[nagdu] Are we in search of a solution without a problem?

[Margo Downey and Arrow]

Lynn and all, I agree banning of the sale of gear is unproductive.  

Education of businesses and their employees and the police and judges and
lawyers would be good.

Margoa nd arrow

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of L Gwizdak
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 12:24 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Are we in search of a solution without a problem?

The answer is right in front of us - no banning anything and no legislation.

SIMPLE EDUCATION OF BUSINESSES!

A friend of mine is trying to start a new NFB chapter here in San Diego
targeted at young people and students.  We have several colleges and most
probably has a blind person or so. One of the things my friend and I
discussed is the EDUCATION of buasinesses with the problem of unruly dogs in
businesses and what the ADA really tells us.  One of the things existing NFB
or NAGDU chapters can do RIGHT NOW is to contact their local Chambers of
Commerce and/or local Business Associations to set up a speaking engagement
to talk about this issue.  They all have a monthly or weekly business
meeting.  Also, your local Lions clubs or other service orgs that are filled
with business owners and others from the business community.

If we can get business owners educated, they can turn around and educate
their employees.  I think this is really the way to go in solving our access
problems that may or may not be caused by people bringing in pets.

Banning the sale of gear isn't going to solve anything any more than breed
bans have solved the issue of the rate of dog bites in a community.

AS to the prevalence of the problem, wwell it may vary from place to place. 
Personally, I've had some problems with unruly dogs being in places that ban
pets and the dogs are passed off as service dogs.  With invisible
disabilities, one really never knows if the dog is a real or fake service
dog.  there's no way to know and folks just have to take it for granted that
the person really has some kind of disability.  The real problem: DOG
BEHAVIOR.

Lyn and Landon
"Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like
asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Cannon" <cannona at fireantproductions.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 5:45 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Are we in search of a solution without a problem?


Hi all.

The recent petition from CCI that was forwarded to this list made some
assertions:

"When untrained pet dogs are somewhere they shouldn't be, it can create all
kinds of problems that make business owners think twice before allowing the
same access to legitimate service dogs and the people who need them.

"This outrageous and potentially dangerous fraud only adds to the
discrimination often faced by people with disabilities who actually need
assistance dogs.

"Legitimate service dogs require years of expert training to perform
specific commands like picking up dropped items and opening doors that
benefit people with disabilities - many of them U.S. veterans who are
injured while fighting for this country. These dogs provide calm, reliable
assistance to their human partners and help them live more independently.

"Now is the time to crack down on service dog fraud and end the online sale
of fake service dog certification products. Please don't allow the benefits
of a service dog to be taken away from people who need them."


First, has anyone actually seen some evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that
this is as big a problem as they claim it is?  Has anyone been denied access
because someone else used a fake ID card?  Honestly curious, as I have no
information either way.

Second, (and now I am being a bit sarcastic) did anyone's dog receive a few
years of expert training?  Did it concern you that your dog took over 6
times longer to train than the average?  What sorts of amazing things can
your dog do with all that expert training?

Third, does anyone else get a bit suspicious when people or organizations
start appealing to "think of the children" or "think of the service men and
women" arguments to make their case?

Fourth, has anyone seen anything that might indicate that the benefits of
service dogs are in danger of being taken away from "those who need them"?

There are other issues with this petition which I'll address in another
email, but in short, I'd think carefully before signing.

Aaron

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