[NAGDU] Didi Comes Home

Thu May 20 21:55:25 UTC 2021

What grate news!!!!!!!! Hopefully this is the last time something like this
happens. 

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sherrill O'Brien via NAGDU
Sent: May 20, 2021 3:49 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org; flagdu at nfbnet.org; nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org; nfbfl at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sherrill O'Brien <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>; merrys at verizon.net;
merryschoch at verizon.net
Subject: [NAGDU] Didi Comes Home

Hello to all,

Below my signature, you'll find some great news!

Sherrill

Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary

Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890

Email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)     

DATE: May 20, 2021

TO: All Media     

CONTACT: Marion Gwizdala 386-272-7411

RE: Stolen Guide Dog Returned

SHERIFF'S OFFICE RETRIEVES STOLEN GUIDE DOG

On Thursday, May 20, the Columbia County Sheriff's department notified Advocates
for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) that Didi, Rev. Susan Blake's guide dog, had
been retrieved and was in their custody. ASAP immediately drove to Columbia
County to pick up Didi.  Didi had been sent to Columbia County by Southeastern
Guide Dogs after the organization forcibly removed the dog without warning,
without cause, and without authority. The court order known as a writ of
replevin was supported by the same transfer of ownership contract Southeastern
claimed gave it the right of unilateral repossession.

"The contract indicates that Southeastern must obtain an injunction to retake
the dog," explains Marcy I. LaHart, Susan Blake's attorney. "Once the issue of
possession is fully resolved in Columbia County we are considering further
action against Southeastern Guide Dogs so the organization does not unilaterally
help itself to another disabled person's service dog based upon some trivial
perceived shortcoming."

The saga began on March 4, 2021, when a representative of Southeastern Guide
Dogs, a Palmetto, Fla. nonprofit organization that trains guide dogs for the
blind, showed up unannounced at the home of Rev. Susan Blake, a blind Episcopal
priest for the Diocese of Orlando, and removed Rev.  Blake's 9-1/2-year-old
guide dog because the dog allegedly appeared to be about four pounds overweight.
Blake pleaded for her beloved guide dog to be returned and Southeastern refused,
citing a contract that they claimed gave them the right to unilaterally make
such a radical decision. Southeastern gave Rev.
Blake the chance to appeal their decision; however, the appeal was a sham heard
by the same group that made the original decision. Rev. Blake was not allowed to
speak in her own defense nor rebut the lies Southeastern made concerning the
health of Didi.

Once the outcry from the public began to impact Southeastern, they began
changing their story and their web of lies began to crumble. They asserted Rev.
Blake had not had her dog to the veterinarian since 2018 while Blake's records
have her visiting the vet exactly one month earlier on February 4.
Southeastern claimed the dog had tumors on one of its eyes while Blake's vet
noticed "a small growth on its lower right eyelid". Southeastern asserted the
dog needed dental surgery to address "severe gingivitis"; while Blakes vet
stated, "The gums are pink, the teeth a bit worn, and there is some tartar", all
to be expected for a dog of Didi's age. When confronted with facts that
contradicted their statements, Southeastern changed their story again, claiming
Blake "let Didi run free"; Blake admits Didi got out twice but she did not ever
intentionally let her dog roam. Still unable to justify their immoral,
unethical, and illegal behavior, Southeastern changed the narrative once again,
asserting Susan Blake voluntarily returned the dog. 

"The return of Didi is only the beginning of a process to hold Southeastern
Guide Dogs accountable and put the service animal training industry on notice
that they cannot treat their consumers with such blatant disregard,"
explains Marion Gwizdala, president of Advocates for Service Animal Partners
(ASAP), the Tampa-based advocacy and policy organization that is supporting Rev.
Blake. 

Gwizdala asserts these incidents are not uncommon. During his past thirty-three
years as a service animal advocate, he has heard this story several times and
has published other articles about these abuses.
Convincing consumers to take on the multimillion dollar nonprofits with so much
community influence and respect is a daunting prospect. Even when the abused are
willing to come forward, finding an attorney to take on the case was
problematic.

"For two months we just kept following the path that was unfolding before us,"
explained Merry Schoch, a licensed clinical social worker and ASAP's Vice
President. "Susan finally came across Marcy LaHart and here we are!"

Gwizdala and Schoch were both involved in a similar case in which another
Southeastern Guide Dog consumer, Les Demers, had his dog removed without warning
and without cause on April 22, 2020. They did not know Marcy at the time but
they do now!

"Their cruel, immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior stops here!" asserts
Gwizdala.

Advocates for Service Animal Partners has created a special advocacy fund to
help others like Susan Blake and Les Demers, as well as anyone in need of
advocacy support because of their choice to use a service animal. All funds are
used specifically for advocacy efforts; none of these funds are used to pay
salaries. You can support this fund by making a tax-deductible contribution by
visiting the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/asap411/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MEPNDCN89FDQ2

If you have a concern or need help, contact Advocates for Service Animal
Partners (ASAP) at 386-272-7411 (386-ASAP411) OR Advocacy411 at gmail.com.

# # #

About Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)

                Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is a
newly-organized network of service animal advocates across the United States.
Our goal is to encourage, educate, and support service animal handlers through
printed and electronic publications, informational webinars, recorded
educational materials, and direct advocacy support, intervention, and mediation.
In support of this mission, we also work to educate employers, governmental
entities, private companies, housing accommodations, and the airline industry
about the rights, responsibilities, and limitations of access under state and
federal law.  

About Marcy I. LaHart P.A.

Marcy LaHart Esq. is a solo practitioner focusing her practice primarily on
animal law and open government law. She represents persons with disabilities in
matters relating to emotional support animals and service animals. She also
advises pet owners, rescue groups and other animal welfare organizations that
have legal issues regarding companion animals, including defending allegedly
dangerous dogs, pet custody disputes, and various animal related torts such as
veterinary malpractice. Ms. LaHart has also handled many public records law and
government in the sunshine cases.

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