[nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful

[Mark J. Cadigan]

Dan W,

My mom claims to be terrified of dogs, but yet we have a pet dog.  My 
parents claim that a guide dog will smell, then I point out that if you take 
care of it properly it won't. Then I point out people we know with guide 
dogs that don't smell. My dad's response to this is to tell this story of 
his friend's son's roommate's friend had a roommate with a smelly guide dog. 
This happened so long ago, and is so far removed from the situation that I 
can't see how it possibly has any bearing on the current situation. Also 
that story is so convoluted that is impossible to verify. And the argument 
goes on and on Ad nauseam. It is getting to the point that I think they are 
just attempting to exorcize there ability to make arbitrary decisions.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful


> Well, first question is "Is the reason your parents don't support your 
> idea
> of getting a dog that they don't like dogs?"--smile.
> Second of all, what is your parents objection, I mean presumably you're 
> the
> one who's blind so maybe you might know a little better than they do 
> whether
> a dog would enhance your lifestyle or not.
> I'm fortunate that by the time I wanted a dog, my parents had figured out
> I'd pretty much do what I wanted without permission, so my Dad just asked
> one or two feeble questions and then left it alone.
> He asked "Are you sure a dog will be worth the trouble, how do you know
> it'll work out."
> I explained that, never having a dog, a guide dog, that is,  I'd need to
> find it out for myself and I really wanted to take care of the dog and was
> ready.
> When I got home, he admired the dog enormously. But he asked the second 
> day
> back home if the dog really had to go out with us to breakfast. I said it
> did, when he seemed to balk I said "I love you Dad, and enjoy going out, 
> but
> this is important to me and if you don't want my guide dog than I'm afraid 
> I
> won't be going".
> Dead silence ensued, and the issue never came up again.  As a matter of
> fact, my Dad adopted my first hound after he retired and loved him.  The
> dog, Grant, even went to my Dad's funeral's
> The only thing I wasn't really ready for was the access issues. Being the
> brilliant young man I was--smile--it never occurred to me that people 
> would
> have issues with a dog, I mean access issues to public places.
>
> So, tell us more what the problem is and we'll be happy to talk about it.
> There are some folks on this list who can be very good role models and
> mentors, I wish there had been such a list when I started out.  But, then 
> I
> don't think there were such things as computer lists--smile.
>
> Good luck
>
> Dan W. and the Carter Dog
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:17 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
> Hello list,
>
> I am new to this list, and I am thinking of getting a guide dog for when I
> go to college. The only problem I am having is convincing my parents that 
> a
> guide dog is a useful mobility tool.  As you can probably guess, that is a
> large obstacle. I am currently in high school, so I have to abide by my
> parent's wishes, or at least for now. What I am asking for is how best to
> explain to them, that guide dogs are useful mobility tools, that will
> enhance my independence rather than detract from it. I have given them
> literature, DVDs and have attempted to talk to them. Any instructional
> materiel finds its way into the circular file, and they change the subject
> when I talk to them. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
>
> Thanks
> Mark
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