[nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs

Margo and Arrow margo.downey at verizon.net
Wed Jul 25 19:50:42 UTC 2012 

but, it's not natural to wag at a human, don't you know?  and sitting next 
to you--well, don't you know this is because you're so domineering.  Hope 
you know I'm being sarcastic.  what I've said makes just as much sense as 
what Peta says.

margo andArrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs


> 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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>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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