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

Sat Mar 21 21:30:15 UTC 2015

Hi Raven,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I can honestly say I've never heard of
anyone coming from the perspective of being indifferent about dogs and
deliberately educating themselves about what dogs are, why we love them,
what they need, etc. as you have done. Kudos to you, and again thanks for
sharing.
Donna & Hunter

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 1:38 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fwd: 5 Reasons Why Guide Dogs Are a Terrible Idea!

I applaud this guy for being honest with himself and with others. I also
appreciated his tone. He put his thoughts onto the page, and I appreciate
that authenticity of voice, rather than analyzing and reflecting while
sounding like a robot or some journalist.
I think all benefits come at a cost. What that cost is in comparison to the
benefit just depends on the person. For instance, I don't like children at
all, and so there are many things about children that I consider drawbacks
that I know my oldest sister who has 6 of them probably doesn't.
Surprisingly, I was not a dog person when I got my guide dog. I didn't
dislike them, but I didn't have an affinity for them either. They were just
there. But after struggling through my second harsh West Michigan winter, I
quickly realized how a dog would be more beneficial than a cane.
In the months between submitting a complete application and my class date, I
mentally amped myself up for the dog. I read all sorts of blogs and books,
not only to learn about dogs, but to gain an appreciation for them, and to
understand that part of having a dog is finding them cute, sweet, and loving
them. So I read a bunch of sappy dog stories to put myself in that mindset.
I wanted to know the kinds of things that people thought were cute and sweet
about their dogs.
What was their to love about having a pet dog or a service dog? What kinds
of things did dogs do to show they even cared about you? What sorts of
things did people focus on that made them find dogs beneficial and
not-so-burdensome?
I know this approach is probably very unconventional. But I imagine most
people going for guide dogs already love dogs.
When I finally got my dog and had to care for him, I was of a mindset that
caring for a dog was no more of a chore than caring for myself.
The things that are inconvenient, time-consuming, and dirty work to others,
are not so burdensome to me, or at least they are rarely burdensome. It is
just something that has to be done to have an optimally functioning,
healthy, satisfied, comfortable, presentable working partner and playmate.
It definitely isn't for everyone. There are many things a dog requires that
no cane user has to worry about. But there are also many things a dog does
that a cane will never be capable of. Having a living creature as an aid of
any kind is not something to take lightly. In addition to gaining more
independence or enhancing your independence, you are forced to communicate
and develop a successful professional relationship with a different animal,
and you also become responsible for the life and well-being of another
being. And for some people, that is just too taxing.
--
Raven
You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you have or
what you do.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 3/20/15, Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I agree Julie, that the syrupy obey gooey delivery of a lot of guide
> dog literature makes me cringe. I also agree that he brings up valid
> points that should be considered. However, I really don't like the
> post at all. It goes way too far the other direction, in that his
> delivery seems to be purposefully confrontational rather than
constructive.
>
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>
>> On Mar 20, 2015, at 10:33 AM, Julie J. via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I think the post was accurate.  His communication style is a bit on
>> the sarcastic and snarky side, but he's brutally honest with how he
feels.
>> He's also clear that this is his experience and is using the post as
>> a way to process his own feelings and possibly in the process give
>> others some points to ponder.
>>
>> I really liked it.  I get a lot tired of the super gooey, mushy
>> sentimental drivel that so commonly surrounds talk of guide dogs.
>> I'm with Vivianna, guide dogs don't give you independence.  sure they
>> help you express your independence, but freedom and independence are
>> intrinsic qualities.  They are personal decisions or ways of viewing
>> yourself in the world.  They are not things that can be bestowed on
>> another. You have to claim them for yourself.
>>
>> I think we all agree that guide dogs are not for everyone.  I think
>> Joe was just a bit more straightforward with the why part than a lot
>> of us are comfortable talking about.
>>
>> Julie
>> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is
>> now available! Get the book here:
>> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
>> Visit my new website on developing courage and living authentically:
>> http://www.falling-up.com
>> -----Original Message----- From: Aleeha Dudley via nagdu
>> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 8:51 AM
>> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
>> Subject: [nagdu] Fwd: 5 Reasons Why Guide Dogs Are a Terrible Idea!
>>
>> 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-terrib
>>> le-idea/
>>>
>>> --
>>> Musings of a Work in Progress:
>>> www.JoeOrozco.com/
>>>
>>> Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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