[nagdu] Meghan Whalen: Attack on service dog points to need for responsibility

[Julie J.]

I don't know about the laws in Ohio, but laws won't prevent you from a 
dog attack.  People break perfectly good laws all the time.  Having the 
law allows the opportunity for consequences.  Hopefully those 
consequences are stiff enough that people will be motivated to follow 
the law. Usually though folks aren't thinking about fines and  jail 
timewhen they break laws.  They are thinking about how much fun they are 
having  or they aren't thinking at all.

Julie


On 12/16/2012 5:23 PM, Chantel Cuddemi wrote:
> This really makes me worry if Motley will get attacked.
>
> I'm not sure if there's a law in Ohio that protects service dogs from
> attack.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Janice Toothman
> Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 6:17 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Meghan Whalen: Attack on service dog points to need for
> responsibility
>
> That is horrible. I am studying the psychological effects of trauma in
> my counseling class this semester and I know that a single incident can
> cause symptoms of Postraumatic stress disorder.  While the first several
> weeks can be significantly distressing and the symptoms may persist for
> several months. But for a third of victims their symptoms can resolve on
> their own without clinical assistance after several months.
>
> Meghan, I know that this is a difficult time for you and your guide dog.
> I would suggest patience before deciding that he and you should no
> longer work as a team, because both of you need time to heal. However,
> you know the situation best.
>
> I also agree with Steve that we need to fight for legislation to protect
> our guide dogs from interference. This needs to be done in every state.
>
> Take Care,
> Janice
> On 12/15/2012 7:16 PM, Ginger Kutsch wrote:
>> Meghan Whalen: Attack on service dog points to need for responsibility
>>
>> Source:
>>
> http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/mailbag/meghan-whalen-attack-on-ser
> vice-dog-points-to-need-for/article_1c086292-4653-11e2-ada6-0019bb2963f4.htm
>> l
>>
>>
>>
>> I originally moved here to go to school, and I stayed because I fell in
> love
>> with the city. The vast majority of Madison residents are open-minded and
>>
>> respectful.
>>
>>
>>
>> I am blind, and it was a breath of fresh air to find a lack of people who
>> judged me based on my blindness or wanted to pet or otherwise interact
> with
>> my guide dog.
>>
>>
>>
>> But a serious issue came up recently. I was walking with my guide dog, and
>> an aggressive dog came out of its yard and attacked my dog. It was 30
>> seconds of terror for me as I tried to give my dog enough room to defend
>> himself or get away. I couldn't let him go, because I was on a busy
> street.
>> As a result of the attack, he has some bruising and swelling and one small
>> puncture wound.
>>
>>
>>
>> The physical trauma is upsetting enough, but my bigger concern is the
>> psychological trauma for my dog and myself. He is already showing signs of
>> being fearful of other dogs. He growls when he hears another dog bark, and
>> he is very jumpy. I am reluctant to work him for fear of how he may react
> if
>> we come across another dog on our walks.
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope that those who share their lives with dogs will do all they can to
> be
>> responsible. A few seconds of bad judgment may have cost my partner and
>> companion his career. He is not yet three years old, and we should have
> many
>> years ahead of us.
>>
>>
>>
>> - Meghan Whalen, Madison
>>
>>
>>
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