[nagdu] One Small Victory

Sat Dec 6 20:54:05 UTC 2014

One of the most touching moments I've ever experienced with a Guide occurred
a few months after Mich and I graduated.

My family and I stopped at a restaurant for supper, and Mich was quietly
stowed under the table as we ate.

During our meal, a couple with a young girl (probably about 4 or 5 years
old) was seated at the table across the aisle from us.

For some time the couple and their daughter sat at their table, occupied
with going through the menu, ordering their meal and getting their
beverages.

Eventually, the little girl looked across the aisle and spotted Mich under
our table.

"Mommy," she said a little anxiously, "there's a dog!"

The mother seemed a little startled, but reassured the child that Mich was a
service dog and that she should ignore him.

Now, I realize that many dog handlers don't like anybody to pet or fondle
over their dogs, but I'm a parent and know what it's like to have children
and animals together.  So, I don't usually have a problem if a small child
wants to give Mich a pat, as long as he isn't actually guiding at the
moment.

With this in mind, not knowing whether the child was an avid dog lover and
the mother was trying to be politically correct, I said to the mother that
her daughter could give Mich a pat if she wanted.

"Oh, no," the mother replied quickly, "she was attacked by a dog and is
horrified of them."

I apologized to the mother, and reassured the little girl that Mich was a
very well-trained dog who helped me because I couldn't see.

Then all members of both tables resumed their meals.

Since we had arrived a bit before the other couple, we finished first, and,
before we got up to leave, I said to the mother, "We're going to get up and
go, and Mich is going to come out from where he is rather quickly."

Then, I said to the little girl, Mich is a big dog, but he won't hurt you.
He only wants to help me get out to our van."

The mother said "OK," rather cautiously, and I gave Mich the signal to get
up.

Mich got up like a true professional, and I quickly followed him and picked
up the harness handle so he'd know it was time to work.

Just then, the little girl said to her mother, "Mommy, I don't think I'm
scared of dogs anymore."

I nearly broke out in tears then, and I nearly do again as I write this just
thinking about it.

Our dogs may frighten some, but they are true miracles to others.

Take care,
Dudley, with Michener

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry D Keeler
via nagdu
Sent: December-06-14 1:14 PM
To: Nimer Jaber; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] One Small Victory

Well, I think that there is a passage that talks about black dogs carrying a

plague. But again, tolerance is the issue not the fact that folks are 
worried. We can't control peoples attitudes towards our dogs. We don't know 
what has happened to them in the past or what values they were raised with. 
My former little dog scared a woman almost to tears just by coming up to 
her. He was a very mellow dog but, she had been attacked by a similar dog 
when she was little and still had the scars. We can't be responsible for how

others think. But we can control our dogs when asked and maybe help some get

over whatever fears they may have. I go to a local drug store in my 
neighborhood. Its a family owned place. One of the women was afraid of Holly

when we first showed up. This was a few years ago. Now, she doesn't seem to 
be afraid at all. That's why we learn to control our dogs.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nimer Jaber via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Aleeha Dudley" <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List, the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 2:37 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] One Small Victory

> And this isn't founded in the Qor'an, either, as the book clearly makes 
> allowances for animals in the performance of their work.
> On 06-Dec-14 01:25 PM, Aleeha Dudley via nagdu wrote:
>> I may not be the moderator, but, Dan, frankly, that was offensive. You 
>> never know what religions different people are on this list, and we 
>> cannot poke fun at them.
>>
>> Aleeha Dudley and seeing eye dog Dallas
>> Vice President, Ohio Association of blind students
>> Blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
>> "The wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." Arabian 
>> proverb
>>   Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Dec 6, 2014, at 1:52 PM, Dan Weiner via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Wonder what horrible thing would happen if Lexia accidentally licked 
>>> her,
>>> probably the world would come to an end.
>>> Anyway, that's my helpful comment for the day--lol
>>>
>>> Dan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole 
>>> Torcolini
>>> via nagdu
>>> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 1:47 PM
>>> To: 'Marianne Denning'; 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of
>>> Guide Dog Users'; 'Tracy Carcione'
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] One Small Victory
>>>
>>> One year, one of the students in my dorm was Muslim. She did not mind 
>>> Lexia,
>>> but she asked that I not let Lexia lick her.
>>>
>>> Nicole
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne 
>>> Denning
>>> via nagdu
>>> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 10:20 AM
>>> To: Tracy Carcione; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide

>>> Dog
>>> Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] One Small Victory
>>>
>>> I have noticed most of the taxi drivers who are reluctant to have a dog 
>>> in
>>> their taxi are from Africa.  I haven't noticed it as much if there is a
>>> Muslem from other parts of the world.  We have an exchange student from
>>> Bosnia who is Muslem and she loves dogs.
>>>
>>>
>>>> On 12/6/14, Tracy Carcione via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> I think many Muslims have a taboo against being licked by a dog.
>>>> That's probably why he didn't want the dog's mouth near him.  I've had
>>>> drivers tell
>>>>
>>>> me the same, and I do my best to keep my dog's head near me and away
>>>> from the driver.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Debby Phillips via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> To: "Dudley Hanks" <dhanks at dudley-hanks.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the
>>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>;
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 9:25 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] One Small Victory
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> What was his reason for not allowing you in to his cab? Did he just
>>>>> say no? Or did he give some reason for not letting you in? I'VE never
>>>>> been denied a ride but one time this cab driver said that he didn't
>>>>> want my dog's mouth near him.  So I held her face in my hands and
>>>>> petted her which
>>>>>
>>>>> she didn't mind.  But I thought that was kind of a strange request-it
>>>>> wasn't like we were in the front seat and my dog was going to lick 
>>>>> him.
>>>>> Lol.    Peace,    Debby
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>
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