[nagdu] Retired Guides; Do the same access laws apply?

[Buddy Brannan]

While I’d never bring my retired guide, that is to say, fully retired, not working, doesn’t want to work, anywhere and claim that he’s anything but what he is, when I had retired Karl, there were at least a couple of places where they told me that Karl was welcome to come along if I wanted to bring him, after his retirement. Mostly because they already knew me and knew him. Interestingly, and very unusual, the couple times I needed to take Karl or Chet to the vet, I’d call a cab and ask if they could send someone who wouldn’t mind my retired guide dog going along, and everyone was good with it. I believe behavior *does* play a role though, but more important is how we represent our dogs. I think there’s a lot of difference between claiming your dog is a service dog when he is not, versus saying, yes, my dog was formerly a service dog but he’s retired and doesn’t work anymore, thank you for allowing me to take him in, no problem if you don’t. 

— 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name



> On Dec 30, 2014, at 6:29 PM, Nicole Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm sorry, but behavior does not make a difference. If we want people to
> respect the laws, we need to set a good example.
> 
> Nicole
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
> via nagdu
> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2014 3:05 PM
> To: Buddy Brannan; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users; chaimsegal at sbcglobal.net; nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Retired Guides; Do the same access laws apply?
> 
> Hi Buddy, I agree with not.  I understand the desire sometimes to bring my
> retired guide places, but he is not a guide anymore, and therefore I would
> be guilty of what other people do, pawning their pets off on an unsuspecting
> public.  The only difference is that Lamar is more well-behaved than many
> non service dogs I've encountered.
> 
> Well, guess I'd better go and take Neena for a walk.  It's now like 21
> degrees, and it's not going to get any warmer today.  In fact, soon the
> temperature will start to dip again and it will be in the single digits
> again.  Tomorrow it's going to be something like 12 or 13.  Call me a wimp
> if you want to, but I don't like 
> walking in those cold temps.    Blessings,    Debby and Neena
> 
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