[nagdu] NFB and Dogs

[Lyn Gwizdak]

It is a myth that NFB hates guide dogs.  I think there was a time when the 
leadership and many members of NFB didn't like guide dogs because they used 
to think that the dogs were an easy way out of knowing how to get around 
totally on your own without the use of another's eyes, just you and your 
white cane.  They believed that the use of the long white cane was the only 
way to go.  NFB has the right idea about cane use - you need the skills you 
learn with the cane to sucessfully use a guide dog.  NFB's cane training 
can't be beat!

As you know, the public has misconceptions about exactly what a guide dog 
does for us and how we work with the dog.  they think the dog does all the 
mobility work and we hang on for the ride.  I think some of the NFB 
members - or members of any blindness group - have had the same ideas about 
guide dogs as the general public has.

I've been around the NFB sinse the mid ninties and I never saw NFB as an 
organization reject guide dogs.  There was an issue of the Braille Monitor 
in October 1998 that was a guide dog issue.  Many of the articles were 
written by people who didn't like dogs and some were quite negative towards 
guide dogs.  But, these were the opinions of the writers NOT the 
organization as a whole.

When I have gone to conventions, I found the CANE users to be a challenge to 
get around with as they had their very long canes all the way out so they 
got tripped over.  I found guide dog users who didn't pay attention to what 
their dog were doing.  I just see this as inconsiderate behavior on the part 
of both some cane users and some dog users and not the whole group.  There 
are many good, respectful cane users and dog users there.

Now, hope this will dispell the myth of NFB's dislike of guide dogs.  Now, 
if we can get rid of the NFB's homophobia.....hmmmmm?

Lyn and Landon
----- 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: Friday, August 12, 2011 3:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB and Dogs


> And what is it about dog handlers that strikes a nerve?
>
> Dan the man, Carter the nut
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Larry D. Keeler
> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 3:48 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] NFB and Dogs
>
> I recently joined our NFB chapter in Ann Arbor.  I had heard many myths
> about NFB not liking guide dog users.  So, of course the first meeting we
> went to Holly came as well!  I found out later that it isn't the dogs so
> much as the dog handlers that sometimes get on some folks nerves.  Holly 
> has
> been at meetings, board meetings and commission meetings.  Of course, she
> behaves better than most of us people.  She doesn't get involved in 
> politics
> unless food is involved!  Then whoever has the food gets her vote!
> Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
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