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

[Meghan Whalen]

Thank you everyone for your sincere words of concern and support for me 
and my Dayton boy. The poor guy is pretty shaken up but slowly getting 
better.

He didn't even try to fight back. He just kept trying to get away, but 
she wouldn't back down. Her owner pulled her off and she broke away and 
got him again. I also had a young puppy in training with me, and I was 
at least able to pick her up and keep her safe. I am really hoping this 
experience was not traumatic enough to have long-term effects on either dog.

Thanks again for your kind words,
Meghan
On 12/17/2012 8:32 AM, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) wrote:
> Oh Meghan I am so sorry. This is heart-breaking.
> And your letter is very well written.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch
> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2012 7:16 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Meghan Whalen: Attack on service dog points to need for responsibility
>
> 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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