[nagdu] 9-YEAR-OLD BOY AND HIS GUIDE DOG

[Albert J Rizzi]

What powerful story and a great reason to at least leave the option open
rather then close a door to opportunity and independence. What is it about
not even introducing a cane to kids? How are they ever to become
independent, productive and empowered members of society without all the
tools necessary to do so? Would we preclude a sighted child from donning a
pair of roller skates or to ride a bicycle ? I know there is a world of
difference on so many levels between a bike and a cane and a dog and a bike,
but one thing that is not different, cane included is the independence  a
young person learns when being able to independently move from point ay to
point b. I know there are more youth out there like Tim, and if they are
able to and choose to they should have either a cane or a dog if they are up
to the task and up to accepting not only the responsibility but the benefits
as well. Thanks to Tim and his parents for showing how some children are
very able to handle responsibility  and continue on the path of becoming
mature and adult handlers.

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 Charlene Ota
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 3:27 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] 9-YEAR-OLD BOY AND HIS GUIDE DOG

  Well, all the comments about 9-year-old kids and guide dogs got me curious
to get more of the details from my friend Tim about his experience. So I'll
do my best to relay his story. I've known Tim for many years. He's had his
own business as a heating and refrigeration mechanic and has always been a
real self-starter.
 
In about 1957, Tim's Mom had gone to a meeting and met Dr. Ford at pacific
Lutheran University and heard about a program she was interested in starting
using collies as guide dogs for kids because they were such gentle dogs. She
came home and told Tim about it and asked if he would be interested in
participating. It was completely his choice and he jumped at the
opportunity. He understood that it would be his responsibility to care for
the dog and work with it.
 
In 1957, he received a 1-year-old Collie named Thunder and he was to teach
her obedience. during that first year, he entered her in 5  dog shows and
took champion with her in all 5. Then, in april of 1958, she was sent back
to Pilot to be trained as a guide and in June, he went to Pilot to train
with her. They were a team for 9 years after that. 
 
Collies had some problems that couldn't be resolved, like they can walk and
poop at the same time, no stopping, no letting you know. They often had eye
problems and other issues as well. Tim was fortunate in that Thunder never
developed the eye problems. The main reason she was retired at about 11 was
because she was beginning to have a leaky bladder, another common problem
with spayed collies.
 
Tim couldn't take Thunder to school every day but after school when he was
very involved with the YMCA youth program and things like that he always had
her with him and he was just a very active child in the community. He told
me he just was really tired of having to hold another person's arm to get
around and was very glad to have his dog and for him it was a way to gain
his independence. Maybe cane travel wasn't offered to him at that time. I
know when I was growing up I knew nothing about the white cane until I was
in high school.
 
In 1964, when the group of kids were given their collies to raise and then
be trained to work as guide dog teams, Tim was asked to come participate in
that program as a peer with the other kids.
 
When it was time for Tim to graduate and go on to the University of
Washington, that was about the time that Thunder had to retire so he went to
Pilot for his second dog and since then he's always had Dobermins. As Tim
grew up it got a little difficult to work with the Collie, too, because that
dog didn't pull at all and when holding the harness it was almost verticle
and so when he got his second dog, it was more comfortable then to have a
dog that pulls a bit more like what most of us are accustomed to. 
 
Just thought you guys might like to know more of the details since it is a
unique situation.
 
Charlene
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