[nagdu] Guide Dog School

[Marion Gwizdala]

Melissa,

	I would also like to give my two-cents here. There are serious down
sides to policies that do not transfer ownership upon completion of
training, especially in the areas of weight management and abuse. I have
seen programs remove dogs or harnesses simply upon the allegation of abuse
or neglect. Without due process, the whole process is flawed. I am of the
opinion that training programs should transfer ownership upon completion of
training and, in allegations of abuse or neglect, should defer to the
community enforcement agency with jurisdiction to objectively assess a
situation and remove a dog if abuse or neglect is proven. 

	I have also been made aware of programs attempting to remove dogs
because of weight issues when the veterinarian seeing the dog feels it is
within an acceptable weight range. Ownership is a right and carries with it
specific protections from interference, even when that interference is
couched in terms of what is best for the dog. In my opinion, programs that
do not transfer ownership speak very loudly about their perceptions of
blindness and the capacity of the blind.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala




-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of milissa61 via
nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 11:29 AM
To: 'Debby Phillips'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users'; nimerjaber1 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

Hi, 

All my dogs have been from Guiding Eyes. They are a great school and the
director of training is phenomenal. When you get a dog from Guiding Eyes,
GEB owns the dog for the first two years. After that, you are able to apply
for ownership provided your dog is in good health. GEB is very strict about
making sure their dogs are not over weight. I like GEB's ownership policy
because if anything goes wrong, (like the dog is being abused) GEB can step
in and take the dog. They are not in the practice of taking people's dogs
away. If something is wrong, they really go out of their way to help you
straighten things out. But, I am glad it's an option. I've seen way to many
dogs from schools that give ownership right away not be able to do anything
if a dog is not being treated well or if the dog is overweight. Let me know
if you have any other questions about GEB.

Just my two cents.

Milissa

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
via nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2015 11:27 AM
To: nimerjaber1 at gmail.com; semisweetdebby at gmail.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

You might want to look at Guiding EYES.  They produce some great dogs, the
training is very good, I'm told, (the Director of training was my first
instructor at Seeing Eye).  I'm not sure what their ownership policy is.  I
almost applied there before I got Neena, but at the last moment, I just
couldn't make the change.  I've been getting dogs from TSE since 1981.  I
have concerns too about some of the direction then are going, and concerns
about their ability to do good follow up.  But for me, I just couldn't make
the change.  Neena is a great dog, and I love how she works.  We will see,
in the future, if I need follow-up 
if it will happen or not.  Good luck with your search.    Peace,    
Debby with Neena

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