[nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs

Wed Jul 25 19:37:28 UTC 2012

I've heard that as well.  I wonder how they'd explain the amount of wagging 
I get when I bring the harness out. and also the way she sits in front of 
the door when I don't take her with me!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chantel Cuddemi" <jawsgirl87 at gmail.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs


>A classmate of mine from Pilot told me that he was stopped once by a person
> from Peta and he said that they said he was abusing his dog by having him 
> in
> that leather harness.
>
> Peta is really crazy for thinking we're  abusing our dogs by working them 
> in
> harness.
>
> Motley enjoys working when he's in harness. A lot of people here in
> Cincinnati understand that he's a guide dog and know not to pet him. 
> They've
> never told me at all that I am abusing Motley by working him in the 
> harness.
>
>
> I really wish Peta would really change their way of thinking on this.
>
> Just my thoughts,
>
> Chantel and Pilot Dog Motley, poodle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Larry D. Keeler
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 3:10 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs
>
> Not just PETA does that!  I corrected Holly at the church one day because
> she decided to sniff, look and generally block the door just before mass. 
> I
>
> corrected her nd my mother-in-law got really bent out of shape.  Holly did
> let the line threw though!
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 2:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs
>
>
>>I had a lady just really go off on me because I corrected Fisher from
>>goingunder a table in a restaurant !sniff out and eat crumbs. Pretty
>>amazing what they do.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jul 25, 2012, at 11:34 AM, "Margo and Arrow" 
>> <margo.downey at verizon.net>
>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> also, how about the times Peta and other radical animal rights groups 
>>> set
>
>>> animals free who haven't lived in the wild and the animals die.  How
>>> about the fact that they have been known to actually kill animals.
>>>
>>> these groups have all the answers and don't listen to reason.
>>>
>>> Margo and Arrow
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Hicks"
>>> <bob at seeinghandassociation.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 9:23 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Marion.  Excellent job explaining our stance and that of our loving
>>>> and dedicated partners!  Yeah!  thanks
>>>>
>>>> Best regards,
>>>>
>>>> Bob Hicks
>>>> Access Technology Specialist
>>>> Seeing Hand Association, Inc.
>>>> 304-232-4810
>>>> <bob at seeinghandassociation.com>
>>>> ----- 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: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 7:32 AM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> William,
>>>>>   I am of the belief that no amount of factual information can 
>>>>> overcome
>
>>>>> the irrational ignorance of those who have radical beliefs. In their
>>>>> strive for "ethical treatment of animals", PETA ignores the 
>>>>> fundamental
>
>>>>> fact that dogs are happiest when they have a job to do, especially the
>>>>> working breeds that are used as guide dogs. In the past, they have
>>>>> promulgated a great deal of misinformation and, in spite of our
>>>>> providing them with accurate information, hold fast to their radical
>>>>> beliefs.
>>>>>   Pasted below is a response to PETA I wrote in january 2009 in
>>>>> response to some of their radical, misinformed assertions about how
>>>>> guide dogs are treated.
>>>>>
>>>>>   Dear Ms. Nachminovitch,
>>>>>   As the President of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, a
>>>>> strong and proud division of the National Federation of the blind, I
>>>>> felt compelled
>>>>> to respond to your very misinformed comments about guide dogs. The
>>>>> biggest problem we face as blind people is the misunderstanding and
>>>>> lack of information
>>>>> that exists. This is true about guide dogs, as well. It is unfortunate
>>>>> that you choose to promulgate the myths that create barriers to our
>>>>> full inclusion
>>>>> in society on terms of equality. It is also unfortunate that you
>>>>> compromise the integrity of People for the Ethical Treatment of 
>>>>> animals
>
>>>>> by making such
>>>>> foolish assertions. By doing so, you call into question the veracity 
>>>>> of
>
>>>>> any valid information published by PETA.
>>>>>   In an effort to set the record straight, guide dogs are not "kept in
>>>>> harness 24/7". The truth is that guide dogs are only in harness when
>>>>> they are working.
>>>>>   As to your assertion that our dogs are virtually disposed of when
>>>>> they are no longer able to "serve" their handlers, the fact is that,
>>>>> more often than
>>>>> not, our dogs live out their lives with their blind caretakers. As an
>>>>> example, my previous guide dog worked until he was fourteen years old
>>>>> and lived out
>>>>> the remainder of his sixteen years with me. My current guide will soon
>>>>> be twelve years old and is enjoying her semi-retirement by lying under
>>>>> my dining
>>>>> room table on the cold tile floor where she loves to lie.
>>>>>   As for your statement that guide dogs are never given the 
>>>>> opportunity
>
>>>>> to romp and play, my guide dog plays with the two other dogs in our
>>>>> household
>>>>> and with the guide dogs of my blind colleagues on a regular basis.
>>>>>   Petting a guide dog is discouraged while it is working, as doing so
>>>>> is a distraction to its work; however, when the harness is off, my
>>>>> family, especially
>>>>> my three-year-old granddaughter, is welcome - even encouraged - to pet
>>>>> and play with my guide dog.
>>>>>   PETA would also like the public to believe that guide dogs are 
>>>>> forced
>
>>>>> against their wills to work for a blind person because that promotes
>>>>> its radical
>>>>> agenda. The truth is that it further demonstrates PETA's ignorance of
>>>>> canine behavior. Dogs are, by nature, pack animals and each animal in 
>>>>> a
>
>>>>> pack has
>>>>> a job. Guide dogs enjoy their work and become excited when the harness
>>>>> is presented to them! My guide dog comes running when the harness is
>>>>> taken off its
>>>>> hook by the door and slips her head into it, excited at the adventure
>>>>> to come! unlike the pet that stays at home with absolutely nothing to
>>>>> do - quite
>>>>> contradictory to the nature of a dog - our animals get to spend most 
>>>>> of
>
>>>>> their time with their "alpha dog"! By the way, my dog doesn't care if
>>>>> anyone else
>>>>> pets her because I give her all the love and attention she could ever
>>>>> want! Furthermore, when the weather is bad or the place i am going is
>>>>> not conducive
>>>>> to my guide, she stays at home where she again, lies in her "cave"
>>>>> under the dining room table and probably romps and plays with our 
>>>>> other
>
>>>>> dogs!
>>>>>   In summary, PETA is fabricating lies to justify their irrational,
>>>>> radical stand. I realize that this correspondence will probably do
>>>>> little to convince
>>>>> PETA of the truth nor cause them to retract their lies or alter their
>>>>> stand. they are too entrenched in their misgivings that the facts 
>>>>> would
>
>>>>> only confuse
>>>>> them. however, this correspondence is offered to present the facts to
>>>>> those willing to consider rational, accurate information.
>>>>> Sincerely yours,
>>>>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> National Federation of the blind
>>>>> president at nfb-nagdu.org
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Vandervest"
>>>>> <timelord09 at att.net>
>>>>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 7:28 PM
>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Fw: [MSB-Alumni] Fw: Smartphone-Friendly Innovation
>>>>> HoldsPromise of Freeing Dogs From Involuntary Service
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> i just received this on another list, anybody heard of this before?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are none so blind as those who will not see
>>>>>> William And ld Lynard
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve
>>>>>> To: msb-alumni
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 2:39 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [MSB-Alumni] Fw: Smartphone-Friendly Innovation Holds 
>>>>>> Promise
>
>>>>>> of Freeing Dogs From Involuntary Service
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: Sieghard Weitzel
>>>>>> To: viphone at googlegroups.com
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 2:48 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Smartphone-Friendly Innovation Holds Promise of Freeing Dogs
>>>>>> From Involuntary Service
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello Listers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I came across this article and am pretty shocked by it, I did not 
>>>>>> know
>
>>>>>> that there are people and apparently organizations out there who
>>>>>> consider guide dogs as providing an "involuntary" service which they
>>>>>> apparently consider to be animal cruelty. I don't really have the
>>>>>> connections and the time, but I hope maybe some people on this list 
>>>>>> do
>
>>>>>> advocacy sort of work and may look into this. The biggest joke is 
>>>>>> that
>
>>>>>> this research seems to be geared towards getting around inside
>>>>>> buildings which of course would be great, but apparently these folks
>>>>>> don't think much about how much a dog helps in getting around 
>>>>>> outside.
>
>>>>>> Here is the article (hope the mods don't object since the article
>>>>>> refers to "smartphones" and not "iPhones", but of course we all know
>>>>>> how many accessible smartphone choices we have and I assume something
>>>>>> like this, were it available, would not be a Windows Phone app!)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Smartphone-Friendly Innovation Holds Promise of Freeing Dogs From
>>>>>> Involuntary Service
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For Immediate Release: May 14, 2012
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Contact: David Perle 202-483-7382
>>>>>>
>>>>>> St. Paul, Minn.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) science team working on 
>>>>>> smartphone
>
>>>>>> technology that will help blind people navigate on their own, even
>>>>>> gauging their pace and warning them far in advance of obstacles such
>>>>>> as a stairway, will present its invention at the IEEE International
>>>>>> Conference on Robotics and Automation in St. Paul on May 15 (the
>>>>>> second day of the conference). The team, headed by researchers Dr.
>>>>>> Eelke Folmer of the Player-Game-Interaction Lab and Dr. Kostas Bekris
>>>>>> of the Robotics Research Lab, has won a PETA Proggy Award for
>>>>>> Leadership in Ethical Science. PETA's Proggy Awards ("Proggy" is for
>>>>>> "progress") recognize animal-friendly achievements.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "This new technology promises not only to give blind people the
>>>>>> independence they want but also could mean that dogs will no longer 
>>>>>> be
>
>>>>>> bred for this type of service," says PETA President Ingrid E. 
>>>>>> Newkirk.
>
>>>>>> "We commend the UNR team for developing 'eyes' for the blind that are
>>>>>> both user-friendly and animal-friendly."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The low-cost system would enable blind people to navigate around
>>>>>> buildings using nothing more than a smartphone. Its software is based
>>>>>> on the same technology that enables robots to navigate but uses the
>>>>>> person's stride length to track his or her movements. The system uses
>>>>>> two-dimensional digital maps and the smartphone's built-in 
>>>>>> components,
>
>>>>>> with the phone able to communicate what it "sees" using synthetic
>>>>>> speech. Upon initial use in a particular environment, the user 
>>>>>> touches
>
>>>>>> certain landmarks. The smartphone remembers the information and is
>>>>>> able to give the user directions on subsequent visits.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For more information, please visit PETA.org.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone"
>>>>>> Google Group.
>>>>>> To search the VIPhone public archive, visit
>>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/.
>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to viphone at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>>>>>> viphone+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at
>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>>>>> Groups "Michigan School for the Blind Alumni" group.
>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to msb-alumni at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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