a decision by a former
> volunteer with the organization that gave her the dog made it impossible
> for her to take
>
> the animal into public without being harrassed.
>
>
>
> Janet Parker tried to keep the mood light with her Black Lab Coal. A lot
> was riding on this trip to the East Moline Animal Clinic. Bad news today
> could
>
> set her back months and deny the opportunity to regain her freedom.
>
>
>
> "It tears my heart out if i don't have him", Janet told us through an
> interpreter for the deaf.
>
>
>
> Coal is Janet's ears. Without him her world is a freightening place
> filled with muffled noises where even the most basic daily task can be
> dangerous. Janet
>
> was born in Monmouth. At two weeks old a high fever stole her ability to
> hear. Years later the violent hand of a man left Janet with injuries and
> seizures
>
> that would last a lifetime.  Five and a half years ago the organization
> "
>
> PAWS With A Cause
>
> " brought Coal into Janet's life restoring some of her freedoms. The
> Michigan based non-profit provides service dogs to those in need. Their
> canines wear
>
> blue vests to alert the public that, these are not your ordinary pets,
> they're trained to work.
>
>
>
> "PAWS With A Cause" also has strict rules regarding the care of dogs. In
> 2006 the woman in charge of Janet's case felt Coal's weight warranted
> removing
>
> the vest, esentially taking away his identity as a service dog.
>
>
>
> I asked Janet, "What happens to you when you're in public and people
> don't know he's a service dog?"
>
>
>
> She replied through an interpreter, "You can't go anywhere... no
> stores.. nothing."
>
>
>
> Vet records show Coal's weight had ballooned to 93 pounds,13 pounds
> above the heaviest allowed. Over time, through diet, training and
> exercise Janet helped
>
> Coal slim down but she could not get the woman who took the vest to
> answer her calls.
>
>
>
> "I had a lawyer", she told us. "He didn't do anything. I called
> Chicago... through the A.D.A... they didn't do anything. So I contacted
> you, it says you
>
> help".
>
>
>
> When you cannot hear, and speak clearly, communicating is nearly
> impossible unless patience is practiced by those who listen. We listened
> to Janet's case
>
> and a solution seemed simple, yet she was unable to reach those who
> could make a difference and restore her freedom through Coal's service.
> We contacted
>
> the case worker who removed the vest only to learn she was no longer
> with "PAWS With A Cause". We tracked down information for the
> organziation and volunteers
>
> promised to look into the situation.
>
>
>
> "I say thank you very, very much for helping me", Janet said. "It
> finally feels like I have some success now."
>
>
>
> 3 months of calls, e-mails and faxing vet records brought us to this day
> at the East Moline Animal Clinic.
>
>
>
> "His heart and lungs are just fine", Veterinarian, Doctor Holyl Bordner
> told Janet.
>
>
>
> She Gave Coal a complete check up which involved a weigh in.
>
>
>
> "In my examination of Coal today we found him to be 77 pounds... really
> in good health", the Doctor reported.
>
>
>
> She feel's the health of her patient has a direct impact on Janet's
> peace of mind, explaining, "I see him as being crucial to her well
> being."
>
>
>
> "I've been nervous and let down so many times. I've just been sick over
> the whole ordeal, so I figured you were my last hope to help me", Janet
> said to
>
> us.
>
>
>
> Even with renewed hope, Janet knew the path to regaining her freedom was
> still an uphill climb. Armed with Coal's updated vet information, she
> would have
>
> to prepare for the hardest test of all the next day, a recertification
> test by a "PAWS" volunteer.
>
>
>
> It's Julie Firlit's job to put Coal and Janet to the test. Armed with a
> video camera and clipboard, Julie watched every move and command. It
> quickly becomes
>
> obvious Coal's skills aren't exactly up to "PAWS" specifications.
>
>
>
> Eventually Coal shows discipline, especially when given the task of
> walking alongside Janet with another dog nearby.
>
>
>
> "We just want to make sure they have a good working relationship",
> Volunteer Julie explained. "It's productive for her, and in an emergency
> the dog would
>
> be available to help her and that we've held up our bargain as well as
> encouraged her to hold up her end of the bargain as well."
>
>
>
> Julie would not tell us what she'll recommend, "PAWS" headquarters will
> decide on the vest issue. It could take a month before Janet learn's
> whether coal
>
> will get his vest back.
>
>
>
> She says "PAWS" removes vests from dogs who become overweight because
> those dogs typically have more health problems. The animals can cost
> $20,000 to raise
>
> and train. "PAWS" says, knowing they could lose the vests motivates
> clients to keep their dog in shape.
>
>
>
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> Craig Borne, Esq.
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