[nagdu] Fw: response to your objections about guide dogs

[Ann Chiappetta]

Hello Listers;
Below is the response to my email  from a PETA person. 
Cheers,
Annie C & Verona
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Heidi Jury Parker 
To: dungarees at optonline.net 
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:44 PM
Subject: RE: response to your objections about guide dogs


Dear Annie,

 

Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts with us and apologize sincerely for any offense we may have caused. Public comments made by PETA staff members were not meant to reflect badly on people who use or train guide dogs. Rather, we know that most guide dog guardians care deeply for their animals. We do not campaign against using guide dogs, but we do answer honestly when asked our stance on them.

 

What we wished to communicate 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, remove their dogs' harnesses when they are not necessary, et cetera, and we are glad to hear from you and many other guide dog trainers and guardians who have written to us that they and their blind friends do just that. 

 

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: Ann Chiappetta [mailto:dungarees at optonline.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 3:32 PM
To: Daphna Nachminovitch
Subject: response to your objections about guide dogs

 

Nachminovitch´s objections go beyond PETA´s distaste for breeding
programs. "They are kept in harnesses almost 24/7, people are prohibited
from petting or playing with them and they cannot romp and run and
interact with other dogs." PETA also claims that schools force blind
people to return their retired dogs.

 

 

Madam:

If these words are yours, I would ask you not to generalize and marginalize an individual who owns and uses a dog guide. My dogs are my family, my guide dog school is my community of positive support and assists me in taking excellent care of my guide and my pet dog, too.

 

Bad apples are all around us in a societal sense. Don't penalize the entire blind community for the assumed transgressions of a few ignorant people You do all of us an injustice by making assumptions about other people. I'll even invite you to my home to see if I fail to provide my dogs with whatever they need to live happy, healthy lives.

.

 

 

Be Well, 
Annie C. & Verona, dog guide extraordinaire 
My blog: www.brainnatter.blogspot.com

 

I write to find out what I think. -- Stephen King