[nagdu] Apologies was Re: What would you do?

[Nicole B. Torcolini at Home]

I need to apologize for my post. I misunderstood the situation. Also, I was 
slightly misled by another response. My message should start with something 
to the affect that, if this person is actually doing this on purpose then...

----- 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: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 6:08 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] What would you do?


> *Ditto. Our dogs are a back up for drivers who don't heed signs and lights 
> or for when the driver is being careful but we just are not visible for 
> some reason or for some other freak accident, but you *do not* cross the 
> street by just wondering out into traffic like that. The school needs to 
> be notified, and the dog needs to be taken away if he is going to use 
> him/her like that. *
>
>
> This bothers me, a lot.  I don't know the man or the dog or the school or 
> the situation.   How then, is it possible to determine that he's 
> deliberately endangering himself and his dog?  I think as not only guide 
> dog handlers, but as humans we should be supporting one another.   Perhaps 
> he is experiencing some new health issue, hearing loss, dizziness or 
> mental confusion. Perhaps he doesn't even realize he is experiencing this 
> medical issue.  Perhaps he is doing the best he can with what he has. 
> Even if he is in a state of deep despair and is crossing deliberately at 
> the wrong time, wouldn't it be kinder to see if he is open to resources 
> that could assist him rather than punishing him further by taking the dog 
> away?
>
> Steve, I don't know what the best thing is to do.  I think if there is 
> anyone aware of the situation that has any sort of friendship with the man 
> that they might want to approach him from a place of kindness and concern 
> to first see if the man is aware of the seriousness of the situation and 
> then to help him get connected with resources that could help him.  If 
> there is no one that knows the man well, perhaps a casual conversation 
> around the man within his hearing but not directed at him, where you talk 
> about how you cross streets or a street crossing goof you made and how you 
> learned from it could help him.
>
> We all make mistakes.  We all have things that are scary for us.  We all 
> have things with which we do not excel.  However we do all have the 
> capacity for understanding and compassion.
>
> Julie
>
>
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