[NAGDU] Relief Areas at Convention

Tue Apr 26 19:54:41 UTC 2016

Mike et al,

	I appreciate everyone's input on this. We do all we can to minimize
the effects of our guide dogs by leaving as little remnant we can. Under
regular circumstances, there are not close to 400 dogs in one place, so
convention is very challenging in this respect. The NFB invests nearly $5000
to create the relief areas and keep them clean. Hotel staff, when asked
about relief areas generally direct us to the area the hotel has set aside
for dog relief for its guests; however, the usual guest using the relief
area are not near the number we have and none of us would ever consider
letting 400 dogs relieve in the small area the hotel has set aside for what
is likely a handful of dogs staying at the hotel at one time.

	We have looked into various methods of minimizing our impact on the
hotel and what we have come up with seems to be the best we can do. The
relief areas are cleaned several times each day and completely turned around
twice during convention. We would like to find a better way but no one has
come up with anything better than what we do. If there are suggestions for a
different approach, we would like to hear about them. Please feel free to
post them to the list or contact me directly at

president at nagdu.org

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Forzano
via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 3:26 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Michael Forzano
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Just a thought

My dog would not use the relief areas. She is somewhat picky about where she
will go and that's just the way it goes unfortunately. If it is so important
not to use the grass then perhaps relief areas that a dog would *actually*
want to use should be put in place. I've seen the same at airports, a 3x3
box that I can't imagine any dog wanting to go in.

Plus, as nice as it is for us humans that the areas are constantly cleaned,
the smells encourage the dogs to go more quickly.

In Orlando last year, I was directed to the grass by hotel employees
multiple times when asking for assistance finding a relief area. It's
unfortunate that it causes damage to the grass but I just don't see any
reasonable way around it. I try to use concrete when I can.

Mike

On 4/26/16, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dar:
>
> It isn't being in a hotel that is the cause of stress.  It is the type 
> of convention or event you are attending.  You are talking about two 
> completely
>
> different situations.  At the NFB national conventions you have 
> thousands of
>
> blind people trying to all get to the same places at the same time.  
> Your dog has to deal with large crowds, canes and lots of other guide 
> dogs.  The
>
> alumni is a much smaller group  with a more relaxed schedule.  The NFB 
> national conventions are extremely crowded.  I am sure that is what 
> your trainer was talking about.  If you took a young inexprienced dog 
> to a national convention it might become overwhelmed.  With the small 
> Pilot convention it is only a weekend with events planned to accommodate
our dogs.
>
> I have not had the pleasure of attending the Pilot Dog Alumni 
> Convention so,
>
> maybe someone else who has attended can chime in here.
>
> Sandra and Eva
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: d m gina via NAGDU
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 8:36 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: d m gina
> Subject: [NAGDU] Just a thought
>
> Pilot shared with the class taking a dog to a national convention 
> could ruin a dog.
> OK I excepted that, where a thought came to mind.
> They have a weekend where if you can go to the small convention please 
> come.
> My question is this,
> A hotel is a hotel. No matter what convention it is.
> Why couldn't the same dog stress out as would happen at a national 
> convention?
> Just thinking out loud.
>
> I am seeing my girl grow up.
> First we don't like our tail stepped on.
> I have tried to get her to put her but under the table.
> No way she says, not wishing to do this.
> After so many steps on her tail, she was more than glad to turn around.
> Interesting for me, or as I call it entertaining.
>
> --
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
>   FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
>
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