[nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

Jessica Pitzer rolosgirl at gmail.com
Sun May 2 19:52:35 UTC 2010


Hi all,
following is an email I received in response to an email I sent to my
local lions club about asking for help with some of the costs of owner
training. I'm.. not quite sure how to feel right now except baffled as
we have some many owner trainers and I just embarked on this journey
myself.
Thoughts?
On 5/2/10, Rosemary Richert <rosemary at richertnet.com> wrote:
> Hi Bert,
>
> It is highly unusual, and questionably irresponsible, for someone to train
> their own guide dog.  The state only recognizes service animals which have
> been professionally trained.  Any other such dogs may be banned from places
> which would otherwise allow access to service animals.  Necessary training
> of the dog is very comprehensive and time consuming.  And, subsequently,
> training of the blind person with the dog is, also, very comprehensive and
> time consuming.  For the person's training, alone, three weeks of on-site
> training with the animal determined best suited to their needs is required.
> The blind person needs to prove their orientation and mobility skills before
> even being accepted into a training program.  Without proof of the adequacy
> of those skills, they will not be accepted.
>
> I served on the Board of Directors of Leader Dogs for the Blind for four
> years, and am the person who convinced the facility to become trainers for
> the blind/deaf community...to the best of my knowledge, it remains the only
> facility with qualified instructors of deaf/blind individuals.  I tell you
> this, so that you may understand that I have a credible background in these
> matters, and know whereof I speak.  I would strongly caution your Lions
> club, or any other Lions club, about considering involvement with a person
> who thinks they can train a guide dog for the blind on their own.
> Involvement under such circumstances could come back to haunt an otherwise
> well-meaning club.  It would make much more sense for this person to be
> screened as to qualifications; and, if qualified, be sponsored to a
> recognized service do training program.
>
> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>
>
>
> God bless.
>
>
>
> With Lionism at Heart, ©
>
>
>
> PDG Rosemary




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