[nagdu] Embarrassing moments with our dogs

Lyn Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Tue Mar 1 01:04:06 UTC 2011 

Hi Lisa,
Don't be embarrased about Bernie pulling his stunts!  He's still young - and 
you are still considered a new team.  I had to put the headcollar on Landon 
so much for the first YEAR that I had him.  Distractable - good grief!!! 
LOL!  I still have to put the headcollar on him at times.

Sometimes, he STILL embarrasses me!  This past November - mind you, I've had 
Landon for three years - and he did something I wanted to melt into the 
floor over! Landon and I were at an awards dinner where Landon and I got the 
Volunteer of the Year Award from our Democratic Party club.  I was talking 
to my State Senator and Landon "molested" her by sticking his nose right 
into her crotch!  She squealed in surprise and I probably was quite red in 
the face - and I apologised to her.  Later on that night, we encountered the 
State Senator again and this time Landon greeted her like a gentleman and 
she accepteed his "apology".  And we laughed about the incident - she is a 
dog person as well.

So, yeah, dogs are like kids and we never know what they'll pull at times. 
Bernie's a great dog and he still needs to mature, that's all.

Take care.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Hold the med. community more 
accountable--therapyandemotional support animals - leaping lizzards


> Lyn, your remarks are the "voice of reason" in a sometimes unreasonable 
> environment, including the stiff-necked owner of the store down town that 
> denied you and Landon access  a few months back.
>
> My guide, Bernie, has been out of school for a little more than four 
> months. I get embarrassed and frustrated when he lunges at mini and medium 
> sized dogs; even after a high collar correction, , and les and less when 
> the prong collar is applied as a last resort. Beyond this work in progress 
> tendency, he melts into his environment.
>
> Lisa and Bernie
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 10:40 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Hold the med. community more accountable--  
> therapyandemotional support animals - leaping lizzards
>
>
>>I remember when I lived in Boston in the 1970s, we went to a Watertown 
>>restaurant and the waitress was going to deny me access with my dog.  She 
>>said, "The last time we had one of those [guide dog], it stunk so bad and 
>>we asked them to leave."  I said that I wasn't that person and dog and my 
>>dog was clean and wwell behaved.  this was before the ADA and we just had 
>>state laws t protect our access.  the waitress let us in and there was no 
>>more problem.
>>
>> Yes, we all get judged based on what someone else does.  Don'tcha know 
>> that we are all the same person regardless of race, gender, size. 
>> Someone is a jerk and thus ALL blind people must be jerks.  I hate that 
>> and I make sure I'm not that person to make someone be negative towards 
>> another blind person.
>>
>> I think that along with our rights, there's our RESPONSITBILITY to make 
>> sure our dogs are clean, healthy, quiet, and wwell behaved.  Our dogs are 
>> supposed to be somewhat unobtrusive in public places.  So many people are 
>> so surprised when I get up from a table in a restaurant and they see the 
>> dog and they exclaim, "I didn't know a dog was under there!!!"  And they 
>> comment on his good behavior and looks!
>>
>> I think that woman was totally wrong to bring an elderly, obviously ill, 
>> dog to that grooup.  It stunk because it was unwell. In one of my groups, 
>> one of the guys brings his little Chihuahua to the meetings sometimes. 
>> that little dog runs around the table greeting everyone.  But that dog is 
>> a real joy because she's so cute and quiet.  She is even good with Landon 
>> and he wishes he can come up on the table to join litle Lilly who I 
>> dubbed Miss Piggy because she is all white with a little pink pig nose! 
>> So cute. All of us enjoy this little dog's visits.
>>
>> After Lilly's visits, she curls up in her owner's arms and snoozes for 
>> the rest of the meeting.  And Landon snoozes and dreams under the table 
>> at my feet.
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 9:00 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Hold the med. community more accountable-- therapy 
>> andemotional support animals - leaping lizzards
>>
>>
>>> I'd really like to hear from Toni Eames on this one. I know it's far 
>>> easier to speculate the necessity to regulate therapy and emotional 
>>> support dogs. I'm guessing it has been done because of reasons beyond my 
>>> recognition.
>>>
>>> I participated in a support group a while back where a woman brought her 
>>> very  ancient   and stinky wiener dog. It walked across the table and 
>>> stopped to visit everyone. I dreaded the dog's visits because it stunk 
>>> so much. Even a well behaved guide dog that reeks can be  denied access. 
>>> From my perspective it's so arbitrary and random to prescribe an animal 
>>> to make some one "FEEL" better, secure, calm etc. I'm guessing if 
>>> there's any regulating to be done with therapy and emotional support 
>>> dogs, it won't occur until the next time the ADA is re visited.
>>>
>>> From, Lisa and Bernie.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 6:59 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hold the medicalcommunity responsible- leaping 
>>> lizzards
>>>
>>>
>>>> Lisa,
>>>>
>>>> I have no clue what the answer is, but it is clear that way too many 
>>>> people are either way confused about what is a service animal or they 
>>>> have a clue and choose to do whatever it is they want to do anyway.
>>>>
>>>> A prescription for a dog does seem a bit foolhardy to me though.  A dog 
>>>> isn't a prescription, I totally agree with you on that account. 
>>>> Prescriptions are regulated and there are very strict standards.  No 
>>>> matter what pharmacy you go to or which brand you purchase you are 
>>>> guaranteed to get the exact dosage on your prescription.
>>>>
>>>> This isn't the case with a dog.  What happens if a mental health 
>>>> practitioner prescribes a dog, the client goes to the pound, adopts 
>>>> one, brings it home and the beast turns out to be cujo?  What happens 
>>>> if this experience causes the client's mental health to decline?  What 
>>>> happens if injuries occur, either physical or mental?  Is the 
>>>> practitioner accountable?
>>>>
>>>> I am very interested to see how the recent changes to the ADA will play 
>>>> out. It will be several years before we'll notice anything I think. 
>>>> Hopefully limiting service animals to dogs and mini horses will reduce 
>>>> the level of craziness.
>>>>
>>>> I still say that ultimately it is the behavior of the animal that needs 
>>>> to be answered for.  And that is some seriously bad grammar! LOL
>>>>
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 4:14 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hold the medicalcommunity responsible- leaping 
>>>> lizzards
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> It seems to me that part of the solution to limiting the plethora of 
>>>>> therapy and emotional support dogs is to create accountability within 
>>>>> the medical community. Mental health professionals and doctors 
>>>>> understand people not dogs. Some of the medical community can 
>>>>> prescribe medication. Therapy and emotional support dogs do not 
>>>>> constitute a prescription. For those of us who choose to go through 
>>>>> formal training at a guide dog school we have jump through many hoops. 
>>>>> Why not design similar hoops for patients and their mental health 
>>>>> providers to work through?  I realize this is not the solution for 
>>>>> everyone, especially for those who self train their dog.
>>>>>
>>>>>>From Lisa and Bernie al Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 6:49 AM
>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Leapin' Lizards! Service Animals Are Multiplying 
>>>>> LikeDoggone Rabbits
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Leapin' Lizards! Service Animals Are Multiplying Like Doggone
>>>>>> Rabbits
>>>>>> Skippy the Iguana Keeps His Owner Calm, But Therapy Dog Maxx Is
>>>>>> an Impostor.
>>>>>> By ANN ZIMMERMAN
>>>>>> Wall Street Journal
>>>>>> February 24, 2011
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rhonda Kimmel's 11-year-old West Highland terrier, Maxx, goes
>>>>>> with her everywhere-to the mall, restaurants and even to the
>>>>>> bank.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cosmie Silfa relies on an unusual companion to help him stay
>>>>>> clean and sober: Skippy, a four-year-old iguana. But changes to
>>>>>> the Americans with Disabilities Act could decertify Skippy as an
>>>>>> official service animal. WSJ's Clare Major reports.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What gives Maxx entree to places normally off-limits to canines
>>>>>> and other animals is the embroidered, purple vest he sports. It
>>>>>> says: "Therapy Dog Maxx."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maxx is a lot of things, including well-behaved, and he is a
>>>>>> faithful companion. What he is not, however, is a therapy dog or
>>>>>> a service dog, and Ms. Kimmel is not disabled.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Still, Ms. Kimmel says the vest, which she purchased online, no
>>>>>> questions asked, makes people think otherwise, so they don't
>>>>>> object to Maxx. "They know they are not supposed to ask," Ms.
>>>>>> Kimmel says, alluding to the federal law that protects people
>>>>>> with service animals from inquiries about the nature of their
>>>>>> disability.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The various uses for service animals, particularly dogs, have
>>>>>> expanded in recent years beyond the traditional tasks of helping
>>>>>> blind and deaf people get around safely. Dogs now are used to
>>>>>> help people detect the onset of seizures, alert diabetics when
>>>>>> their glucose levels drop too low, and remind psychiatric
>>>>>> patients to take their medicine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> View Full Image
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brian L. Frank for The Wall Street Journal
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cosmie Silfa says his iguana, Skippy, is a bona-fide service
>>>>>> animal-and to buttress his point, he carries around a letter from
>>>>>> his psychiatrist.
>>>>>> .But the trend also means that there are many more ways to game
>>>>>> the system-so pet lovers need never be without their companions,
>>>>>> even if the rules say they should leave the shih tzu at home.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Last summer, after Ocean Park, Md., resident Joseph Wayne Short
>>>>>> began walking Hillary, his four-foot-long iguana on the
>>>>>> boardwalk, the city council passed an ordinance prohibiting
>>>>>> undomesticated animals from mingling with the public, according
>>>>>> to City Solicitor Guy Ayres.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mr. Short fought back. He plunked down $64 to place Hillary on
>>>>>> the Internet-based National Service Animal Registry, a private
>>>>>> company that, among other things, sells service-animal
>>>>>> credentials.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maxx
>>>>>> .On the company website, where Hillary's picture and registration
>>>>>> number is displayed, it says under service type: unspecified. But
>>>>>> Mr. Short, who couldn't be reached for comment, has told people
>>>>>> that Hillary keeps him calm.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "The gentleman claimed that the iguana was his service animal, so
>>>>>> I am not sure the police looked into it further," Mr. Ayres says.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The registry didn't return repeated phone calls for comment.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cosmie Silfa, in San Francisco, also has a "service iguana." His
>>>>>> name is Skippy. Mr. Silfa takes him on the bus and walks him in a
>>>>>> local park.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "He cradles him like a baby, a big scary baby," says Roy Mair,
>>>>>> who works the front desk of the subsidized housing unit where Mr.
>>>>>> Silfa lives. Mr. Silfa says what qualifies Skippy as a service
>>>>>> animal is a letter from the psychiatrist who has been treating
>>>>>> Mr. Silfa for depression. The letter says Skippy "helps him to
>>>>>> maintain a stable mood."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fearing a backlash, advocates for the disabled last fall
>>>>>> successfully lobbied the Department of Justice to narrow the
>>>>>> definition of service animals.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Beginning March 15, the Americans With Disabilities Act will only
>>>>>> recognize dogs as service animals. The new regulations include a
>>>>>> provision that says the public must accommodate, where
>>>>>> reasonable, trained miniature horses as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The new rules are an effort to "stop erosion of the public's
>>>>>> trust, which has resulted in reduced access for many individuals
>>>>>> with disabilities who use trained service animals that adhere to
>>>>>> high behavioral standards," according to a Justice Department
>>>>>> spokeswoman.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Department of Transportation, too, tried to crack down on
>>>>>> dubious service animals on planes, but that created more problems
>>>>>> than it solved.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "It's a mess," says Toni Eames, president of the International
>>>>>> Association of Assistance Dog Partners.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The DOT attempted to weed out passengers pretending their pets
>>>>>> were service animals in order to avoid having to ship them as
>>>>>> cargo or, in the case of smaller animals, to keep them in a
>>>>>> carrier at their feet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The new rules allow animals that aid people with physical
>>>>>> disabilities to board a plane freely. The only question airline
>>>>>> personnel are allowed to ask is how the animal assists the
>>>>>> person.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But passengers who want to board with psychiatric or
>>>>>> emotional-support animals must contact the airline 48 hours
>>>>>> before departure and submit a letter from a licensed
>>>>>> mental-health professional that documents their mental or
>>>>>> emotional illness.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mental-health advocates are outraged and have petitioned the
>>>>>> Transportation Department to get rid of the new regulation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "We are forced to disclose we are mentally ill in order to fly.
>>>>>> It's un-American," says Joan Esnayra, president of the
>>>>>> Psychiatric Service Dog Society. "Everyone with a service dog
>>>>>> should be treated the same."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What's more, the new rules do little to get rid of the fakers.
>>>>>> "If people are clever and they have a well-behaved dog, they know
>>>>>> just what to say to get their dog on board," says Ms. Eames. "Or
>>>>>> they can get a friendly psychologist to write a note."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's risky for businesses to deny access to people accompanied by
>>>>>> service dogs-even if they think they are pretending to be
>>>>>> disabled-because if suspicions prove to be unfounded, a business
>>>>>> could face civil penalties of up to $55,000 for violating a
>>>>>> person's civil rights.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The new ADA rules might keep service iguanas Hillary and Skippy
>>>>>> off the streets, should the authorities choose to clamp down. Mr.
>>>>>> Silfa, Skippy's owner, says that would make him sad.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "The natural sunlight is very good for him," Mr. Silfa says. "But
>>>>>> I guess I'll have to cross that bridge if I get to it."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rhonda Kimmel, owner of "Therapy dog Maxx," says she hates to
>>>>>> "take advantage." But she lives in such a hot climate, she argues
>>>>>> that the only place Maxx can get some decent summer exercise is
>>>>>> in the air-conditioned mall.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Still, she says she knows when to draw the line. She recently was
>>>>>> to meet with her lawyer, whose building doesn't allow dogs. So
>>>>>> Ms. Kimmel, the lawyer and Maxx held their meeting outdoors.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "I know I was pushing it and I didn't want to start a fight,"
>>>>>> says Ms. Kimmel. "It's not like I'm blind or something."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Write to Ann Zimmerman at ann.zimmerman at wsj.com
>>>>>> URL:
>>>>>> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487036521045761224611
>>>>>> 80284204.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_ahed
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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