[nagdu] GUIDE DOGS AND MEXICO

[Cheryl Osborn]

Hi Lyn and all,

Please, someone, tell me if this conversation should be moved off list.

I would think that Mexico, in general, has not changed a whole lot
during the last 18 years, except that Mexico does have laws pertaining
to the use of guide dog access.  That being said, not everyone is
aware of the law.

Regarding vaccinations and rabies, I don't know if there are laws, but
I do know that rabies shots are provided free and I do know that my
vet has all the necessary vaccines.

As for getting around, it depends a great deal on where you are.  If I
go to Guadalajara, which is a fairly large town, mobility is quite a
bit easier.  However, there are situations that can be  dangerous
because of the irregular way that things are set up.

I live in a small village/town where sidewalks, if there are any, can
have large holes, construction materials, dogs sleeping, bikes,
vendors, etc.  Sometimes there are curbs, sometimes not, sometimes the
curb might be 2 feet high; I mention this because I almost fell off of
one.  Thank goodness my dog refused to go forward.  Of course there
was another time with my new dog who thought it might be fun to take a
leap off of a 3-foot curb.  Luckily, I kind of fell backward and
landed on my but.

Life is truely an adventure!

On 4/16/10, Linda Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
> Hi Cheryl O,
> Welcome to the list!
>
> I see you live in Mexico.  Would you please tell us about life in Mexico
> with a guide dog?
>
> I am Lyn and I'm working with my eighth dog - foourth one from Seeing Eye.
> My dog is Landon, a red Golden/Lab cross and I got him in 2007.
>
> We work as pet assisted therapists at a military hospital and in two
> programs with our local Humane Society.  Landon LOVES this work! LOL
>
> I live in San Diego so we are very near Tijuana, BC, Mexico. I haven't
> visited there since 1992 and don't feel like going there again.  there is a
> warning from the US State Dept. about traveling to Mexico because of the
> drug cartels "activity" along the border towns.
>
> When I brought my guide dog there, the restaurants didn't want me to bring
> my dog inside.  After my explanations of the dog being my guide, they
> compromised by having me sit by the door!  Also, I had someone come up to me
> to ask if I'd sell him my dog! I said no and told him in Spanish that the
> dog was my eyes - a perro de guia. He then left.  After that, I thought
> about what if the guy reacted differently and grabbed my dog from me and
> there I would be, in a foreign contry, without a mobility aid! I didn't even
> have a white cane with me.  Along the border towns, they steal dogs to sell
> to labs even though reputable labs will NEVER take a microchipped or tatooed
> dog as it is very illegal.
>
> The other thing is that Mexico has no laws regarding having dogs vaccinated
> against Rabies or other diseases. Do you know if any of this has changed?
>
> Again, welcome and look forward to hearing from you about life in Mexico!
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:05 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>
>
>> Thanks for the welcome Marsha.
>>
>> Your Q is certainly not too personal.  I live in a very small town in
>> central Mexico.  My husband and I retired here about 4 years ago.
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-- 
Cheryl in Mexico
chapalacheryl at gmail.com