[nagdu] Dogs At Work

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Marion,
That's great that GDF stills teaches leash guiding.  I remember that from 
the '70s when I got my first two dogs from GDF.

At our blind center, I keep Landon in harness as most of the other guide dog 
users do.  This keeps the dogs behaving well.  Our rules are that the dog 
must be on leash with the person or tied to a table when we step away from 
the table we're at for a class or meeting.  Our executive director has 
sometimes violated this rule herself and her dog almiost wwent outside with 
no harness or leash on the dog - that is, the dog was alone and the person 
was in her office and didn't even know that her dog went out in the lobby 
and was almost let outside by some people leaving the building.  I chewed 
her out and just got a goofy grin in response.  Whatever...

I have another friend who worked in a hospital.  She allowed her dog to be 
loose in the confines of the department where she worked and also in her 
office.  She allowed her dog to be loose in the classroom with her diabetes 
support group AFTER getting permission from all concerned. The partients 
LOVED that dog.  So did the other people in the offices. Then, during my 
friend's last year of employment there - before she retired - the dog was 
confined to a crate in her office.  The neew office manager hated dogs but 
knew she had to allow the guide dog.  Things became negative there and my 
friend retired at the right time.  And the dog loving workers miss getting 
visits by my friend's dog.  The dog was well behaved at all times and 
provided some comic relief to both patients and staff - until the crappy 
manager came along to spoil things!

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dogs At Work


> Mark,
>    I don't work in a traditional ofice. In fact, my office is in my home. 
> However, I once did work in an office and would take my dogs harness off. 
> If I needed to move around the office, I would either use a cane or, 
> frequently, go without, similar to what one does at home. I knew the 
> office layout very well and everyone knew I was blind.
>    As for ADA protections, the harness is not what makes a service dog a 
> service dog. Whether or not you have your dog in harness is irrelevant. If 
> your employer has made a reasonable accommodation, the fact that your dog 
> is or is not in harness doesn't change that. This is true in public 
> places, as well. Your guide dog is always a service dog, whether in 
> harness or not. It's training is what makes it a service dog, not it's 
> harness. You have the right to be accompanied by a service dog.
>    I often go for leisurely walks with my dog out of harness. I sometimes 
> decide to stop at the grocery or drug store to pick something up while I 
> am out and I don't concern myself with whether or not my dog is in 
> harness. Furthermore, my dog has been trained to leash guide, so he will 
> guide me whether in harness or not. HTH!
>
> fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 5:42 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Dogs At Work
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> Just another quick question for all you more experienced guide dog 
>> handlers. When you are at work, do you leave your dog in harness, or do 
>> you take your dog's harness off. I'm talking about when you are sitting 
>> at a desk and not moving around.
>>
>>
>>
>> I work two 8 hour shifts a week and I take my dog out of harness, because 
>> I am sitting at a desk the entire time, and I think it is unnecessary for 
>> your dog to be in harness when he is just sitting quietly under your 
>> desk...
>>
>>
>>
>> Another part of this question. What is the legal answer? There is 
>> obviously a "no pets" policy at my work. Am I still covered by the ADA 
>> and other such laws if I remove the harness once at my desk?
>>
>>
>>
>> No one has complained, but with my luck it is only a matter of time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
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>
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