[nagdu] back with question and update

Tue May 15 17:28:49 UTC 2012

I agree with you 100 percent.  When I had Brooks, there was a guy at my church who would and did sneak pets, to which I quick kly and briskly, told him that 1.  I see you doing that and you know you're not apposed to do that as you are a social worker, and 2.  It's not a Christian like behavior to sneak around and do that when I've asked you not to.

there are always those idiots who just do it without asking, but when people do ask, I, like you, give them an appreciate no and a why they shouldn't pet him, so they don't think I'm just being a brat, another B word almost got typed but I'm trying to control my tongue.  

they forget that they are our dogs, not theirs, and that they are there for our safety and assistance, not for the other people's pleasure and whatever else they think.

Anyway, I just wanted, again, to say I agreed.

Jenny
On May 15, 2012, at 11:12 AM, Robert Hooper wrote:

> Just a quick note about the below message. I agree that nobody has a right to just walk up to and stroke a working dog--I would take that a step further and say that nobody has a right to make an unsolicited approach to any dog and just pet it, for their own safety as well as the owner or dog team. I take Bailey to the recreational center at my university. Usually, I am lifting weights and he is right next to me. However, at least twice a week, I tether him to the bleachers at the pool and swim for an hour or such. I have been assured that nobody has approached him, and the lifeguards and other personnel present have agreed to keep an eye on him to make sure that nobody decides to rob my confidence in humanity by petting him without asking. I have been told that some people have tried, and I can only marvel at the boldness of some people. Just because the dog has a harness doesn't mean that it won't bite. Of course, as I am a responsible and caring handler, Bailey would probably never bite anyone...ever. However, those people approaching that dog with no visible owner don't know that I *have* taken the responsibility to ensure that he is well trained and behaved. I'm not there to say that "He's aggressive when I'm not around" (he's not, but how do they know) or "He's not friendly to strangers" (he is, but once again, they don't know that). Also, these people don't think "hmm, this dog's owner is responsible for anything that might happen as a result of my self-absorbed stupidity".  There are lots of reasons why a person might not want their dog touched, be it some sort of service animal or otherwise. They might not want their dog distracted; they might not wish their dog to seek people because they expect to be rubbed; their dog may be a rescue dog with many emotional or mental issues with which the new owner is trying to work (which may result in aggression toward new people); and finally, the owner is responsible for that person's unwarranted familiarity.
> Also, it's rude to just molest somebody else's property. I don't walk up to strangers and fondle their phones or handbags because I find them "cute", "adorable", or "interesting", so why should they? I find it particularly annoying when people come huffing alongside me, asking if they can pet the dog--you know, because I'm clearly not walking anywhere, I'm just having a leisurely stroll...with a  backpack...whilst wearing a suit and tie...you know, the usual relaxation attire for people with not much to do or anywhere to be at any particular time...in June.
> Also, some people are confused that I pet or pat the dog whilst in harness and they can't. Usually at this point, I have run out of energy. I go home and cry for about an hour and a half, and book the nearest psychotherapist for the next six months in order to reaffirm my grasp on reality.
> I really do appreciate it when people ask first, as they do 90% of the time. That gives me an opportunity to politely reject their request and offer a quick explanation as to why, so they don't feel as though they asked an unreasonable question or that my rejection had something to do with them.
> I guess my "quick note" turned into a "jumbled rant", so I will call it quits here. As always, I look forward to further reading. 
> Sincerely,
> Robert Hooper
> Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
> The Ohio State University
> 0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
> 653 Cuyahoga Court
> Columbus, Ohio 43210
> (740) 856-8195
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
> Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:59 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] back with question and update
> 
> Hi Marcia.  I'm sorry that happened to you, but it looks like you're handling it well.  I use my feet all the time to help me determine what Brie is doing.  There have been times when I have caught her nose because it was on the ground sniffing when I was trying to find her body with my feet.  I feel horrible when I do things like that, but as blind people, we will trip over or run into our dogs on occasion.  It sounds horrible to say, and that's one of the reasons I have begun working with Brie so that she will find my hand with her nose.
> 
> About the article...  There are so many things to say that I'm not sure an article can say it all.  One of the biggest things I notice is that people don't understand that working dog does not equal pet.  If you see a dog working, it is not your right to come up and pet it.
> Likewise, if a working dog sniffs you, and its handler corrects it(tells the dog to leave it), it is not your place to interact with the dog or judge the handler.  I'd say that questions about guide dogs and what is or is not proper conduct between someone outside the working team and the guide dog is something that a person could contact nagdu about.
> 
> There is so much educating that needs to be done that it amazes me.
> Good luck with the article!
> 
> On 5/14/12, Criminal Justice Major <orleans24 at comcast.net> wrote:
>> Hi, Marsha,
>> Welcome back and hope you recover from your cold.
>> Yes, I've had someone file a complaint on me with the Denver Dumb 
>> Friends League, claiming I was hitting Odie and he wasn't being fed.
>> An investigator came over and check out Odie, stating Odie looked 
>> happy and well that nothing was wrong with him.
>> Truth was that Odie wanted the man out of our apartment.
>> I had to immediately contact Denver Animal Contrl and ask about the 
>> individual who came up to my apartment to see if he was an actual 
>> investigator or not and the representative was very helpful.
>> She even backed me up to say that Odie and I were both happy together 
>> and that we love each other.
>> It really irritates me when people just love to stick their noses in 
>> someone's business at the wrong time.
>> Animal Control has told me it really bothers them when people don't 
>> get the facts straight, especially if people act like they're too 
>> scared to come forward face to face.
>> Too bad they weren't able to find out who did this and I'd sure as 
>> heck love to.
>> I had to contact Pilot Dogs and tell Jay Gray what exactly happened 
>> and I honestly admitted that if I didn't love Odie, then why would I 
>> have even gone to training and stuck with him?
>> As far as the article thing, you can definitely say that both blind 
>> individual and guide dog happily work together as a team should be 
>> doing since that's what they were matched and meant to be in the very beginning.
>> While some teams may not widely display or show feelings for each 
>> other, there are some great guide dog teams out as both dog and 
>> handler enjoy each other's company and working together.
>> Yes, Odie was a big brat during class and he most certainly gave me a 
>> run for my money's worth.
>> I look back and despite I had moments of where I just wanted to pack 
>> up and leave, it wasn't allowed to happen.
>> The two of us initially became one great team with a powerful, strong bond.
>> Yes, Odie knows how to back talk to me with the use of his body 
>> language, but it never changes anything between the two of us.
>> When I do go back to retrain with another guide dog at Pilot Dogs, 
>> Dale and Odie will both escort me to the airport and definitely to the airplane.
>> It will be hard to say good-bye and I know some tears will be shed 
>> upon Odie feeling the sadness of me being gone for a while.
>> I'll look forward to the day of coming back home with a new partner 
>> next to me upon seeing my husband and Odie too.
>> He's a member of the family and he plays an important valuable part too.
>> I do hope everything pans out and no one else tries to say any other 
>> smack toward you either, especially the falsified claims of abuse.
>> *Disgusted*
>> Bibi
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>> 
> 
> 
> --
> Julie McG
> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri recording secretary, 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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