[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

Hope Paulos hope.paulos at gmail.com
Mon Jan 31 18:22:49 UTC 2011 

I don't know what to say either. As far as your opinion, Jordan, concerning working the dog more than once a week, I believe it should be up to the handler. There are several ways you can work the dog besides street work. For example doing obedience sessions a day. I live in a very rural environment and was advised on several follow ups that my road is unsafe. Should my dog be taken away from me because i can't take her for walks around my neighborhood? She is in excellent shape according to my school and vet. 

Sent from my iPod

On Jan 31, 2011, at 1:00 PM, "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:

> Jordan,
> 
> Oh my!  I don't know what to say.  First you tell Rebecca that what she chooses to do is out of your domain, but then proceed to tell her that retirement was the right choice.
> 
> Then what you suggest about leaving an infant unattended to take the dog for a walk is called neglect.  It is a very criminal offense, can land you in jail and will result in your child being placed in foster care.
> 
> Julie
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordan Gallacher" <jgallacher1987 at gmail.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
> 
> 
>> That is out of my domain to tell you what you should do, but you did the
>> right thing by retiring the dog.  It really comes down to some major time
>> management skills.  Placed in yuour shoes, I would have taken care of the
>> child, and once she is settled down, I would take a quick walk with the dog
>> to keep the dog's skills up.  I would say no more than 5 to 10 minutes.
>> Jordan
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)
>> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:17 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>> 
>> Logestically speaking, what  would you have a person do in the situation I
>> described to you? Have you ever cared for another human being? Do you know
>> what it takes on both a practical and emotional level? I retired my dog, but
>> assumming that there is a middle ground, how would you suggest I meet the
>> dog's needs and the human family member's needs while making sure that I
>> stay physically and emotionally healthy?
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Jordan Gallacher
>> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 12:09 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>> 
>> I will tell you right now that the dog's needs are just as important as
>> human needs.I don't care if you have a sick family member or not.  If you
>> get a dog, you need to take care of it.
>> Jordan-----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)
>> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:02 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>> 
>> Jordan,
>> 
>> First of all, a school with such an attitude can take their dog back. I
>> don't need or want a dog that badly.
>> Secondly, most people don't intend to only go out once a week with their
>> dog. I know I didn't. I got to the point with my daughter though that this
>> is what happened. You can't leave an infant home alone, and they sleep and
>> eat at times that the rest of the world does not. I found that my daughter's
>> bedtime was also my time to rest, and when I wasn't doing that, it was my
>> time to do laundry, hang with my husband, stay in touch with friends, play
>> on the computer, basically tasks I could do in my house. Getting a baby
>> ready to go out requires you pack up half the house. It isn't difficult, but
>> it is time consuming.
>> I found that it was easier and easier to just not take my dog because
>> getting the dog ready required yet even more planning, not much, but enough
>> that it did add up.
>> Also, add a kid that is sick to the mix and you have even more fun. And in
>> my case, these were garden variety illnesses, a stomach bug that lasted for
>> two or three days, an ear infection, and most recently a nasty case of RSV.
>> I left my house just once to take my daughter to the doctor. I was home
>> taking care of her during the day, and when my husband got home, you can bet
>> I wasn't wanting to go out anyplace. I was exausted from making sure my
>> daughter breathed properly, from giving her her breathing treatments,
>> monitoring her fever, making sure she drank and went potty, and that sort of
>> thing.
>> Please be a little kinder in your judgements. Most people are not out trying
>> to screw the system. And most people have to think of other things beyond
>> "what's best for the dog". The dog lives in a family and other family
>> members have needs that will at times trump the dog's needs.
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Jordan Gallacher
>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:28 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>> 
>> The only reason for not getting out with your dog is if you are injured or
>> if the weather is hazardous to the dog.  Well, in the latter, you shouldn't
>> even be out in it if the weather is that bad.  If you get a dog and only use
>> it once a week, that is a waste of time for the school and you and
>> eventually the school will find out.  Just remember that there are cameras
>> everywhere these days and it is highly possible that any thing ccan be
>> relayed to the school..
>> Jordan
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Cindy Ray
>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 3:20 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>> 
>> I think to say that someone should not have a dog if he/she gets out with it
>> once a week, or for whatever reason is extremely subjective and judgmental.
>> I think, though, if I got a dog and the school found that I was using that
>> dog as a pet and was rarely getting out with it or a ariety of other kinds
>> of things, it would be well within their right to not give me the
>> opportunity to have another from their school.
>> 
>> On Jan 30, 2011, at 3:00 PM, Jordan Gallacher wrote:
>> 
>>> Yes,. If you only use the dog once a week, you should not have the dog. .
>>> Jordan
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>>> Of Cindy Ray
>>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:56 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>>> 
>>> Jordan, you hae some pretty amazing ideas on other topics; yet you want
>> your
>>> school to have a year's right to remove your dog. First of all, how can it
>>> necessarily be proved that the dog isn't being used for the original
>>> purpose. Second, what is that. I mean, what kind of flexibility is there
>> in
>>> that statement. Let's say I get a dog but I only go out once a week. Is
>> that
>>> mishandling of the dog? In a way, yes, or at least it is poor stewardship
>>> because of the cost of training one. Should that dog be removed from me.
>>> People hae ideas that we are mistreating our dogs all of the time. Who is
>>> going to prove that I am. How are you going to determine if I am a valid
>>> user in a year if you haven't determined that by the time I leave. If word
>>> filters down that I sold the dog to a dog fighter or did something equally
>>> weird, and that word got out, I should never again be allowed to have
>>> another, and I guess I think it would even be fair if that was shared with
>>> other schools.
>>> 
>>> On Jan 30, 2011, at 2:40 PM, Jordan Gallacher wrote:
>>> 
>>>> No, the school needs to have a way to make sure that the dog is being
>> used
>>>> properly and have an easy way to take back the dog if need be.  You can
>> go
>>>> through the entire training process and get home and never use, mis
>>> handle,
>>>> etc the dog.
>>>> Jordan
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>>>> Of Nimer Jaber
>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:36 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>>>> 
>>>> Jordan,
>>>> 
>>>> I find this to be ludicrous. If the school trusted you enough after
>>>> their extensive app process to get you there, to train you, to hand
>>>> over the dog to you and allow you to leave their campus, surely they
>>>> can be comfortable enough to give you ownership? What is the point of
>>>> an application if they're not giving you ownership and they're going
>>>> to make sure that you take careo f your dog for a year? Shouldn't they
>>>> just do that instead of an application process lasting months,
>>>> requiring a home interview, countless references, etc etc? Just to
>>>> clarify, I agree with the interview process, I just find that the
>>>> schools retaining ownership to be silly. This would save them costs.
>>>> This would save them the headache. And as has already been pointed
>>>> out, we aren't children. If someone can't handle their dog, there are
>>>> channels that can be followed to get that animal removed.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks.
>>>> 
>>>> On 30/01/2011, Jordan Gallacher <jgallacher1987 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Here is how ownership should be.  The school should own the dog for no
>>>> more
>>>>> than the first year or until the school knows that the user is properly
>>>>> using the dog.
>>>>> Jordan
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Steven Johnson
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:04 PM
>>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users';
>>>> 'Blind
>>>>> Talk Mailing List'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>>>>> 
>>>>> Peter,
>>>>> 
>>>>> This is an interesting idea.  One thing that I don't believe you touched
>>>> on,
>>>>> or may have indirectly, is the issue of ownership which has been an
>>>> ongoing
>>>>> issue of discussion among the dog guide community and NAGDU for a very
>>>> long
>>>>> time.  This might be one way to at least bring this a little closer to
>>>>> creating something that addresses this.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Again, an interesting idea.  I will be eager to hear what others think.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Steve
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Peter Donahue
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:48 PM
>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>>> Cc: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 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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>>>>> et
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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