[nagdu] fidelco guide dogs, what do you think of this organization

Marion Gwizdala blind411 at verizon.net
Thu Aug 18 14:40:49 UTC 2011


    As the president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, I have 
had numerous stakeholders - consumers, staff members, donors, & volunteers - 
report to me that the current administration of Fidelco Guide Dogs for the 
Blind engages in behavior that can best be described as "bullying". 
Consumers have had their dogs and harnesses repossessed by Fidelco with no 
due process or explanation, have violated their written and verbal 
agreements, and have engaged in blatant disregard of basic human rights. 
Staff have been dismissed without explanation and there is at least one law 
suit currently pending against them by a former employee. When volunteers 
and donors have asked for explanations for some of these concerns, their 
services have been terminated.
    Fidelco's "owner Agreement", which I have attached to this message, has 
nothing in it that remotely resembles ownership. It gives Fidelco the right 
to repossess a consumer's dog at their sole and absolute discretion. They 
are not unwilling to do so and, as the article to which you refer 
demonstrates, will use false pretenses and surprise tactics to gain access 
to the dog for the purposes of repossession. The article illustrates one 
such issue, but is only one of several that has come to my attention. others 
who have contacted me are hesitant to tell their stories publicly for fear 
of retaliation and blacklisting, fears not unfounded.
    The only way we can make changes to the type of behavior in which 
Fidelco engages is to let stakeholders know these truths. In such a way, 
donors will withhold their contributions, volunteers will withhold their 
time, and consumers will refuse to subject themselves to the undignified 
behavior of Fidelco.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "reinhard stebner" <rwstebner at aol.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 9:40 AM
Subject: [nagdu] fidelco guide dogs, what do you think of this organization


> Good day to you,
>
> I just joined this list in hopes of getting opinions of Fidelco guide 
> dogs.
>
> 1) What have you thought  about Fidelco dogs?  I recently say a Braille 
> monitor article about one users bad experience with Fidelco.  I had 
> applied for a dog from them in February and was just approved to get a 
> guide from them.  After reading the article, I have doubts if I have made 
> the correct decision with attending this guide school.
>
> 2) All of the dogs that I have seen from this school have been very well 
> trained and respond well to their handlers.  I wanted a German Shepherd 
> and did not have time to go to a traditional school.  I have had poor 
> matches from other schools and wanted to give a smaller school a try.
>
> Any constructive feedback is welcome about guide dogs schools.  I want to 
> make sure I am making the best possible decision and not have issues with 
> he school.
>
>
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