[nagdu] Dogs in HospitalsRe: my surgery

Mon Apr 22 13:52:01 UTC 2013

Regarding dogs in hospitals: I am doing chaplaincy work at a hospital. They don't let volunteer chaplains into isolation rooms. When this was explained to me, they also said that the dog couldn't go in there anyway. I questioned it anyway, and though I won't question it much at this time since I can't go in anyway, I am curious about such as this. 

Cindy Lou

On Apr 22, 2013, at 8:06 AM, "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:

> Ken,
>   FYI, there are few specific areas in which a service dog can be restricted and the E.R is not one of them. a public entity or private entity that provides public accommodation must demonstrate the dog poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by a reasonable modification to policies, practices, or procedures. As it pertains to hospitals and other health care facilities, I have attached guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to this message. If our local VA has a policy that is noncompliant with the ADA, please let us know and our affiliate division president will look into it!
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Ace" <ken at acenovels.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 1:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] my surgery
> 
> 
>> Mary, its great to hear your story and thanks for sharing. I go to a VA
>> Hospital for my needs and about three months ago I was bringing Ace in after
>> relieving himself in the rain, stepped into the lobby and my feet went out
>> from under me and I landed on my head. I came to with Ace licking my face. I
>> decided I should go to the VA and when I arrived at the ER they were so
>> backed up that after three hours I decided to go home and come back the next
>> morning. Since I had no idea how long I would be I sent my wife on to work.
>> I was lying on a gurney and Ace was acting strange and I thought he needed
>> to go out so I said I was going to take him out but they said NO they would
>> take him for me. When he returned I was told that he couldn't be in the ER.
>> I said I thought he could be anywhere but OR. I was informed that he wasn't
>> allowed in the OR, ER or ICU. I said I will call my wife and she will be
>> here in about 30 minutes. Ace was just becide him self and I stuck out my
>> hand and called to him. He jumped up on the gurney with me, put his head on
>> my shoulder. A Dr. came by and said "You can't have that" and I stopped him
>> and said please leave the dog alone, he is just concerned about me. The Dr.
>> turned to the ER group and said "Everyone, just ignore the dog, he isn't
>> really here".
>> They, Guide Dogs, know more about how you feel. God did a good job when he
>> created DOGS.
>> Ken & Ace
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary Wurtzel
>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 1:18 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: [nagdu] my surgery
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> I wanted to share about my recent surgery and how it went fore Felix and me.
>> First, for some reason, the hospital said I could bring my dog but had to
>> find my own way to take him out.  I didn't have family who could be there
>> whenever Felix needed to go out.  I decided to board him at the vet for the
>> three days I was in the hospital.  That went fine.
>> The rehabilitation facility allowed me to bring my dog.  They were willing
>> to have staff to take him out.  I could not walk for two weeks after
>> surgery.
>> I am very grateful to all of the nursing care aids who took Felix out for
>> me.
>> Felix was on a tie-down on one side of my bed.  I was fortunate to have a
>> private room.
>> Friends of mine who also have guide dogs came and groomed and exercised
>> Felix for me.
>> I took him on leash with me to the dining room in a wheelchair.  Because I
>> did not use the harness, I let people pet him.  The other clients and the
>> staff really enjoyed having a dog to pet.  Some of the people were seniors
>> who had ffallen or had replacement type surgeries.  They love to remember
>> dogs that they had during their lives.
>> It was kind of neat because Felix seemed to know I was in pain.  He would
>> come right up to the side of the bed and stand close so I could pet him.
>> After two and a half weeks I could come home.  I have a boot on my foot and
>> still cannot work Felix.  I worry about this.  I now have about a week and a
>> half before I can walk again.
>> I have let Felix out in the fenced in yard to play with our pet dog.
>> My husband took Felix for a walk, but he dragged back and wouldn't go. All
>> I can think is that maybe he didn't want to leave me.
>> This surgery is hopefully going to make it possible for me to have better
>> balance when I walk.  I am excited to see how successful it will be.  I am
>> just praying that my pup will still remember how to be a guide dog.
>> I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and a great family.
>> This will be my first national convention to have a guide dog.  I think the
>> thing I dread the most is going to the exhibit hall with a dog guide.
>> I AM SO ENJOYING THIS LIST AND HOPE TO MEET SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN Orlando.
>> Mary
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:29 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up
>> 
>> My first dog Glade thought running away and not coming were a great game. A
>> 
>> couple times, she accidently got loose, and I had a heck of a time catching
>> her again.  She would always come when she saw her harness, though, so I'd
>> try to get close enough to her to show it to her, and the game would be
>> over.
>> 
>> I quote the Irish Rovers, sort of:
>> Those labradors were hiding, playing silly games.
>> 
>> From the Unicorn song, explaining why there aren't any more around.
>> Tracy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2013 3:07 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up
>> 
>> 
>>> Hi Eve and everyone,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I was having the same problems with having Cass coming to me when I
>>> called,
>>> and to some extent still do. Although I never allow her to be off leash in
>>> the common area behind my townhome, I will go out on a 25 foot leash and
>>> practice recall with food treats. This is what my field rep advised me
>>> when
>>> she visited me on my second month home after complaining about this
>>> problem.
>>> I explained to her that I was having problems with recall both in and out
>>> of
>>> the house. After returning home and keeping Cass on leash for about 5
>>> weeks,
>>> I let her off and when I called her she would not come to me. We would do
>>> obedience training, sit, down, stay, and come at short distances and she
>>> would do just fine, but when we were at ease she would not come to me when
>> 
>>> I
>>> called. Talk about frustrating - to be upstairs and call and have no dog
>>> come, or to be ten feet away and call her to come to me and she would just
>>> ignore me. Things really came to a head when I went to a friend's house
>>> and
>>> she was playing in the yard with his dogs. He called his dogs to come in
>>> and
>>> Cass refused to come inside. He went to the back door and she would run
>>> from
>>> my friend. I went to the door and she would ignore my command to come
>>> inside. I finally was able to get her to come inside by filling her food
>>> bowl, and then snagging her with the leash. That was the last time she was
>>> off leash until the field rep came. We started working with high value
>>> food
>>> rewards. This has seemed to work for the most part, but there are still
>>> some
>>> occasional instances where she will stay just out of my reach when I call
>>> her, and not come to me as if I am playing a game. Needless to say this
>>> really ticks me off since I have never had a dog that has done this. I
>>> have
>>> had quite a few dogs. She has a HUGE stubborn streak. I would never let
>>> her
>>> be off leash outside unless the area was securely enclosed, and then only
>>> with hesitation. I am just glad she is food motivated. The fact that we
>>> have
>>> only been together for a bit over 4 months lets me think that in time she
>>> will become a little more attached and this problem will solve itself.
>>> 
>>> I apologize for the long winded emails, but when I get going, I really get
>>> going.
>>> 
>>> Daniel and Cass
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
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>> 
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