[nagdu] Another Reason for Having Your Own Harness

[Marion Gwizdala]

Mark,
    all of the schools retain ownership of the tack; however, some are more 
custodial than others. What those who are deciding to get dogs should 
consider is the ownership policies of the school. If the school does not 
transfer ownership upon graduation, one should question why this is so! If 
we, as blind people, have the capacity to raise children without, why do 
schools feel as if we are unable to properly care for our dogs and, thus, 
need to "supervise" us and have control over our lives in this way?

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 1:30 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Another Reason for Having Your Own Harness


> What school are you referring to? I have herd references to this school 
> from several people, but I can't figure out what school it is. Or are 
> there several schools doing this kind of stuff. Saying the name of the 
> school will not call down the fury of the guide dog police.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 1:15 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Another Reason for Having Your Own Harness
>
>
>> dear All,
>>    Another very important reason for having your own harness is that the 
>> school retains ownership of the gear. Now, most schools will not 
>> arbitrarily reclaim their harnesses, but I have heard of a few people 
>> from one particular school that did do such a thing and without just 
>> cause. Since each of these people owned their dogs, the school could not 
>> take possession of the dogs, but did repossess the harnesses. In one 
>> instance, the school actually went so far as to go to the local police 
>> department and assert that the dogs were no longer "certified guide dogs" 
>> and, as such, had no rights of access. Fortunately, the police knew 
>> better and advised the trainer of that, letting him know they would 
>> protect the blind person's legal rights, if needed. This particular 
>> school has since changed its ownership policy and now has demonstrated 
>> that they are willing to repossess dogs without cause and without due 
>> process!
>>    BTW, in one specific case, the school could not repossess the dog 
>> because, at that time,  the individual had ownership and the local animal 
>> control, while making an unannounced visit, found no evidence of abuse or 
>> neglect. In fact, the official report said there was plenty of food in 
>> the house, fresh water on the floor, and the dog's nails were painted! 
>> When I spoke with the investigator, he said, "The dog was certainly 
>> neither abused nor neglected; however, the trainer was certainly abusive 
>> to the individual!"
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> 813-626-2789
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> HTTP://NAGDU.ORG
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>
>
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