[nfbwatlk] A warm embrace from a slithery pal, The Olympian, September 24 2009

[Jedi]

Well, personally, I had no problem with the snake. I don't know the 
science behind it, but if the snake helps him and is out of the way, so 
be it. I rather like snakes, so perhaps I'm prejudiced in a positive direction.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> Gad!  What next?  I hope they _do limit service animals to dogs.  
> That's enough!

> Alco

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nightingale, Noel <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:32 AM
> To: 'nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org' <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] A warm embrace from a slithery pal, The Olympian,   
> September 24 2009

> And a slippery slope about which some of us have cautioned is 
> represented by this article


> Link:
> http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/980930.html

> Text:
> A warm embrace from a slithery pal
> Service: Shelton man gets a hug from his boa constrictor to warn him 
> when a seizure is coming
> CHRISTIAN HILL; The Olympian
> Published September 24, 2009

> SHELTON - Most people would panic if a 4-foot boa constrictor draped 
> around their neck gave them a squeeze.

> Daniel Greene, 46, credits the snake's embrace for helping him live a 
> fuller life. So much so, in fact, that he has vowed to fight a tabled 
> proposal by the federal government that would prevent him and many 
> others from taking what they consider their service animals into stores 
> and restaurants.

> He said use of his reptilian aide gives him greater confidence when he 
> leaves home.

> "I was walking around playing Russian roulette a lot of the time," he 
> said of the period before he began using the snake, named Redrock, as a 
> service animal.

> Greene, who lives outside Shelton, suffers from epilepsy, a 
> neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked and reoccurring 
> seizures. He said the snake, its reddish-brown body draped around him 
> like a necktie when he's out in public, senses when a seizure is 
> imminent and gives him a light squeeze. The warning gives him enough 
> time to take medication to head off the attack, alert someone it's 
> coming or move to an area where the thrashing is not disruptive.

> Greene blacks out during these episodes, but his wife, Karen, said the 
> snake's warning has headed off about a half-dozen seizures in Redrock's 
> five months with Greene. This month, Greene has had four seizures at 
> night - she refuses to let the boa constrictor share their bed - but 
> none during the day
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