[nagdu] Ownership of guide dog

[Marion Gwizdala]

Brenda,
    NAGDU is in the process of conducting a survey of guide dog training 
programs and their policies. To the best of my knowledge, Guide Dogs of 
America (GDA), Guide Dog Foundation (GDF), Southeastern Guide dogs, and The 
Seeing Eye are the only programs that transfer ownership upon completion of 
training. GDF has the option of retaining ownership for a specified period 
of time in cases in which they are unsure if the match will work out. Their 
approach is one of having a trial period before making the decision. This is 
not their usual policy; rather an option to give the consumer the chance to 
see if it will work out. If there are any others, please let me know and, if 
possible, provide the ownership agreement.
    I am of the opinion that retaining ownership of a dog for any period of 
time after completion of training as a matter of policy is founded in 
paternalism. It sends a message that the program has the belief blind 
people, as a group, must prove themselves worthy and competent of this 
privilege. The premise is wrong and offensive to me as a blind person. NAGDU 
is urging all training programs to transfer real ownership to the consumer 
upon completion of training and to implement due process policies for the 
repossession of the dog. to the best of my knowledge, none of the programs 
who retain ownership have any published due process for this purpose. Again, 
if my assertion is incorrect, please provide me with evidence of this.

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Ownership of guide dog


> Can someone tell us the schools that have immediate ownership and those 
> that have ownership after a year or two and those that retain 
> ownership?The survey (can't remember the organization) of all the schools 
> was done in 2006 and things have changed.
>
> then there is the issue of ownership if the handler passes on.  That dog 
> becomes part of the family and the family loses two members at once.  Not 
> sure I like this in the case of one school if the team has been together 
> less than 5 years.
>
> In my research I have found only 2 schools giving full ownership and I 
> don''t live in the right states for one of the schools.
> Brenda
>
>
> 3/12/2012 8:46 AM, Cindy Ray wrote:
>> It is a shame to see a pet fat and lazy, or a guide fat and lazy for that 
>> matter. If you have a pet, though, nobody takes it away from you. You own 
>> it. The school has recourse even if you own the dog; and dogs will be 
>> taken away from blind people if it is observed that they are abusing 
>> them. It has been done. Also, animal rights advocates will trounce on you 
>> all of the time for even using a dog for a guide. If I have a pet dog and 
>> can retain ownership of it right off, then the same should be true of my 
>> guide dog. Any time a pet or guide or any service animal goes out to an 
>> owner, the is potential for abuse. I don't want to see that and it is 
>> sad, but the school's retaining ownership of that dog doesn't really 
>> solve that issue so much.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>>
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