<html>
<body>
<br>
The National Association of Guide dog Users, a strong and proud division
of the National Federation of the blind, has recently been
contacted by several individuals telling us that the guide dog program
from which they received their dogs has been inserting themselves into
their personal lives without consent at a level that is abusive and could
be considered illegal. It is important to know that the incidents I am
sharing do not represent all the concerns we have received, happened with
three different guide dog training programs, and are not isolated
incidents; rather, they are illustrative of how many guide dog users are
treated by these programs. <br>
<br>
In one case, the guide dog program contacted one of their consumers,
telling them they have been watching their Facebook page and notice a
post stating that the quarantine has kept the team from working. This
program threatened to remove the dog unless they could prove they have
started working the dog again. I find it difficult to believe that this
one person is the only one to be watched and contacted.<br>
<br>
We have also been contacted by individuals whom have had their dogs
forcibly removed due to the dog’s weight without warning, without due
process, with no offer of intervention, and no hope of reunification. One
individual was even threatened with arrest for animal abuse by the guide
dog training program if the dog was not surrendered immediately.<br>
<br>
We believe such behavior on the part of a guide dog training program is
not only abusive and disrespectful to their right of quiet enjoyment. it
may also be illegal, constituting Grand theft, since each of these
individuals owned their dog.<br>
<br>
A couple attending a state rehabilitation center had both of their guide
dogs’ harnesses removed abruptly because the Assistant Director of the
facility who is also a guide dog user reported that the couple had been
banned from the facility because their dogs acted aggressively toward
other guide dogs. The guide dog program did not contact the couple in
advance and conducted no investigation ; rather, a trainer simply showed
up at their door and repossessed the harnesses. I contacted the Director
of the facility and he told me the couple was not banned; in fact, they
were on the campus as we spoke. The Assistant Director was removed. I
contacted the guide dog training program to discuss this issue but they
refused to talk to me, citing privacy concerns, in spite of the fact I
had a signed authorization to release information. <br>
<br>
It is also worthwhile to note that the trainer who removed the harness
also went to the local police department to tell them they had
repossessed the harnesses and the dogs were no longer legitimate guide
dogs. Fortunately, due to the effort of the local affiliate division, the
police officer knew more than the trainer expected and told the trainer
they had no intention of interfering with their civil rights to use their
dogs and that the essential element of a service dog is its training
which cannot be removed. The couple ordered new harnesses from On the go
and continued working their guide dogs.<br>
<br>
We have also heard from several consumers of one specific training
program that trainers regularly contact them for no reason and without
notice stating they are five minutes away and demanding to see the guide
dog. This program tells their consumers that, if they refuse to give them
access to their dog, they will remove it permanently.<br>
<br>
If you have had a guide dog removed or have been threatened with the
removal of your guide dog because of its weight, unfounded allegations of
abuse or neglect, your unwillingness to subject yourself to the
paternalistic practices of a guide dog training program, or been
subjected to what you feel is some other form of maltreatment by a guide
dog training program, the National Association of Guide dog Users wants
to hear from you! Your identity will be kept confidential. If we feel the
data we receive is valuable, we may create a report of our findings. All
information will be reported as group data, so you will remain anonymous.
Please send a narrative of the experience you wish to share to
<a href="mailto:advocacy@nagdu.org">advocacy@nagdu.org</a>.<br>
So, how can you protect yourself from the unwanted, unwarranted
interference from your guide dog training program? We want to offer you
some guidance and support. First of all, here is the disclaimer: The
information provided is informal guidance only; it should not be
considered legal advice. <br>
<br>
If you are contacted by a training program and they want to visit, you
have the right to politely refuse. Thank them for their concern and let
them know everything is okay. You may want to say something like, “I
appreciate your interest. If I need some follow-up, I will give you a
call.” <br>
<br>
It is also a good practice to take what is known as contemporaneous
notes. These are notes you make during or shortly after a conversation.
Simply write down the date and time, along with the details of your
contact. It is also helpful if you send an email to the training program
with your request to be left alone. These sorts of writings are usually
evidentiary in most states should the program attempt to take legal
action against you. Frankly, I have never heard of a training program
suing a consumer but that doesn't mean it will never happen. <br>
<br>
If someone from the guide dog training program shows up unannounced or,
as above, says they are in the neighborhood, do not give them access to
your dog. Guide dog users have fell for the ruse that they just want to
see how the dog is working. Once they have the dog and harness, guide
dogs have been loaded up and never seen again! Here, again, is a good
time for some hard evidence. If you have an iPhone, simply tell Siri,
“Record video”. Siri will open the video camera in a matter of seconds.
Press one of the volume keys and you are recording. Again, I am not an
attorney but there is no expectation of privacy when someone enters your
property. As an example, I am installing a doorbell camera and everyone
who passes by my house or comes to my door will be audio and video
recorded. Your iPhone is just another device.<br>
<br>
Should your dog truly need some intensive help and needs to return to the
training facility and you are willingly handing your dog over, ask for a
written statement that the dog will be returned no matter what the
outcome unless you decide otherwise. If they are unwilling to offer a
written or even a recorded statement, do not surrender your dog. You will
probably never see it again!<br>
<br>
If you are threatened with police action if you refuse to allow access to
your dog or surrender it, do not be intimidated by this. Law enforcement
is only charged with enforcing criminal laws. The relationship between us
and the training programs is a civil matter and no law enforcement agency
will interfere in a civil disagreement. At the same time, it might be
good for you to call the police yourself, as the guide dog training
program is trespassing and for this the police can remove them!<br>
<br>
At our annual meeting in 2013, the membership of the National Association
of Guide dog Users unanimously endorsed the first-ever Guide Dog
consumers’ Bill of rights. You can read this document by visiting<br>
<br>
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm11/bm1106/bm110609.htm">
https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm11/bm1106/bm110609.htm</a>
<br>
We believe that the ownership of our guide dogs should be congruent with
ownership rights of any property. In other words, no one may deprive us
of our right to own and possess our property, including our animals,
without due process. I believe guide dog training programs that forcibly
remove a dog without our consent and without due process are committing
grand theft, a crime which, I believe, is a felony in all states. Should
a training program assert there is a report of abuse and they intend to
require you to surrender your dog, refuse to allow this. We believe the
only method to require the surrender of a guide dog should be if there is
evidence of abuse or neglect as the result of a legitimate investigation
by the local animal services department. <br>
<br>
The National association of Guide dog Users and the National Federation
of the Blind are committed to protecting your civil rights and right to
possess your guide dog without undue, unwarranted interference of your
guide dog. If you feel you have been maltreated, discriminated against
due to your blindness or your choice to use a guide dog, or the
intersection of blindness and other disabilities, we want to hear from
you. We have tools and resources to resolve most issues and, if we are
unable to resolve a particular issue, we can guide you in filing a formal
complaint. Please feel free to write or call us for more
information.<br>
<br>
With warm regards,<br>
Marion Gwizdala, President<br>
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(813) 626-2789<br>
President@NAGDU.ORG<br>
<a href="http://nagdu.org/">Visit our website</a><br>
<a href="http://twitter.com/nagdu">Follow us on Twitter</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
<table style="border-top: 1px solid #D3D4DE;">
<tr>
<td style="width: 55px; padding-top: 13px;"><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><img src="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width: 46px; height: 29px;" /></a></td>
<td style="width: 470px; padding-top: 12px; color: #41424e; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Virus-free. <a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank" style="color: #4453ea;">www.avg.com</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table><a href="#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"> </a></div></body>
</html>