[NAGDU] the two questions

Wed Oct 11 16:41:45 UTC 2017

Yes, absolutely, the dog needs to be well mannered.  What I'm saying is that 
there is nothing in the law that gives Jon Q. Public the right to  go up to 
strangers with dogs and start asking questions.  We are all free to talk to 
people and to ask questions, but there is no obligation what so ever for the 
other person to answer those questions.

It feels a bit like asking those questions, when you are not the business 
owner, is intrusive, or like you are assuming the role of the dog police. 
Certainly we should interact politely with those we encounter, but 
determining whether or not a particular dog is or is not a service dog is 
not our place.   Interacting with fellow humans who do or do not have dogs 
is a good thing, but when that begins an evaluation of whether or not the 
person  can or cannot exercise his or her civil rights has gone too far.

I think the better approach is to engage people from a place of kindness and 
common humanity.  We should extend an offer of assistance if we feel we can 
be of help and then to respect what the decision of the other person is.  If 
the situation is truly a problem, as in the dog's behavior is affecting the 
normal flow of business, then the appropriate thing to do is to let the 
business owner or police know what is going on.  And yes, there is much to 
do to inform businesses and law enforcement know what they can and should be 
doing.

We all know what it's like for others to make assumptions about what we can 
and can't do.  We know what it's like to be misunderstood, denied access or 
treated hostilly because of our disability.  Because we know  first hand 
what it's like  to be treated like a second class citizen, I think we should 
be extra vigilant not to treat others this way.

Julie
On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com
http://www.guide-and-service-dogs.com
also find my products in the Blind Mice Mega Mall
<https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1916046>
-----Original Message----- 
From: Marianne Denning via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 10:55 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Marianne Denning
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] the two questions

Julie, you are probably correct. I think people who have problems with the
behavior of the service animal can talk to the manager or someone in
authority about the issues. If it is a service dog or not isn't the issue
but the behavior of the dog. No matter what service the dog performs it
can't be disruptive to others.

On Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 11:44 AM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Julie, I have a sense that you could be right. We have someone coming to
> our church with a so-called service dog. She is in a wheelchair. The dog 
> is
> not well behaved and whines all the way through the service. I haven't
> spoken with her yet because I'm afraid I would ask the questions. It wears
> a dirty sign that says it is working. She is not really very 
> communicative,
> and when she wants help she is demanding and ungracious. I have not 
> visited
> with her because I'm afraid I might ask her questions, but when she is at
> church again, I elieve I will reach out to her.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie Johnson
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 10:37 AM
> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Julie Johnson <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] the two questions
>
> I think most everyone here knows the two questions the DOJ’s guidance on
> service animals under the ADA allows.
> Is that a service dog?
> and
> What tasks does the dog perform?
>
> However, my understanding is that it is the business that can ask these
> questions.  These questions aren’t open for anyone to ask and answers be
> required.   So I’m thinking that if there is an issue with another dog in 
> a
> store, it isn’t up to the other shoppers to be asking the two questions.
> It is up to the store management to ask and deal with any issues that come
> up.
>
> Thoughts?
> Julie
> On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com http://www.guide-and-service-
> dogs.com
> also find my products in the Blind Mice Mega Mall <https://www.
> blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1916046>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/
> marianne%40denningweb.com
>

-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053
_______________________________________________
NAGDU mailing list
NAGDU at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2265 / Virus Database: 4365/14527 - Release Date: 10/11/17 