[NFBF-Tampa] FW: [NAGDU] doggy repo

[Marion Gwizdala]

HI All, 

Just a couple thoughts on this issue from a former guide dog school employee. 

First of all, this is, as noted, very inappropriate treatment of graduates, regardless the program. 

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 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Jenine, still waiting for her next dog 

> On Mar 7, 2021, at 7:45 PM, Marion Gwizdala, via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Richard,
> 
> 	As I mentioned in another post, the Guide Dog Foundation transfers 
> ownership upon completion of training. They will not repossess a dog 
> unilaterally; they will contact the local animal services and have 
> them investigate it. In fact, GDF will not take anonymous complaints.
> If a complainant refuses to divulge their contact information, they 
> wil refuse to take the complaint. This is how it should be with all 
> guide dog training programs. Anything less is paternalistic and undignified!
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
> 
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> (813) 626-2789
> Blind411 at verizon.net
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Richard via NAGDU
> Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 2:29 PM
> To: NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> Cc: richardfiorello716 at gmail.com
> Subject: [NAGDU] doggy repo
> 
> Hi;
> 
> While I'm at my keyboard: I would have never thought that a school 
> would basically repossess a guide dog unless there were cruelty complaints.
> Unfortunately, someone locally had an incident with guide dog 
> foundation when an instructor came out to "help" with an intersection 
> that was a problem.  Fortunately she got the dog back from the school 
> after they worked with it and to my surprise will be getting another guide from them soon.
> 
> Richard
> 
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