[NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Tue Jan 17 19:51:33 UTC 2017


I think we are all willing to fight for our rights. Let's don't imply that
some of us aren't. On the other hand, most of us don't know how one or
another of us voted or felt or why, so we can keep this kind of thing to
ourselves. If schools don't trust their clients/students/ customers with the
dogs, they shouldn't give them one far as I am concerned. I have heard that
argument time and time again, and I don't get it. Dogs are wonderful and
should be treated correctly. People need to understand that they are the
ones responsible for their dogs. If they aren't capable, they shouldn't have
one. This is better than everyone being penalized because of them. After
all, that penalty says that really none of us can be trusted in my world.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 12:13 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: S L Johnson <SLJohnson25 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Hello:

The problem is that some guide dog handlers do not act like responsible
adults therefore, the schools think they have to monitor all of us.  I have
seen many dogs being forced to work when they were either too old or too ill
to be working.  This is extremely irresponsible as well as cruel to the dog.

We all have seen teams that should not be working because the dog is not
under good control or a safe guide.  I think the schools get worried about
this kind of behavior by the handlers so they try to put things into their
contracts in order to keep their dogs safe.  A much better way of dealing
with this should be to give us ownership and deal with irresponsible
handlers on a case by case basis.  I choose to use a school that grants
ownership for my dogs.  The only way things will change is if more graduates
of these programs are willing to speak out against the schools about their
contracts and any other training issues.  I was amazed that the resolution
did not pass at the convention in 2015.  Too many blind people are too
afraid to speak up to a training center or official at a blindness agency. 
As blind people we must be willing to fight for our rights.

Sandra Johnson

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU President via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 7:44 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: NAGDU President
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Mr. Levine,

First of all, I do own the operating system and the software on my computer.
I paid for the Windows OS and for my Microsoft software. As for the iOS
software on my iPhone, what I agree to is that I will not use the software
in an illegal manner and will not corrupt the operating system.
Neither Microsoft nor Apple have the right to take away my phone that I have
paid for nor do they have the right to repossess the software I have bought
without cause nor without due process.

Many guide dog training programs treat adult consumers as if they were
children and many guide dog consumers allow them to do so. Until we stand up
and oppose their paternalistic behavior and expose it for what it is, they
will continue to treat us as they do. Take a look at some of these programs
who say their dogs give blind people dignity then consider the undignified
manner in which they treat them. Guide dog training programs need to let go
of their archaic thinking and start treating us like responsible adults!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala




Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU) National Federation of
the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG


The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you back.


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Howard J. Levine
via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2017 8:54 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Howard J. Levine
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

Just think of am I Phone or computers that so many people own, you don't own
the software or the operating system. You buy the I Phone or a computer then
you don't click agree then you can't use the I Phone or your computer. You
need agree to apples terms and conditions before you can use the device.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wayne & Harley
via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2017 8:04 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Wayne & Harley
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement

*Hello Ms. Tara,
On the face of it, the petition is a good idea, however, what if Southeast
Guide Dogs decides to take all the names on the petition and repossess the
guides of the signatories, or refuse them any further service?

CAVEAT: Your Mileage May Vary

Wayne And Harley

*On 1/7/2017 10:21 AM, Tara Wiseman via NAGDU wrote:
> What about writing a petition and creating a Facebook page for all
Southeastern guide dog users  and see if you can get a bunch of people to
sign the petition and send it to the school to have them change the
contract. The contract certainly seems wrong to me!
>
> Check out my podcast found at:abilitystories.podbean.com and on iTunes
>
>> On Jan 7, 2017, at 7:05 AM, Erika Wolf via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>
>> I share your same concerns  stated regarding this ownership policy
agreement  set forth by Southeastern Guide Dogs. What can be done to change
the language of this ownership agreement?
>> Owners of guide dogs  absolutely need to be protected upon obtaining
their guide dog without all these preposterous unnecessary restrictions
being placed upon the new handler.
>> Hence, limiting the time a person can actually work his or her guide dog.
This is extremely troubling to me as I read through all that you've
outlined.
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 7, 2017, at 5:32 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU 
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>                FYI, I am sharing with you the ownership agreement of 
>>> Southeastern Guide Dogs. This agreement was shared with me by a 
>>> graduate of the program. I would like to call your attention to 
>>> paragraph 3 of the agreement which states in part
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "3.    RETIREMENT. It is understood and agreed to that the Dog
>>>
>>> will be retired if, in the sole opinion of any SEGDI staff or 
>>> representative, the Dog is not healthy enough to continue as a guide
dog.
>>> It is also understood and agreed to that the Dog  MUST be retired on 
>>> or before his/her eleventh (11 th) Birthday"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Personally, I have some serious concerns about this paragraph. My 
>>> first and obvious concern is that it allows Southeastern to 
>>> repossess a dog with the sole discretion of any staff member of 
>>> Southeastern should that person determine the dog is not healthy to 
>>> continue as a guide dog. It does not require any objective evidence 
>>> nor that the person making such a decision be competent to do so.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>                This paragraph also requires an owner to retire their 
>>> dog on or before its 11th birthday. My second guide dog, 
>>> incidentally from Southeastern Guide Dogs, worked until he was 
>>> nearly 15 years old. Mike Sergeant used to refer to him as 
>>> "Superdog"! My third guide dog, also from Southeastern, worked until 
>>> she was 13 years old. It is my opinion that, if we own our dogs, no 
>>> one has the right to require we retire the dog and the 11-year-old 
>>> mark is arbitrary. Many of us have had guide dogs that have worked 
>>> well
past the 11 year mark.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>                Also, please pay attention to paragraph 5 in which 
>>> Southeastern has the right to repossess the dog for reasons of 
>>> "suspected abuse or negligence". This is troubling because it does 
>>> not require any evidence of abuse or neglect, simply a suspicion of
abuse or neglect.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>                Many other training programs have similar conditions 
>>> which I believe are paternalistic and arbitrary. I encourage each of 
>>> you to consider what you would do and how you would feel if someone 
>>> levied an unfounded, anonymous complaint of abuse or neglect against 
>>> you and, based upon this anonymous, unfounded complaint and, inspite 
>>> of the assertions of your veterinarian and close family and friends, 
>>> there was no evidence of abuse, your dog was repossessed. Lest you 
>>> say this would not happen, let me tell you it has and is currently
occurring!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>>
>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>> (813) 626-2789
>>>
>>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
>>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
>>> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind 
>>> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is 
>>> not what holds you back.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NAGDU mailing list
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NAGDU:
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>>> tt.net
>>
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