[nagdu] Ownership of guide dog

Wed Mar 14 18:17:35 UTC 2012

Also, the schools need to get rid of the contracts that must be signed 
before getting the dogs.  I find the contracts to be as offensive as the 
school retaining ownership.  The contracts are a "string" to real ownership.

I think Seeing Eye is the only school that I know of that has absolutely NO 
strings attached to ownership and is the only school that I know that has 
true ownership of the dog.  Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Ownership of guide dog

> Hi Marion and list
> I look forward to the completion of the NAGDU survey.  I never would have 
> considered ownership an important issue until I started reading posts from 
> this list.  Now, my first choices will be only full-ownership schools.  If 
> I really find I like a school with a one or two year *probation* I may 
> consider them, but I will focus on full-ownership schools.
>
> I have one question - I thought GDF had something where if the handler 
> dies within 5 years the dog must be returned to the school.  If this is 
> true, this is not full ownership.  In this case, the family loses 2 
> members at once.  I'm not sure If I read this on the NAGDU list via a post 
> or actually on GDF's web site.  I hope NAGDU finds out what the true story 
> is on this.
>
> Brenda
>
> On 3/13/2012 7:47 AM, Marion Gwizdala wrote:
>> 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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>>
>>
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