[nagdu] walk by petting was ranting

Tue Oct 20 23:10:56 UTC 2009

I will go one better. I was sitting at an outdoor café. My friend with whom
I was having lunch had stepped away to the bathroom. We were in a sectioned
off portion of the side walk you know sort of behind a privacy fence, all of
a sudden I felt the presence of someone and I took that presence to be doxy
getting up so I looked down in his direction. Now he was sitting down very
quietly under my table, and when I looked down, much to my surprise a voice
responded back, "oh, I thought you couldn't see me, I just had to pet him."
I responded please get up and stop what you are doing, you do not have
permission  to be petting my dog and I would prefer it if you went back to
your table please. Get this, he told me he was not eating there  he was just
passing by and could not resist.  Not only was I appalled but so were the
three other tables around me.  It was a topic of conversation  for all of us
the rest of our time together. I hope to be able to help others  learn about
proper blind etiquette  101. we cannot stop fools from flocking about but we
can do our best to enlist others to our cause and particular  needs to not
have our dogs treated like pets unless and until we give the o.k.

Albert J. Rizzi
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:27 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] walk by petting was ranting

Albert,

I used to get walk by petters quite frequently.  I don't so much with Monty 
though.  There's really nothing that I ever figured out to lessen the 
frequency.  they are never people I know and generally don't say anything to

me at all.  It's difficult to educate or even to gripe at someone when they 
pet and are gone by the time you figure it out.  The best thing I could do 
was to train my dogs not to respond.

I don't attend church so I can't speak to that specifically.  I will say 
that the folks that I have spoken to about petting at inappropriate times 
have no clue they are distracting the dog.  I've had irate folks who feel 
that it is only their due that they should be able to pet my dog at their 
leisure.  I have also had someone pet Belle while we were crossing a street.

I guess it takes all sorts to make the world go 'round.   So far I have 
never encountered anyone that said they were purposefully distracting my dog

so I'd get hurt. I can't say that I'd be shocked if someone did say that to 
me though.

Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:37 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] ranting

> Regardless of the particular place of worship, I would not get all heated,
> me personally, about people wanting to pet my dog. I am not sure the 
> circles
> within which others travel, but no one has attempted to pet my dog while 
> he
> and I are mid gate.  I have however had many people call to the dog or 
> purse
> their lips together to get his attention   while I have traveled here and
> there and everywhere. It is then that I remind people  that he is a guide
> dog and that such conduct is not only inappropriate, but puts myself and 
> my
> dog at great risk.  I do not have any issues with the people we worship 
> with
> paying attention to doxy as they are family and know the ins and outs of
> guide dog etiquette. I find it hard to believe that at some point in
> attendance to whatever house of worship one attends, that congregants 
> would
> do anything to someone within their family which would put them or their
> guide dog at risk.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
> Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:46 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] ranting
>
> I'm curious about that too. What happens if there is a flight of steps,
> and you don't know it's there, and someone reaches to pet your dog at
> just the wrong moment?
> And if it is okay to pet in a church, does this extend to say a Jewish
> temple or a Mosque or a Quaker Meeting Hall?
> Does the type of service mater, or if say I met you and your dog at a
> preschool fair held ina church, could I pet him?
> Please elaborate, as I am also vey curious.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Julie J
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:07 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] ranting
>
> Albert wrote:
> *> on point and always is in need of attention and acknowledgement. I do
>
> not> think that there is great risk for danger in a church. *
>
> Can you elaborate on this?  Do you mean that you don't have a problem
> with
> walk by petting as long as you are indoors?
>
> Julie
>
>
>
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