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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <span style='color:#1F497D'>As the president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, I sometimes refer to my guide dog as “First Dog”. </span>Some of you may already know that my beloved German shepherd guide dog, Sergeant, passed away in early September. I have not shared it too widely, as I am a fairly private person when it comes to my guides and have had a pretty challenging time adjusting to his passing. We are not really positive why he passed away but we suspect liver cancer, as we found he had nodules on his liver leading to a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis in February of last year. We were treating the symptoms and he seemed to be responding well but took a turn for the worse on August 31 and passed away on September 9.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I share this with you as a prelude to let you know that I will be meeting my potential new guide dog and NAGDU’s First Dog next Friday, February 23. Trooper is being trained by John Byfield of Freedom Guide Dogs in Cassville, NY. Trooper is a Blue Merle Smooth-Coat Collie who stand about 28” at the shoulders and currently weighs in at about 66 lbs. The Blue Merle is a <span lang=EN>silvery gray marbled with black and tan with white areas on the chest, neck, feet/legs, and tail tip.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN> There are some major reasons I chose Freedom Guide Dogs for my next dog. One reason is the opportunity to train with John Byfield. For those of you who do not know John, he is probably the most experienced and well-respected guide dog trainer in the world. John began training guide dogs in the U.K. at the age of 20 and just recently celebrated his 80<sup>th</sup> birthday, though you would likely not guess him as much more than his mid-60s. This is likely due to his walking several miles every day while training young pups for the past 60 years. Training with this legend will be an honor and very exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN> Another reason I have chosen Freedom Guide Dogs is because of their unique breeds. I am unaware of any other guide dog training program with Collies in their strings. They have a very soft temperament, lots of energy, and an incredible work ethic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN> Freedom Guide Dogs also conduct exclusively community training, meaning they bring the dog to you and train you in your home town. At the same time, though, Trooper has been prepared to live and work my lifestyle. Since I travel a lot, he has been exposed to flying, <span style='color:#1F497D'>buses, </span>busy city traffic, and subways – something we do not have here in Florida. They have kennels in Cassville but no dormitories. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN> My final consideration for choosing Freedom Guide Dogs – and something I share with anyone asking me which program I recommend – is that, when I am finished with my training with Trooper, he is my dog, free and clear. Freedom will provide me with any follow-up I need but relinquishes any ownership interest in him. They will not and cannot remove him for any reason whatsoever. Such a policy respects <span style='color:#1F497D'>my </span>dignity as a blind person, ensures a safe, sound team, and creates a relationship based on the expectation that I am an adult with the ability to independently care for my dog and make decisions about his care and training without their interference. I have no hesitation asking them for help if needed because I am confident they will not interfere with my ownership rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN> I intend to document my training from the time I meet Trooper for the first time next Friday, begin my training regimen, and while John puts us through our paces throughout Tampa and the surrounding areas. If you would like to follow Trooper and me on our exciting journey, please subscribe to my blog, “Marion’s Musings” at<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><a href="http://mariongwizdala.wordpress.com">http://mariongwizdala.wordpress.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN>Let’s take this adventure forward!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN>Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President@NAGDU.ORG<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>