[nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals

[Larry D. Keeler]

Some folks just don't get what our dogs do that's different.  I was one of 
those until I decided to get on myself.  Sor some, getting a dog is the 
beswt choice you can ever make.  Not so much for others.  Our family was 
mostly supportive although som3e now forget Holly goes where I go and 
convienetely forgert she is going but otherwise it has worked out very well!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NCBootman" <ncbootman at gmail.com>
To: "the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 10:04 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals


> Do you find that relatives you do not live with are supportive or not of 
> your getting a service animal and particularly a guide dog?
>
> I do not live with my family. I have a roommate whom I have lived with for 
> over 20 years. When I first considered getting a guide, I talked with my 
> dad and brothers. There response was unanimously you don’t need a dog. 
> Where would you go that you can’t already go? The negatives went on and on 
> and my brother gave a 30 minute tyrade of how ridiculous this was. But, at 
> the end, because I had countered effectively every point, he gave up and 
> said I had obviously thought about this more than he had and then he began 
> talking about his pet dog! It is as if they are fearful of my succeeding! 
> Every non family person I have spoken to says things like why did you wait 
> so long? I think it is the best idea you’ve had. I think you will have 
> independence that you can’t even imagine today. They have nothing but good 
> and approving things to say!
>
> My roommate is planning to get a Veteran Assistance dog for himself. While 
> the list is about guide dogs, the dynamics are similar. His sister has 
> already informed him that that dog will not be coming to her house! He has 
> tried to explain that this is not a dirty smelly yard dog like she is 
> thinking, but rather a very well trained, clean, teeth brushed, helper 
> that even has the potential to save his life by helping him not process 
> the negative war stuff over and over again. She still does not get it! 
> However, every doctor, Veteran Service employee, fellow Veteran, and so on 
> tells him that it is the best decision he can make and that he has 
> obviously given this serious thought, researched his information, and will 
> be a good handler in their opinion.
>
> Do we both have crazy families? Is this a dynamic that I just don’t yet 
> understand? What is going on here? We both know this is the right move for 
> us and have each other’s full support. We have taken this very seriously 
> and haven’t just hatched an idea overnight. We are moving forward with our 
> lives and becoming the happy independent people we were intended to be! I 
> thought I had lost the independence of when in college forever. I have 
> come to realize that although it will be different, I can have at least a 
> piece of that freedom back. I have never been so excited.
>
> Your thoughts on or offlist are appreciated. dgcnc at bellsouth.net
> Greg
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