[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

[d m gina]

Hi Peter,
I enjoyed your post very much,m and agree with you.
I would like to see more information to know what is happening.
Not all of us can train our own dogs, and if we did, then the schools 
would be scarce in knowing how to get persons back to them.
I understand  the rules of the schools to a point, but am always glad 
to get back home to do what I enjoy the most.
I understand that they have to get so much done during the stay of the 
person in training, where I feel the rush rush after awhile gets to me.
I do hope we will learn more in time what on earth took place, so we 
know what to fight for.

Original message:

> Hello everyone,

>     The situation Marion posted about concerning Fidelco's removal of dogs
> from graduates without detailed bonified reasons for doing so along with
> other issues concerning the treatment of students in training and gradutes
> of guide dog programs is leading me to believe that perhaps the best way to
> address them is through legislation I'll refer to as a "Guide Dog Handler's
> Bill of Rights." Such legislation would require guide dog programs among
> other things to give valid reasons for the removal of someone's dog and an
> appeals  procedure to be put in place should a guide dog handler feel he/she
> has been wrongly accused of mistreatment of the dog. Yes it's true there are
> irresponsible guide dog handlers among us just as there are irresponsible
> individuals in our society. This is no reason to treat the blind like
> children.

> The failure of Fidelco to give the graduate in question valid reasons for
> the removal of the dog is a situation we should not tolerate and need to put
> a stop to. Leader Dogs has also behaved in a similar way towards its
> graduates. If memory serves me correctly a Leader Dog Graduate's dog was
> removed from them during a recent national convention. And as I recall there
> was insufficient reasons for the removal of that dog from its handler.

>     A Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights could require all guide dog programs
> to give their graduates full ownership of their dogs upon successful
> completion of their programs. I emphasize the word "Successful."

>         Another issue the legislation could address is communication between
> guide dog handlers and puppy raisers. In most cases this isn't an issue.
> Sadly there is at least one U.S. guide dog organization that refuzes to
> offer their graduates and puppy raisers the opportunity to communicate
> directly with each other. The Seeing Eye only permits communication between
> the two parties through the school. It removes all contact information from
> correspondence from notes passed between the two parties. Such a custodial
> practice also subjects both parties to censorship of such correspondence by
> the school. Has this organization and others that may have similar practices
> forgotten that they're dealing with adults who must learn to manage their
> life's affairs including how communication between themselves and their
> dog's puppy raiser will occur if it does at all. This decision should rest
> with the parties in question and not the dictates of a guide dog program
> that thinks it is doing the right thing when in reallity it is doing more
> harm than good.

>     A guide dog handler's Bill of Rights would require guide dog programs to
> establish procedures for facilitating direct communication between its
> graduates and puppy raisers and would prohibit the removal of contact
> information it may pass between them.

>     A number of Seeing Eye graduates have discussed this matter with the
> school only to receive one excuse after another. And oh yes. As was told to
> Marion by Fidelco concerning the graduate who's dog was wrongly removed the
> same old fashion voodoo about confidentiality and privacy are touted
> concerning direct communication between puppy handlers and guide dog school
> graduates. Programs like the Seeing Eye and others with similar practices
> would do well to enter the new Milennium on this matter or face the
> possibility of a legislative mandate to do so. Guide dog handlers have a
> right to learn about their dog's up-bringing. Who best to provide that
> information than the dog's puppy raiser.

>     One Seeing Eye Instructor told me that when one adopts a child contact
> information for the child's former parents is withheld. The same should be
> done in the case of guide dog puppy raisers and SE'S graduates. I wouldn't
> be pressed to want such information from an adoption agency in the first
> place. As the child becomes a part of the family and begins to share his/her
> background I'd have a way to get the information I need to be a more
> effective parent. A dog is unable to communicate such information to its
> owner. I have had guide dogs from several guide dog schools and had no
> issues with communication between myself and the dog's raiser. I have very
> specific requirements any future guide dog program would need to me if I'm
> to seek training from them. Because all guide dog programs have one less
> then desireable practice or another switching schools to address the puppy
> raiser communication issue is not an option. No self-respecting blind
> individual should be put in such a predicament. Let's make sure graduates of
> all guide dog programs have the opportunity to communicate directly with
> their dog's puppy family if they choose to do so.

>     These are just two issues a "Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights" could
> address. I'm sure folks on these lists can think of more. It's an idea worth
> considering to help put an end to practices many of us find demeaning and
> offensive. Thanks for reading.

> Peter Donahue




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