[nagdu] guide dog question for a 7 year old girl

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

We know Mira has had success with it, but do we know if these kids are happy?
I got my first dog when I was 18. I had two very good friends at the time who told me they were ok with me getting a dog. Both friendships cooled once I got my first dog. Neither friend could deal with my relationship with my dog.
I reconnected with both friends after I retired my last dog. One told me that he likes dogs but only from a distance. The other said he was jealous of my close bond with my dog.
Both send me very loving messages about that first dog. One remembers some very special moments where my first dog was present.
The friend who said he only likes dogs froma distance is going to spend Christmas with us this year. He meant what he said, he only likes dogs from a distance. It is nearly impossible to have a distant relationship with a guide dog.
This stuff was extremely difficult and painful to deal with as a teenager.  I wonder how a younger teen or a child would handle it. I wonder if its even fair to insist a child make that choice.
There are very real and highly emotional things to think about when someone gets a dog. An adult can freely make that choice, a child not so much.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 3:58 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog question for a 7 year old girl

I think MIRA's minimum age is 12.  I agree with Rebeka in thinking  7 is
too young to work with a guide dog. There are way too many obstacles,
life experience, self discipline, organization, self advocacy and on and
on.  I think it's a rare 12 year old who can successfully work a guide,
but MIRA has had success with it.

Julie


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