[nagdu] allergies v. service animals

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Bunny,

Well put!  I've attempted to express the same thing on the issue a fuew
times but end up getting super snarly and have to give it up.  /smile/  Like
you, I know people who take responsibility for their own allergies and
asthma, as well as for MCS and the like.  But I know too many others who
honestly expect everyone around them, including the general public, to go
through enormous efforts so the allergy-sufferer won't have to take a
pill...  The same principle, IMO, applies to people with dog phobias.
Xanax, anyone?  Every heard of a shrink?  /smile/  If you would prefer to
move from the priority seating area (as they call it here) where you didn't
belong in the first place without a fuss, then you are welcome to deal with
your fears and anxieties as you see fit, and I respect your decision.  Just
don't expect me to deal with them, thank you.  I had this happen once, only
the person across the aisle spent much of the bus ride telling me that the
person I heard moving away was afraid of my dog, didn't I think?  She got
off where I did and needed our guidance to the train, so had plenty of
opportunity to repeat herself on the subject.  /lol/  Since it wasn't any of
her business, I just repeated nonchalantly that I didn't know, perhaps it
was so, but since the other woman moved away from the dog it was a nonissue
as far as I could tell.  /lol/  I gave a more coherent, informative answer
the first time she brought it up, of course; but sometimes people just won't
let things go, so the best one can do is repeatedly refuse to give them what
they want (I couldn't tell and didn't care, frankly).  Has anyone ever
noticed that dogs and horses, even cats, get the reward refusal aspect of
operant conditioning far more quickly than supposedly intelligent humans?
/snotty smile/  I prefer to deal more directly and assertively, frankly, but
I have discovered in my new life as a blind person that it doesn't seem to
work as well with some people for some reason.  If they won't back off when
asked firmly and reasonably, I've stopped wasting my energy on giving them a
reaction.  Sigh.

Back to the subject.  A majority of our dogs' rearing and training goes to
ensuring that the working guide will be able to go into any human situation
with manners above reproach at all times.  We're taught to maintain
exceptional grooming and health standards to ensure our dogs are fit to go
into restaurants and grocery stores.  Guide dogs schools have, for a number
of years, been working with various hypo-allergenic breeds to address the
issue of allergies and asthma, not only for blind allergy-sufferers, but
also for the sake of allergic family members, etc.  And, to throw in phobias
again, the majority of our dogs are specifically bred to be nonaggressive
from the get-go, while every aspect of their socialization and training is
designed to reinforce their lack of aggression.  The owner-trainers I know
all test their prospects for aggression before anything else and are ready
to retire a dog in a heartbeat if it shows aggression at any time during the
training process.  I had a scare that way during convention, even though my
youngster had never shown the least sign before.  Further observation back
in our natural habitat and as we settled into a new home with another dog,
who can be aggressive, showed that Mitzi was still the peace-loving soul
she's always been, if a sometimes very snotty soul.  Thank heavens I was
able to address the behavior effectively.  I haven't had a chance to see if
it recurs in the presence of other guide dogs yet, but at least I know I can
deal with it at the first sign.  Before it gets out of hand.  Live and
learn.

The point being that we take extraordinary efforts to avoid any negative
impact on the public from our dogs before we ever put on the harness and
head out the door.  We just accept that this is going to be a natural part
of our lifestyle and a significant chunk of our daily schedules -- not to
mention our budgets! -- as part of the package that falls under the heading
"guide dog user."  So, no, we should not have to put up with being hassled
or interfered with or to have to jump through hoops because others won't
take responsibility for their own issues.  Now to convince those folks who
simply can't grasp that simple concept...

But that's why we organize and lobby and work collectively to address
individual instances legally and discuss ways to deal with the hassles
proactively yet positively (it would be more satisfying to bite people
sometimes; metaphorically, or course) without giving up our self-respect and
independence by letting others infringe on our rights by just taking it so
people won't think we're not nice, non-uppity blind people...

It's always great to hear other guide dog users' experiences and their
responses to them, along with the discussions about the various points of
view on one should or should not, along with how one actualy does at the
time (not always the same thing; at least, not for me!).  And it's also nice
to have a forum to discuss my own learning progress with people who actually
understand the issues.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Bunny Davidson
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:07 AM
To: National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] allergies v. service animals


HI all,
 
It is my opinion that there are those among the general public who feel &
express that their needs superseed the needs of anyone in the minority -be
it anyone they consider not as good as them- like race, sex, education,
sight, mobility, hearing, whatever- there is a sense of superiority and
entitlement that abounds in our society...
 
this is why our goverment had to make laws saying discrimination is illegal
in the first place!  yet with laws and laws you still cant legislate
selfishness and piosness in people.
 
As for the airline dealing (or NOT) with pets, service animals and passenger
sensitivity issues... It is my opinion that a person with a service dog
should not have to jump thru hoops to claim their seat on the plane- no
prior notice should be required from the disabled with service animals, and
anyone on plane who has a non lethal or non disability condition who
complains or wants to make a commotion about the service dog... should be
given the option of moving their seat if possable, or being quiet - it is my
opinion anyone with allergies or asma should not go to confined places
without their meidications, inhailers et... unfortunatley we as disabled
needing service animals can not remidy our situations with meds or
inhailers-thus it is not our problem!  

 
For instance, my brother is very very allergic to cats and to perfumes... he
carries antihistimine pills and an inhailer because as a plumber he has to
go to work in peoples homes who have cats and wear fragrances...air
fresheners et...  he learned years ago, that without his meds his eyes
swell, he cant breath and may need the emergency room.  so HE IS RESPONSABLE
TO PROTECT HIMSELF!  Not tell all his customers they must get their cats
out, clean their homes, and air it all out without chemicals so he can
install a toilet!!!  
 
so why shouldnt they who have allergies who must fly carry their medicines
and be pro active rather than try to make the citizens of a free country
like ours who use s.a. jump thru hoops or try to pass rules where we cant
use our animals????
 
If my brother has to fly on the plane, he doesnt go around the plane like a
victim of "her perfume" or " his aftershave" demanding these folks go wash
off their sents!!! No , he takes his medicine before he boards!
 
this whole allergy thing is just another excuse by the selfish public to
deny the disabled their rights to use whatever mobility /functioning aids
they can to live an independent and peacefull life...
 
come on, who needs all this attention (neg. attention) every time we want to
fly, go out to eat et... I prefer to be left the heck alone when im eating,
not have some know it all who never read the ada, tell me I cant have my dog
, or need certification papers or some other nauseating harrasment!
 
ok, im done now-  ah...............thats righ, breathe!
 
oh btw, yesterday My Service dog and I enjoyed a beatuful birthday dinner
out - since we had 
over a foot of snow, no one was in the restarant except us 
=up untill the end of the meal...=
A which time some customer walked in to be seated behind the hostess and
says oh... look the puppy -yeckity yeckity yeckity as she goes right over
and gets my dog all stired up, pets ontop of the "service dog do not pet"
badge on the top of the vest!!!  So of course, i had to say, mam please
dont- the dog is working, your attention to her can be dangerous to me as
she can not do her job if you are interfearing by petting, talking and
playing with her... oh well most of the dinner was peacefull! lol
 
respectfully
bunny
 
<<Well, Becca:The answer is that, as Mike pointed out, the needs of the
disabled are notconsidered as important as those of pretty much anyone,
includingallergy-sufferers.Despite my sarcasm in a previous post, I can
understand that allergies canbe severe or unpleasant. It seems to me,
though, that the user of a serviceanimal need not, nor should he be, the one
required to make theaccommodation. Plus allergies aren't considered,
legally, a disability.Most allergy-sufferers I know, including my sister,
wouldn't want themselvesconsidered disabled as it might limit their choice
of work, etc.  Dan >>
_________________________________________________________________
Windows LiveT: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. 
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009
_______________________________________________
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/tamara.8024%40comcast
.net