[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Mon Jan 30 19:30:19 UTC 2012

I'm not sure why somebody with very high vision would need a dog guide
and have said so in school.  Somebody and bodies were in training with
me and could see faces, identify cars and see the surrounding area
pretty clearly for well over 50 yards? I'm an honest person and didn't
hesitate to ask why the hell they were getting a dog.  Answers off list
only but I was not happy & hope they didn't get a dog guide.

There are waiting lists for people who are very low partials &/or
totally blind to get a dog guide so its not just a cut and dry "get a
dog". there is a evaluation & process for reasons mentioned above.

Hope I don't come across as brash but I have very strong feelings about
this topic.

From:	"Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
To:	"NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide
            Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date:	01/30/2012 12:58 PM
Subject:	Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
Sent by:	nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org

Good choice!  For me it was a case of the more the merrier!.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Melissa Pasron" <fuzzylucky2021 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions

> Thank you for giving me a different perspective. I am really trying to

> weigh the options before I make a decision. My current deciding factor
is
> that I currently have a pet dog and I don't know if I'll be ready to
do
> all the grooming and caring for two dogs. Not to mention if a guide
dog is
> right for me at the current moment. I think I'll just sit on the issue
for
> a while and think about it. I don't want to go rushing into a decision

> without giving it a lot of thought.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:37 AM, "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)"
> <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
>
>> In making your decision, think about what you most want to do when
you
>> return home from being out someplace. Do you want to spend time
grooming
>> and caring for a dog, and doing it every single day, or would you
rather
>> do something else.
>>
>> I worked two dogs. Then I had my daughter and found that all I wanted
to
>> do was hang out with her, especially after being at work all day.
Taking
>> care of the dog became more of a chore then something I enjoyed. And,
at
>> times it became very difficult to balance, baby wanted to eat or be
held,
>> dog needed to be brushed, you can't do both at the same time. And,
while
>> an obvious answer may be "get help with the baby" I enjoyed and still

>> enjoy taking care of her.
>> Think about how you'll feel when the dog wakes you up to go potty,
will
>> you be okay with it or will it mentally wear you out as "one more
thing I
>> have to do".
>>
>> What are your hobbies and are they comptible with a guide dog? You
can
>> always leave a cane, and a cane is easy to replace. Not true with a
dog.
>>
>> I have had a couple access issues. I can tell you that when that
happens,
>> the very first thought that goes through your head is "This really
f***s
>> up my plans".
>> I'll add that I like dogs. They are neat animals, and I think have
much
>> to teach us.  At times I miss having one.  On a day when the sun is
>> shinging, and it's 65 degrees, I'd love to take a guide dog and walk
on a
>> bike path, as the feeling of you being in synch with a dog is
amazing.
>>
>> Right now, I can't deal with the 24/7 nature of a guide dog.  I can't
do
>> it with a pet dog either.
>>
>> You can bring a guide dog anywhere, but you also need to plan on that

>> with food, water, rest, appropriate supervision, things like that.
It's
>> difficult to "just stay a bit longer" when you didn't plan on it and
>> don't have food for your dog.
>>
>> So, the answer is that it really depends. I offer my perspective
because
>> this list is made up of people who are currently using dogs and who
like
>> doing it.  It would be useful for you and others to have a different
>> perspective.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of melissa padron
>> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 10:35 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>> I am new to this list so I though I would just start off with an
>> introduction and then some questions.
>>
>> Well, first of all, my name is Melissa and although I am not a guide
dog
>> user I am a cane user. I'm in college pursuing a degree in psychology
and
>> I will be moving back to my hometown once I graduate. I'm considered
>> legally blind, so I do have vision.
>>
>> Because of the condition I have, I was not taught to use a cane until
my
>> senior year of high school. I actually had to fight in order to get
cane
>> lessons, but since then, I just about take my cane everywhere with
me. It
>> helps a lot more than using my vision and stressing my eyes....
>>
>> Now, some questions:
>>
>> I am not considering getting a guide dog now but I do want to keep it
as
>> an option if I decide that it would help me in my travels. So my
question
>> is, what was ultimately you deciding factor in getting a guide dog?
>> What are some advantages and disadvantages in using a guide dog?
>> For those of you who have vision, did you encounter problems with the

>> guide dog schools saying that a guide dog would not benefit you
because
>> you have "too much" vision?
>> Ultimately, this is my greatest fear. I'm scared of encountering
>> criticism by guide dog schools and "blindness professionals" about
>> whether a guide dog would benefit me or not. A lot of people with my
>> condition function well without a cane or a dog so would this be used

>> against me if I were to apply?
>>
>> I am looking forward to hearing your responses and advice.
>>
>> Melissa
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>
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