[nagdu] Does seeing-eye horse go too far?

[Allison Nastoff]

Riding a Seeing Eye horse is an interesting concept, but I admit 
I am skeptical too.  For one thing, I have heard horses can not 
be house-trained.  How does she know the horses isn't relieving 
itself as it walks through the store? Also, a horse's natural 
instict is to kick anyone if they are standing behind them.  
Couldn't this pose a danger to the community?
Does anyone know any more details about ferrets as service 
animals? I am kind of skeptical that rodents could be capable or 
trainable to be service animals.  I guess it's interesting that 
people are discovering more nontraditional service animals.  But 
I do think that the disabled community needs to make sure people 
don't go too far.  Otherwise the public could lose patience with 
us, and outlaw any animals, which would be a devastating 
regression of our society, since dogs have provided so many 
people, myself included, with life-changing independence.
Allison and Gilbert

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: <craig.borne at dot.gov
>To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:10:18 -0400
>Subject: [nagdu] Does seeing-eye horse go too far?

>FYI - notice NAGDU was included with this article as a link 
resource.

>Craig



>http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/w
faa0903
>24_wz_serviceanimalsfolo.67c58be1.html

>3/20:

>Does seeing-eye horse go too far?

>LINK:

>ABC News story on this topic

>LINK:

>Rules for service animals

>LINK:

>Service animals Q&A

>LINK:

>Guide Horse Foundation

>LINK:

>Pony Talez Equine Services

>LINK:

>National Association of Guide Dog Users

>MORE:

>Stories about animals and pets

>list end



>Search Video:





>images/searchbtn



>FORT WORTH - What's a horse doing in the dairy aisle at Target?



>Last week we reported on an expanding list of service animals for 
the
>disabled, including ferrets, monkeys and horses.  The story has 
ignited a
>controversy

>among some in the disabled community who say using a horse to get 
around
>in a grocery store goes too far.



>Trixie the seeing-eye pony knows Target like the back of her 
slip-proof
>pink boots.  "She means the world to me," said Tabitha Darling, 
Trixie's
>owner.  "Not

>just a working animal, but - well - my friend."



>Darling is legally blind, with a bone condition that she says can 
make
>walking painful.



>The Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal for stores 
to
>refuse entry to a service animal.  But while Tabitha says Trixie 
is
>critical to her independence,

>she is now drawing fire from some, accused of abusing the system.



>"She doesn't need to be riding it around like Lady Godiva in a 
store,"
>said Carolyn Finefrock, who has far less vision than Darling and 
uses a
>more traditional

>seeing-eye dog and a wheelchair for mobility.  Finefrock thinks 
licensing
>service animal users would eliminate abuse.



>"What about people who really can't walk? What about people who 
really
>can't see?" she asked.



>Lex Frieden, a professor at the University of Texas Health 
Science
>Center in Houston, helped develop the Americans with Disabilities 
Act.
>What does he think

>of going shopping with a horse?



>"There are other solutions besides that one that are more 
functional and
>more appropriate for her," Frieden said.  "But consider this: 
It's her
>choice."





>Frieden has been using a wheelchair since he was injured in a car
>accident when he was a college student.  He favors a case-by-case 
review
>of a person's

>disability.  Any blanket solution, he says, is a step in the 
wrong
>direction.



>"We actually stop innovation; we stop discovery; and we actually 
provide
>a cap on what's possible," he said.  "Who knows what's possible 
in the
>future?"





>Tabitha Darling says she is often asked why she insists on riding 
a
>horse inside a store when there are other options.  Her answer?



>It's what works best for her.



>E-mail

>dschechter at wfaa.com



>Craig Borne, Esq.

>External Compliance Program Manager

>Disability Program Manager



>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

>Office of Civil Rights

>1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast

>Suite W43-321

>Washington, DC 20590



>Office : (202) 493-0627

>Fax: (202) 493-2990

>Email: craig.borne at dot.gov <mailto:craig.borne at dot.gov



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