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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear All,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Before forwarding the below message, I asked the writer for her permission to do so. Her reply and the original message follows.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>This situation is deplorable. Please feel free to use <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>anything I write. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Warm regards to you and Merry <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Arlene M. Naulty <br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=yiv5961024024><div><div><div id=yiv5961024024yqt97514><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div id=yiv5961024024><div><div><div id=yiv5961024024><div><div><div id=yiv5961024024><div><div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>While this is an example of over reach, it also exposes the</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>person with no vision or low vision to danger and emotional</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>damage. Pulling a guide dog without notice or preparation</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>is beyond the pale. It is inhumane and damaging for all </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>parties involved. This is clearly a matter for the Affiliate </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>and/or our National Office. Has that been done? </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Our membership should be informed....so they understand</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>and can share this information.</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>It looks like Southeastern has a contractual clause that they</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>never release ownership. If that is the case, it leaves the </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>door open for the guide dog to be pulled from the "owner"</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Obviously, there are other guide dog folks with Southeastern</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>guide dogs. This is an incredible exposure for "repeat</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>performances" A protection plan needs implementation. </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Notwithstanding the emotional trauma for the blind or low</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>vision citizen and the guide dog....this requires immediate </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>attention and involvement.</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Joe and I received the initial detailed report from Marion which</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>was forwarded to us by Camille just 36 hours ago. The matter</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>requires meaningful action. Where does the Affiliate and the </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Chapter stand on this? It sets forth an immediate need to warn</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>those involved so they can protect their guide dogs and </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>themselves. The confiscated guide dogs must be returned </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>without delay.</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>How awful ! ! !</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1 style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Arlene Naulty<br></span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Joyce Taylor <<a href="mailto:dr.joycetaylor56@gmail.com" target="_blank">dr.joycetaylor56@gmail.com</a>><br>To: <a href="mailto:amnaulty@aol.com" target="_blank">amnaulty@aol.com</a>; Joe Naulty <<a href="mailto:jnaulty@cfl.rr.com" target="_blank">jnaulty@cfl.rr.com</a>><br>Sent: Sun, Mar 7, 2021 11:23 am<br>Subject: FW: [NFBF-Leaders] Southeastern at it Again!</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=yiv5961024024yqt98137><div id=yiv5961024024yqt26479><div id=yiv5961024024yqt50044><div id=yiv5961024024><div><div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> NFBF-Leaders <<a href="mailto:nfbf-leaders-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-leaders-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-Leaders<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, March 06, 2021 7:57 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <<a href="mailto:nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org</a>>; NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>>; <a href="mailto:nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:flagdu@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">flagdu@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> Marion Gwizdala <<a href="mailto:marion.gwizdala@verizon.net" target="_blank">marion.gwizdala@verizon.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-Leaders] Southeastern at it Again!</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> On Thursday, march 4, Deanna Miller, one of Southeastern Guide Dogs Field Representatives made an unannounced visit to the home of Rev. Susan Blake, an Episcopal priest for the diocese of Orlando, Florida. They demanded to see her dog. When Rev. Blake let her in, the representative stated her guide dog “looked about four pounds overweight” and they were removing it. Southeastern’s contract allows them to repossess a dog for abuse, defined by this contract as being overweight. They also told her they had contacted her veterinarian and was told they had not seen the dog since 2018. The representative also stated that this vet said she was behind on her rabies vaccination. Rev. Blake attempted to explain that she had changed vets and her dog was seen by her current vet about one month earlier for a physical and vaccinations. Rev. Blake also attempted to explain that when she saw her current vet, he did not want to give her a vaccination because the dog had an ear infection. Once the infection was cleared, the dog would be vaccinated. Ms. Miller would hear none of it, obviously intent on the repossession. Ms. Miller pulled the leash from Rev. Blake’s hands, loaded her dog into the vehicle, took the leash off of the dog, and handed it back to her, driving off with her guide dog. Rev.Blake was left in her driveway with an empty leash in her hand!</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> In less than one year this is the second instance I know about in which Southeastern has removed a dog because they believed it was overweight, without objective evidence, without warning, and without due process. This sort of abuse of guide dog consumers must stop and the National Federation of the Blind needs to step up and do something about this!</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Fraternally yours,</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Marion Gwizdala</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Marion Gwizdala</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>(813) 626-2789</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><a href="mailto:Blind411@verizon.net" target="_blank">Blind411@verizon.net</a></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=yiv5961024024msonormal1><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>