[nagdu] Victim or Advocate?

Wed Dec 28 19:15:32 UTC 2011

Guess folks see what they want, don't confuse rights with responsibilities, 
they are often quite different.

By the way, I can count on one hand the number of times in 35 years I have 
actually been refused admittance to anywhere where the public has a right to 
go.

Indeed, there are many folks who demand rights with acceptance of any 
responsibility on their part.  I just know I'll get a chance to flesh this 
out, but I'll let others take their broken ankled kicks at me first.

Doug: You actually expect me to pick that up?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:56 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Victim or Advocate?

Doug,
        I would like to address your comment that there are "some folks who
simply insist on finding a way to be a victim". If what you are implying is
that those who stand up against discrimination should not do so lest they be
viewed as a whining "victim", I could not disagree more vehemently! There
once was a time when it seemed reasonable to not allow black people to sit
in the front of the bus or to allow Jews into a place of business. The
arguments seemed reasonable but the logic was flawed.
    Though your message states that the concern over zoonotic diseases -
those that can cross between species - seems reasonable, what is reasonable
and what is legal can be very different. Keeping in mind that this message
concerns the practices in a foreign country and I do not know the laws of
that country, if such a thing were to happen in the United States, the test
would be proof that the presence of a service animal poses a direct threat
to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by a
modification of policies, practices, or procedures. In other words, there
would need to be scientific evidence that the threat of a zoonotic disease
is present and there is no way to eliminate that risk with the exception of
denying access to the service animal. To the best of my knowledge, such
evidence does not exist, as demonstrated by the many aquaria in the United
States that do not restrict access to service dogs. Or, perhaps, those
Bahamian sea mammals are different than the ones we have here in the United
States! I apologize for the sarcasm, but I believe what is unreasonable is
the idea that we should allow discrimination to go unconfronted.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Parisian" <eggmann at shaw.ca>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] updated information from the Bahamas

Sounds like totally reasonable thinking and accommodation to me.  Perhaps
there are some folks who simply insist on finding a way to be a victim.
Remember, those mentioned diseases are common to both dogs and some sea
creatures; they  can go both ways.

Doug; and we bled inside each other's wounds.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "travelandtourism" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>; "nagdu"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 10:43 AM
Subject: [nagdu] updated information from the Bahamas

I am cutting and pasting the information some were unable to read the whole
e-mail due to photo involvement.

To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.comCC: mwilliamson at bahamas.comSubject: Fw: Dolphin
Encounters- Service AnimalsFrom: EbSmith at bahamas.comDate: Wed, 28 Dec 2011
08:47:12 -0500Good Morning Mrs. Echevarria, I have forwarded the response
from Dolphin Encounters. Dr, Springer Chief Vet. from the Ministry of
Agriculture is in the process of writing various government agencies to find
out what the Bahamas legal polices are,in this matter. I will let you know
what his findings are. Regards
From:        "Latoya Rolle" <Latoya.Rolle at dolphinencounters.com> To:
<EbSmith at bahamas.com> Date:        12/20/2011 01:56 PM Subject:
Dolphin Encounters- Service Animals Good afternoon Ebian,   My apologies for
the very delayed response.   Dolphin Encounters Ltd. wanted to ensure that
we adhered to all rules and regulations stipulated by the Government of the
Bahamas as it relates to Service Animals.   Though Ms. Echevarria was
originally denied access to our beach side with her service animal we have
revisited our policy to ensure that we accommodate all guests travelling
with service animals to our beach, as long as we are given advanced notice.
However, these animals will not be allowed to enter the waters on Blue
Lagoon Island as it’s shared with all of our animals including the Sea
Lions.   With regards to dolphin and sea lion encounters please see the
below from our Director of Marine Mammals:   Dolphin Encounters is a world
class animal facility that provides interactive programs for guests to meet
dolphins or sea lions in an incredible in-water experience.  Our number one
priority is to ensure the utmost safety for both guests and animals in all
interactions.  We are accredited by both the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks
and Aquariums and the International Marine Animal Trainers Association.  We
strive to accommodate any guest that wishes to meet one of our marine
mammals. We are one of few facilities that provides water wheelchairs for
guests that are challenged, and all dolphins are trained to interact with
all behaviors for the guest in the wheelchair.   Our animals receive the
best of veterinary care with 4 physicals per year to ensure excellent health
(more than most humans!).  We have accommodated guests with service dogs for
many years, as long as prior notification is given when reservations are
made, as we do boat transfers and we must inform the boat department that
the dog is approved to board.  In 2006, the sea lions joined our animal
family.  Over the course of the last 5 years, we have had 4 sea lions born
at our facility.  At any given time, we have very young sea lions or
pregnant females.  Because dogs and sea lions are susceptible to some of the
same diseases, we as a facility, in discussion with our veterinary team,
made the decision that dogs are not allowed around our sea lion habitat.  I
realize that service dogs are traveling with health certificates, but we are
in a different country and with all the new viruses, bacteria’s and fungi
that develop yearly, we cannot be certain that something brought to the
facility could possibly be something our animals have never been exposed to
before.  Our animal health will always be our priority.  We will continue to
allow service dogs for those participating in the dolphin program as long as
there is someone to supervise the animal while the guest is in the water (a
paying guest).  Dogs will not be allowed in the water or on the platforms.
We reserve the right to ask that the dogs will not be allowed near the sea
lions.     Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.     Kind
regards,   Latoya Rolle Sales & Marketing Supervisor Dolphin Encounters Ltd.
Tele: 242-363-7167 Fax: 242-363-4437   www.dolphinencounters.com
www.bahamasbluelagoon.com

From: EbSmith at bahamas.com [mailto:EbSmith at bahamas.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 10:11 AM
To: Latoya Rolle
Subject: RE: 2nd E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location in the
Bahamas in reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines   Good
Morning, Hope all is well. I am still waiting on a response in this matter.
I got another email from Mrs. Cheryl Echevarria this morning.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

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