[nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs

[Larry D. Keeler]

I sure do believe that Lyn!  I guess some folks just love telling everyone 
else what's what!!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs


> Welcome to my world.  PETA acts just like the homophobes and transphobes I 
> have to listen to all the time.  It is a shame when supposedly normal 
> brains REFUSE to open up and allow new ideas in!
>
> Now, if we all could take the lead from our furry friends and be loving 
> UNCONDITIONALLY, wouldn't the world be a much more pleasant place for us 
> all?
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 1:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] PETA & Service Dogs
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Marion is talking about a concept that we learned about last semester
>> in critical thinking.  It's called fanatical closure, and it means
>> that your mind is clinging to a belief so tightly that it won't let in
>> reason or argument of any kind.  Obviously, if those at peta refuse to
>> open their minds after reading Marion's well-reasoned, kind letter,
>> they may not be worth our time.  Personally, I don't know how people
>> can say such illogical, even horrible things about us and our animals
>> without getting to know how we work with them, but somehow, I doubt
>> I'll ever understand.  If they refuse to find the truth by listening
>> to us, then their thinking is scued, and we should stick to trying to
>> educate those who want to learn.
>>
>> On 7/25/12, Debbie Cole <debbieanne1124 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 12:16 PM, Chantel Cuddemi <jawsgirl87 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 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.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
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>>>>>>>>> "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
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> 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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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> t
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>>
>>> Ok I have to ask a stupid question...
>>> What is PETA?  I'm a fairly new dog handler and am baffled
>>>
>>> --
>>> warmly,
>>>
>>> Debbie Cole
>>>
>>> debbieanne1124 at gmail.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Julie McG
>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
>> of Missouri recording secretary,
>> Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
>> and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind
>>
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>>
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>
>
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