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<div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Marion,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Do we have any idea of the number of dogs SEGD has repossessed? Perhaps, if this is more common then we realize, we can seek to have a bill introduced for next years Legislative session. Perhaps we can put it out that we are looking for who has had this happen to them?</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Scott Siegel <br></div>
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On Sunday, March 7, 2021, 8:33:19 PM EST, Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-L <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org> wrote:
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<div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">HI All, <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Just a couple thoughts on this issue from a former guide dog school employee. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">First of all, this is, as noted, very inappropriate treatment of graduates, regardless the program. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I have been one of the people charged with helping to investigate claims of neglect and abuse. I had to set up with local authorities two different instances of reclaiming dogs because of documented abuse. We couldn’t just send someone out to grab the dog. We went through the proper authorities. This is not easy. Most local animal abuse codes don’t address the same standard of care expected of a guide dog handler. Sadly, both incidents I mentioned above had violated even the very loose local rules <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">That said, if we repossessed every dog that was over weight, first we’d have to agree on weight standards. One of our instructors at GDF, who is now retired, liked to see dogs on the very thin side and would berate graduates publicly if she felt their dogs were not at an appropriate weight, regardless of the body shape of the dog or any other factors. She and the GDF vets did not agree on weight and it got very ugly at times. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">It never got to the point of taking a dog. The position at the time was that if we had solid evidence that the handler was not making efforts to get the weight under control, we did not have to serve that person with another dog. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I’d ask NAGDU to look carefully at the standards and contracts recommended by Assistance Dogs International and IGDF, the voluntary accrediting body for guide dog programs. The ADI rules are pretty strict and since GDF has a sister organization, America’s VetDogs, that falls under ADI accreditation, I’m quite familiar with the ADI rules. No ownership by handlers. Schools do need to have an appeal process and stick to it but dogs can be reclaimed for weight issues. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I’ve made it known, and will continue to do so, that I’m not a fan of ADI’s administration. It’s not something you want to say too loudly when working for a guide dog school, but hey, I’m not doing that anymore so you have been warned. That said, there are some good, respectful and truly enlightened people within ADI. I met very few of them. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Jenine, still waiting for her next dog <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">> On Mar 7, 2021, at 7:45 PM, Marion Gwizdala, via NAGDU <<a ymailto="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Richard,<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> As I mentioned in another post, the Guide Dog Foundation transfers <br></div><div dir="ltr">> ownership upon completion of training. They will not repossess a dog <br></div><div dir="ltr">> unilaterally; they will contact the local animal services and have <br></div><div dir="ltr">> them investigate it. In fact, GDF will not take anonymous complaints.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> If a complainant refuses to divulge their contact information, they <br></div><div dir="ltr">> wil refuse to take the complaint. This is how it should be with all <br></div><div dir="ltr">> guide dog training programs. Anything less is paternalistic and undignified!<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Fraternally yours,<br></div><div dir="ltr">> Marion<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Marion Gwizdala<br></div><div dir="ltr">> (813) 626-2789<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a ymailto="mailto:Blind411@verizon.net" href="mailto:Blind411@verizon.net">Blind411@verizon.net</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> -----Original Message-----<br></div><div dir="ltr">> From: NAGDU <<a ymailto="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org">nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> On Behalf Of Richard via NAGDU<br></div><div dir="ltr">> Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 2:29 PM<br></div><div dir="ltr">> To: <a ymailto="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> Cc: <a ymailto="mailto:richardfiorello716@gmail.com" href="mailto:richardfiorello716@gmail.com">richardfiorello716@gmail.com</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> Subject: [NAGDU] doggy repo<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Hi;<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> While I'm at my keyboard: I would have never thought that a school <br></div><div dir="ltr">> would basically repossess a guide dog unless there were cruelty complaints.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> Unfortunately, someone locally had an incident with guide dog <br></div><div dir="ltr">> foundation when an instructor came out to "help" with an intersection <br></div><div dir="ltr">> that was a problem. Fortunately she got the dog back from the school <br></div><div dir="ltr">> after they worked with it and to my surprise will be getting another guide from them soon.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Richard<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> _______________________________________________<br></div><div dir="ltr">> NAGDU mailing list<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a ymailto="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:<br></div><div dir="ltr">> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> net<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> _______________________________________________<br></div><div dir="ltr">> NAGDU mailing list<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a ymailto="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jeninems%40icloud.c" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jeninems%40icloud.c</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> om<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">_______________________________________________<br></div><div dir="ltr">NAGDU mailing list<br></div><div dir="ltr"><a ymailto="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:<br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">_______________________________________________<br></div><div dir="ltr">NFBF-L mailing list<br></div><div dir="ltr"><a ymailto="mailto:NFBF-L@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:NFBF-L@nfbnet.org">NFBF-L@nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBF-L:<br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/deadeyenurse%40att.net" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/deadeyenurse%40att.net</a><br></div></div>
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