[nagdu] Fwd: 5 Reasons Why Guide Dogs Are a Terrible Idea!

[Tami Jarvis]

Aleeha,

The headline does make me cringe a little, though it seems consistent 
with similar "X reasons why" titles on all sorts of topics. It does grab 
attention, so that's what it was designed to do. /slight cringe/ /lol/

I had to agree with all the reasons and laughed at quite a few of the 
points. Been there, done that...

And I agree with the conclusion. If, after reading those negative 
considerations, you're thinking that having a guide dog is a terrible 
idea, then you should probably learn to love your cane -- or continue 
loving it. If you still think a guide dog is for you, then getting a 
guide dog may just be a good idea.

Honestly, I grit my teeth more at some of the, er, stuff one hears about 
how guide dogs are the end all and be all, especially when someone is 
being pressured to get a guide by resource professionals, since the 
guide dog will solve all problems and also be a furry friend. /gag/ The 
fundraising propaganda is important, but it doesn't always paint a 
realistic picture. I love my furry friends and strongly prefer using a 
guide dog, but they're real dogs in the real world. A humorous look at 
some of those realities is refreshing and could be helpful for someone 
considering the perfectly amazingly wonderful creature that will give 
them independence and dignity while providing companionship in their 
dark and lonely life...

So now I'll probably head out the door and run into someone who's read 
the same article and feels the need to grill me on why I'm using a guide 
dog when it's a terrible idea. Then I'll be really mad at the article... 
Just kidding. The more I ever hear about what JQ Public thinks of things 
to do with guide dogs or blindness or disability in general based on 
what they read in the media or anywhere else, the more I realize there's 
just no telling.

Tami


On 03/20/2015 06:51 AM, Aleeha Dudley via nagdu wrote:
> Just curious what you all think. This article greatly upset me, especially given the subject line. But I wanted to see what you guys thought, as the responses on the list that I saw this on our very mixed.
>
> If you're blind, you obviously read Braille. Your hearing must naturally be
>> superior to your sighted peers, and of course you have a guide dog! Right?
>>
>> Well, that last may not be as pervasive as the first and second. Someone
>> recently told me the number of guide dog users has actually declined in my
>> millennial generation. I have no evidence proving this one way or the other,
>> but for the general public, to see a blind person with a guide dog feels as
>> natural as butter and toast.
>>
>> Thing is, I'm not so sure guide dogs are right for everyone. Or, maybe I'm
>> just projecting my own uncertainties onto the rest of the community?
>>
>> Last November I took the first step in the application process to return for
>> a second Seeing Eye dog. It's been more than three years since I lost Gator,
>> and even though I've gotten around just fine with a white cane, I am
>> approaching what feels like the final years with sight, however minimal that
>> sight might be. I admit it's unnerving if I sit still long enough to
>> contemplate total blindness. NFB philosophy be damned, and the thought of an
>> extra set of eyes to help me navigate the world does bring a measure of
>> comfort. But, is it enough to go get another dog?
>>
>> In no particular order, here are reasons why a guide dog would be a terrible
>> idea:
>>
>> Read more:
>>
>> http://serotalk.com/2015/03/18/5-reasons-why-guide-dogs-are-a-terrible-idea/
>>
>> --
>> Musings of a Work in Progress:
>> www.JoeOrozco.com/
>>
>> Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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