[NAGDU] International travel with a guidedog

Thu Apr 6 15:51:56 UTC 2017

					Dan, I'd love to hear more, tell me
about the handlers in Japan? 
I'd like to hear from the Japanese man on the list too
You put it out there, and you knew I'd ask. 
Write off-list if you like

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 8:28 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] International travel with a guidedog

also Japan has a lot of cultural attitudes about big dogs and dog in houses
and so on that are a bit different, I was there  just about two years,, and
though I did not live as long there as Sandra, my experience i suspect is
still valid--and I was on my own most of the time. Access can be interesting
especially in hotels and any places with tatami flooring--lol.

  I seem to remember reading about you, , Sandra, that you were doing church
work and were with your husband, you had a golden and a poodle if 
you're the same person, and I'd be happy to hear about what you   did 
and your experiences. w .

Anyway,

Also, Sandra, tell me if I'm wrong, but haven't the restrictions gotten a
bit more involved for entry in terms of needing to produce rabies tytor
test, not sure of spelling. Therefore a short trip to Japan would be rather
impractical.

  Sorry now I reread your post and you mentioned titor tests, so here' 
my question, is that valid only for the first time and if you were to, say
leave Japan and come back would you have to go through the dsame rigmarole?

When I went it was a question of preparing for the two week in home
quarantine in quotes. They wanted a big form filled out one which, must must
must, have a seal on it--smile As a matter of fact when I faxed a copy they
complained that the seal was not raised.

Then they wanted a picture or diagram of the room or place where the dog
would be in quotes quarantined and my itenerary for the first two weeks, I
would then fill out a form every day and the quarantine officer would come
and check on you after two weeks.

Very pleasant people I dealt with but very demanding in terms of paperwork.

  I should point out that the phrase in home is a symbolic phrase, you can
go out and about with your guide dog, but they call it in home and at least
theoretically you should keep your dog away from other dogs for the two week
period. Since I had a friend with a guide dog I can pretty forthrightly say
that I ignored that one--lol..Also don't get me started on Japanese guide
dog handlers, that's a different story.so if I say, wanted to visit Japan
I'm assuming I would need the titor test nowadays, as I said that was not
the requirement then, It was a rabies shot which was given at least thirty
days before arrival.

Because of that, my original flight, Sept 11, 2001 was changed to Sept 28th,
2001. Imagine the mess if I'd gone on the eleventh.

I was a student there and then I spent time looking for work and so on and
doing research.

good luck, and remember I was there from 2001 through 2003 so things 
might be totally different

If nothing else the quarantine and all the rest of it was good practice 
to improve my Japanese language skills aas since that was my major I was 
pretty uncompromising about using Japanese.

So in my honest opinion, Miranda, if you are looking to do an exchange 
in Japan I'm not convinced a guide dog is the best option unless of 
course you have the dog for some time already and are a seasoned team, 
the paperwork if nothing else will get you down--lol.
I'm travelled to three countries with a guide dog, Russia, Japan, and 
Mexico.. Paperwork varied from place to place, the big problem was 
access and cultural issues. In Russia, people love big dogs but guide 
dogs were pretty much unknown even though supposedly they have schools 
there and access was abysmal.
Japan, guide dogs schhols and even some legislation (wwell actually 
Russia had legislation but tit doesn't do any good and there are holes 
in it which I can explain at some point),
anyway, Japan, some legislation but cultural attitudes aobu tdogs differ 
and there were some interesting situations.  The Japanese people aren't 
necessarily always as polite and deferential as stereotypes make them 
out to be. Having said  there are ignorant people here in the States, too.

Mexico, actually most people were helpful in terms of directions and so 
on but there were some strange access situations there too.
I actually want to start traveling again and especially if i go to 
anywhere n Europe or Latin America I might indeed be accompanied by my 
guide dog, after all I love working with my dog and walking with him, 
but I'll admit access can be quite interesting and I'm perhaps not as 
patient with people as I used to be.

Therefore, I am interested in all the responses and will take it all in 
to account.
Fortunately we have the net which will serve us to find all sorts of 
useful info.
Even in 2001 when I went to Japan, the net was not as chalked with info 
as it is now. You can talk to people, get iin touch with blind people or 
schools and so on. Remember one thing though which I learned, everything 
may vary depending on your experience. Blind people from that or 
whatever country may tell you things like "no you cna't bring a dog 
here, you'll have problems" and you may havenone, or the other way around.

I would say living situations were the most complicated in Japan, the 
dorm I stayed in for example told me friendly things like "well since 
you have a dog you won't be able to use the washer and drier becuase the 
other students won't want dog hair on their clothes, sorry." Said very 
politely so sorry--lol but the comment itiself was pretty bad, and 
that's thnot the only one. I told them I understand their point of view 
but to make it convenient for all you can give me my own washer and 
drier--lol and hat was the end of their objections.

I was staying at an international dorm in yokohama, no other living 
situations when I was accepted for the program I was at wnated me and 
the dog, I mean NO Others, no rooms for rent, no appartment, no shard 
housing.  To find a place the director of my school the Inter University 
Center for Japanese Lanugage sStudies, Stanford Pacifico (Yokohama) had 
to intervene several times.  That did not help when the ten months of 
dorm stay were up and I wanted to live and work in Japan, that's a whole 
other question.

Anyway, remember these are my opinions, experiences, and comments and 
are not meant to negate anyone else's experiences, good or bad, or to 
tell anyyone what they shoudl do or not do, I have my own style and it 
works for me, I can be pretty assertive.

Also it is not meant to make anyone form any other country feel bad, I' 
mjust telling what happens to me and I tend to like syaing things as 
they are or as they seem to me.

Hugs to all and wags from Parker

4/4/2017 5:21 PM, Sandra Burmester via NAGDU wrote:
> Hi,
> When we went to Japan for the first time.  We had to follow all the rules
> about a rabies free zone.  My dog had to be mirochiped first then have a
> rabies shot then 30 days latter another rabies shot then a titer test
> done.  It had to follow a strict shedule.  Then you have to wait for 180
> days.  Then submit your paper work.  You can look up all this info on the
> internet.  Guide dogs don't have to go through the quarintine time in
> japan.  At least I didn't.  You could ccontact the Kansai Guide dog school
> and they may be able to help you with paperwork.
> I hope this helps.
> Sandra
>
> On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 10:59 AM, Julie Johnson via NAGDU
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> I've not traveled internationally, but I have traveled within the U.S.
and
>> left one or both dogs at home with my husband or others. I owner train
and
>> currently switch between two dogs.  Even previously when I've only had
one
>> dog working, I've generally had two or even three dogs  in various stages
>> of being trained or retired or whatever.  My husband really does not
enjoy
>> traveling and is content to stay at home with the dogs.    It works for
>> us.  To each his or her own, I guess.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
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