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

[Jedi]

Friends:

I agree that, if we're not careful, the service animal issue could and 
will get out of hand if not kept in check. I know a number of people 
who have carried all kinds of animals around stating that they're 
service animals when they're probably not.

That said however, I feel it's important to be careful about judging 
others who do have legitimate service animals even if they're a little 
different than what we'd expect. I'm thinking a bit about the woman who 
brought a guideing horse to national convention last summer. I 
understand that this woman came from a Muslem culture. I don't know 
much about Islam in the context of where she came from, but I've heard 
that dogs may be unacceptable to them as guiding animals for the blind, 
and I have also heard that, in some countries, using a cane is also an 
unacceptable way of getting around. that said, what would you recommend 
for this woman in order that she have her needs met and still be 
culturally appropriate? Meanwhile, I heard a lot of people talking 
about this woman's horse in a rather obvious tone of ridicule. While a 
horse would not be my preference, i felt quite frustrated with the 
attitudes of some of my colleagues regarding this woman.

In short, remember that our guiding animal/service animal preferences 
are culturally based and are arbitrary. While our cultural preferences 
should be taken into account, that certainly doesn't mean that we have 
the right to determine which animals are legitimate and which ones 
aren't. I say if the snake helps, is appropriate, and is out of the 
way, so be it.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> I agree.

> Paul use to know a gal  in college who had a tarantula and I guess she would
> let it crawl around in her hair.

> I would take a snake any day!


> Gloria Whipple
> Corresponding Secretary
> nfb of Wa
> Inland Empire chapter
> cell phone: 509-475-4993

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jedi
> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 10:40 PM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] A warm embrace from a slithery pal, The Olympian,
> September 24 2009

> 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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