[nagdu] researching programs

[Linda Gwizdak]

Marion,
Too bad people like that ruin it all for the rest of us - I remember that 
case. But this guy showed us that we are all people and are all kinds of 
people regardless of disability! (grin!)

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:44 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] researching programs


>    There was a case a few years back in which the Court declared a guide 
> dog a "dangerous animal" because it mauled a Pomeranian. NAGDU and the NFB 
> took on the case until the owner publicly declared that he had retired the 
> dog for health reasons not related to the attack. We took on the case 
> because we truly believed the dog was acting in a reflexive, protective 
> manner. The handler and the dog entered a medical office that had the pet 
> there. The Pomeranian acted aggressively toward the guide dog and the dog 
> protected the team. Unfortunately, the handler was a very loose cannon and 
> continues to be so! After investing $5000 in his legal fees, we dropped 
> the case and he threatened to sue us for breach of contract! "You don't 
> know who you're dealing with!" were his last words to me! "I do know who 
> we are dealing with!" I replied. "This is why we are baqcking out!"
>    BTW, he called me again about six months ago asking for some sort of 
> help with an issue he was having. When all I said in reply was "Good 
> luck!" he uttered a few obsenities and hung up!
>    I say all of this to illustrate that animal control will take action 
> when they feel they have solid evidence and can demonstrate criminal 
> intent, whether or not the person is disabled!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 2:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] researching programs
>
>
>> Rebecca asks: Can you describe a scenario where animal control would 
>> think a
>> person
>> was fine with a guide dog, but where a school would want to take the dog
>> away?
>>
>> Good question or premise for a discussion. Let me think on it to develop 
>> a
>> valid scenario. I do want to note though that most animal control 
>> officers
>> who receive complaints or investigate issues involving service animals 
>> are
>> not "fine" with the person possibly neglecting or mistreating the dog. 
>> There
>> are limitations to what they can bring to court in terms of prosecuting
>> someone and just like police officers, if they bring too many cases that
>> aren't founded on solid evidence and things that fall under the animal
>> cruelty statutes, they will only gain a bad reputation with the judge and
>> probably some kind of disciplinary action. The judge will just toss out 
>> the
>> cases and everyone gets frustrated.
>>
>> So, even when they would like nothing better than to take a dog out of a 
>> bad
>> situation, service animal or not, they really have to consider how it 
>> will
>> play out in court and what steps they will need to take to get a 
>> conviction
>> under the statutes to stick.
>>
>> Imagine the PR nightmare if the blind person, who is indeed guilty of 
>> some
>> level of animal cruelty and has had his/her dog taken,  decides to go for
>> the heartstrings in the media. If the school is less than responsive in 
>> its
>> handling of the issue, the locals get hung out to dry.
>>
>> Never an easy situation in these cases, eh?
>>
>> Jenine Stanley
>> jeninems at wowway.com
>>
>>
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>
>
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