[nagdu] vet reports and other issues

[Marion & Martin]

Dear All,
    The incident that occured in Florida with a couple who were accused of 
abusing their dogs and the allegations were deemed unfounded by law 
enforcement is a perfect example. the school, having transferred ownership 
to each of them, were unable to repossess the dogs. Instead, they 
repossessed the harnesses and went to the police department to advise them 
that they no longer considered the dogs service animals and that they had no 
right to use the dogs nor rights of access! As an aside, this is like 
saying, "We have removed the training from the dog!", something impossible 
to do. This demonstrates the lengths to which a school that does not 
transfer ownership may go without just cause.

Fraternally,
Marion




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] vet reports and other issues


>I heartily agree with Mike here in that I'd like to see instances, painful
> as they may be, in which someone was truly intimidated by his or her 
> school.
> I will not disagree that there are certain staff, and even certain 
> policies
> at every guide dog school, be they during training in the residence or 
> after
> training, that will seem to someone patronizing, custodial or insulting.
> Let's face it, some truly are all of those things.
>
> Couple other points I'd like to make. Laurie's analogy was well meant but 
> in
> the case of a guide dog school graduate versus a puppy raiser or breeder
> keeper, it's comparing apples to oranges.
>
> The puppy raiser and breeder keeper are obligated under the terms of their
> volunteer service in caring for, and here's the important part, the sole
> property of the school. If you own your dog as a grad, you are not under 
> the
> same obligations. I am sure that those who raise puppies and care for
> breeder dogs from The Seeing Eye have restrictions, reporting 
> requirements,
> etc., that grads will never have and if those people do not follow the
> requirements, they will no longer be considered for puppy raising or 
> breeder
> keeping.
>
> Marion's analogy about buying a Ford doesn't  quite work either because we
> do not purchase our dogs. Even when we give a small payment, something I
> happen to think has great merit, we are buy no means paying for the costs 
> of
> dog, training, room and board or services of a field instructor for home
> training. The dog is being provided to us as a service. I know, I know, 
> most
> schools, mine included, state that the dog is a gift. It's a service that
> happens to be free, not unlike state rehabilitation assistance. In some
> state rehab situations, when you are given equipment let's say, you are
> given it outright and expected to maintain it with any needed repairs,
> upgrades or maintenance agreements coming out of your pocket. The 
> equipment
> is yours though with which to do whatever you want. Some state rehab
> organizations ask you to assist with some financial contribution to the 
> item
> if possible, in which case the above type of agreement is even more 
> likely.
>
> Then there are the agreements in which you receive the device but have
> certain obligations from simple reporting, taking part in surveys, etc. to
> returning the device to the agency if not using it.
>
> Here's a debate for you. If an organization was giving away cars and you
> legally owned the car after you took title to it, would they have the 
> right
> to ask you for anything related to the car? How far can an organization go
> in requiring things when it provides its services for free or a minimal 
> fee?
>
>
> What about comparing a guide dog, a living being, to adopting a child? I
> know, not a good comparison due to the legal implications when dealing 
> with
> minors versus animals, but interesting to think about.
>
> This is one reason I like this list. Usually calm, reasonable debate 
> <grin>
>
>
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