[nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.

Mon Feb 1 03:05:55 UTC 2010

Sorry, now scratch all that. 

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
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."

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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 9:59 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: info at myblindspot.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.

Now make sure you record the time spent on this and send the same to Suzanne
and keep a record for yourself. Also include the time spent on the phone
this evening when we spoke. 

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
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."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 8:50 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.

Perhaps I should amend that. It was too soon for me,  or I wasn't as
mature as I might have been at 21 or 22, or later. Everyone's
situation is different, but I've looked back often and wondered about
it, and about my other experiences in my early twenties. I don't have
any regrets about getting a dog at 20 or later. My only possible
regret, if I had any, was that I didn't wait longer. But, it's that
hine sight thing.

I grew up in the environment where many people were asking when I was
going to get a dog, where other blind people, and some sighted people,
told me that I needed a dog, and where I was amazed by the guide dogs
I came across. I soked up everything I could learn about them, even
doing a couple of papers on them and anxiously awaited the day when I
would get one. Then I did, and I wondered after a few days what I had
gotten myself into. It was somewhere during this time that I wondered
about going home early, but figured that I had made a commitment by
going to training, and that I should stick it out to the end. Had I
done so, gone hoem that is, I might have avoided some adjustment
issues in the first 6 months that all dog users go through, that were
particularly tough for me. Then again, if I had gone home early, I
would've missed out on all the great experiences of having a guide
dog,of flying through and around a college campus, and of having a
blank look on my face when my dog relieved himself in the middle of a
heavily traveled sidewalk in the midst of a class change. No, I'm not
regretful, but better for the experience. I have no doubt that if I
had decided to go home, that The Seeign Eye would have supported my
decision. At least now though I can look back on those experiences and
try to bring some reality to eager students I meet today in my job who
are just like I was, all they want is a guide dog, particularly the
ones that must have a German Shepehrd. I just smile and think, "Boy, I
was like that too."

Sincerely,
Wayne

On 1/31/10, Nicole B. Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
> I find your comment about too young interesting.  I got Lexia a little
over
> two months before my 18th birthday.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wayne Merritt" <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 2:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.
>
>
>> I'm not sure what the percentage of people who try a guide and end up
>> sending it back or going home early in the training program is, but it
>> does happen. I've heard stories from both sides, of a woman who sent
>> the dog back within her first 2 months of being home, after her class
>> date, and the dog was matched with another student successfully. There
>> was also a user in my last class who went home after the first week
>> due to all the dog responsibilities. So it does happen. This thought
>> of giving up even crossed my mind when I was in my first class 15
>> years ago, but I figured that I had made a commitment and I stuck it
>> out. Looking back, my only regret might be that I went when I was too
>> young, at 20, but other than that I have no regrets. Also guessing
>> here, but I'd be willing to bet that if you did decide to get a dog,
>> went through training, came home and then decided that having a dog
>> was too much, or even if you decided this while in training, the
>> school and people in that class would understand and support you. So
>> go for it! And keep us updated on your journey.
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>> On 1/30/10, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>>> Hi Stepper.
>>> I too tend to agree with your wife.  You could try it, and, if it
doesn't
>>> work out, well, it was still worth a try.  Although the little weasels
>>> have a way of getting into your heart that makes them hard to give up.
>>>
>>> I remember being worried about the responsibilities of dog ownership
>>> before I got my first dog, even though I'd had pets before.  Then I got
>>> Glade, and the responsibilities were really nothing to have worried
>>> about.
>>>  I adjusted my schedule a bit, and that was it.  The benefits far
>>> outweighed the costs.
>>>
>>> Hasn't it been a goal of yours for a long time, to get another dog?
It's
>>> natural to be nervous about the change, but I think it's worth going
>>> forward.  If it doesn't work out, it's still OK.
>>>
>>> You asked for opinions, and there's mine, for what it's worth.
>>> Good luck.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> --
>> My blog:
>> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
>> My websites:
>> www.wayneism.com
>> www.whitecaneday.org
>>
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>
>
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-- 
My blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org

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