[Njagdu] Fw: Legislative alert - please act now

Thu Jan 20 16:10:14 UTC 2011

All,

Below is a copy of the letter I sent to both chairs of the
committees. Please take a few minutes and call them or write your
own note. It doesn't have to be perfect, your voice just needs to
be heard. If anyone wants help, just send me a note.

  _____  

From: Ginger Kutsch [mailto:gingerKutsch at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 6:53 AM
To: 'AsmAlbano at njleg.org'
Subject: Assembly Bill 832

Dear Chairman Albano: 

 My name is Ginger Kutsch and I am blind. I am partnered with a
German shepherd Seeing Eye dog named Pixie. I am writing to ask
you to schedule A832 for a hearing in your committee. The bill
makes it a crime for a person to intentionally injure or
interfere with a guide dog.

Sadly New Jersey is one of a few states that has yet to pass
criminal legislation for this purpose. Many states also include
criminal sanctions for those who intentionally and/or recklessly
allow their dogs to attack or interfere with a guide dog team.

My dog(s) and I have never been harmed by another person but we
have been attacked by an aggressive dog. The incident occurred in
2001 when I was walking to the college campus after just getting
off the city bus. When my German shepherd Mollie and I walked
down the sidewalk, another dog suddenly began barking and
charging toward us. I froze in fear as I heard the barking noise
get closer and closer. I heard no one yell for the dog to stop.
I dropped my dog's harness and leash and helplessly stood by
without any way to protect my dog or myself. We were completely
vulnerable - just like sitting ducks. Despite being freed,
however,  Mollie  refused to leave my side and simply stood and
waited for the attacking dog. The dog rushed by me and lunged at
my dog's neck. I screamed as I heard  Mollie  cry out. The owner
of the dog came running up, pulled her dog off of mine and walked
off without a word to me. She did not identify herself or offer
to help or pay vet expenses despite the fact that my dog was
clearly injured. I could not see the extent of Mollie's injuries
but when I reached down to feel for her, the back of her neck and
shoulders were wet with blood and saliva.

Mollie's physical injuries were not severe and healed quickly.
But she never did overcome the trauma of the attack and
eventually she was retired from service. The trauma of the attack
also took its toll on me. For months I was afraid every time I
heard a barking dog. Even to this day I feel a quick rush of
panic when I come across barking dogs.

Please help to provide us with the protection we need  against
both people and other dogs. By criminalizing these acts, you will
give us round-the-clock protection by the police, something that
animal control cannot offer. 

Thank you for your consideration,

  _____  

From: njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vincent Chaney
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:56 PM
To: Joe Ruffalo
Cc: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [Njagdu] Fw: Legislative alert - please act now

Joe,

Would you please have Bea forward this to all lists...

Vinny
Vincent Chaney Jr
NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board of Directors
NFBNJ Diabetes Division President 
NJAGDU (NFBNJ Association of Guide Dog Users) Division President
NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
NFBNJ Resolutions Committee Member
NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
Mail: vgc732 at optonline.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ginger  <mailto:gingerKutsch at yahoo.com> Kutsch 
To: 'New  <mailto:njagdu at nfbnet.org> Jersey Association of Guide
Dog Users' 
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 3:26 PM
Subject: [Njagdu] Legislative alert - please act now

Hello all! Please act quickly -- we all need to do our part to
get legislation passed that will protect our guide dogs from
attacks and interference. Please see below for more details and
feel free to share this message with friends, family and anyone
else who lives in New Jersey!
------ 

 Dear Seeing Eye Family, 

If you live in New Jersey, we need your help keeping Seeing Eye
dogs and puppies safe from attacks and interference.

New Jersey Assembly Bill 832 and its companion, Senate Bill 1154,
would make it a criminal offense for a person to harm a guide
dog, and increase the penalties for harming police dogs and
search and rescue dogs. These bills have stalled in committee and
are in danger of not being heard or signed into law. 

Please call or email the chairs of the Assembly and Senate
committees that are charged with hearing these bills and make
your voices heard. It is important to urge them to add the bills
to the schedule for the next possible hearing date, and to amend
the bill by adding penalties for dog owners who allow their dogs
to attack guide dogs and puppies.

Be sure to mention the bill number (A832 or S1154), your name and
address, and one or two short paragraphs about who you are and
why keeping Seeing Eye dogs & puppies safe is important to you.
If you or someone you know has a guide dog or has raised a Seeing
Eye puppy or experienced interference or attacks, include your
experiences when you write your letter. It's crucial that our
state officials understand the importance of Seeing Eye dogs and
puppies.

For Assembly Bill A832 , contact: 

The Honorable Nelson T. Albano

Chairman, Assembly Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee

21 North Main Street

Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

Phone: (908) 624-0880

Email: AsmAlbano at njleg.org 

For Senate Bill S1154, contact: 

The Honorable Raymond J. Lesniak

Chairman, Senate Economic Growth Committee

985 Stuyvesant Ave. 

Union, NJ 07083

Phone: (908) 624-0880

Email: SenLesniak at njleg.org 

Another way to help is to forward this request to as many New
Jersey residents as possible.

Please visit
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A1000/832_I1.HTM>
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A1000/832_I1.HTM

<
<http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E96&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0
&email=RnJX>
http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E96&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0&
email=RnJX

GlEN9QAVNgzdJS%2F2qdelug7Ahz6CNyIeD9VsXLU%3D> to read the
language for A832 and visit
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S1500/1154_I1.HTM> http:
//www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S1500/1154_I1.HTM

<
<http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E97&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0
&email=RnJX>
http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E97&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0&
email=RnJX

GlEN9QAVNgzdJS%2F2qdelug7Ahz6CNyIeD9VsXLU%3D> to read the
language for S1154. 

For more information about attacks on Seeing Eye dogs, please
visit:

 <http://www.seeingeye.org/protect>
http://www.SeeingEye.org/protect

<
<http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E98&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0
&email=RnJX>
http://visitor.benchmarkemail.com/c/l?u=A9E98&e=9A031&c=FBD7&t=0&
email=RnJX

GlEN9QAVNgzdJS%2F2qdelug7Ahz6CNyIeD9VsXLU%3D> or email us at
advocacy at seeingeye.org 

Sincerely, 

Jim Kutsch

President and Chief Executive Officer

The Seeing Eye, Inc.

 <outbind://71/www.SeeingEye.org> www.SeeingEye.org

  _____  

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