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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>To All Advocates for Dusty’s Law:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We in the New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users have worked on the situation of attacks of a guide dog since early 2009, when we recognized and for many experienced the vulnerability of attack in our communities for guide dog partners. We followed the progress of the bill in Pensylvania as it directly related to our NFBNJ Resolution 2009-02 and our goal to have this become the law in New Jersey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following article is good news for Pensylvania and I strongly urge everyone in our state to contact their legislatures in order for us to celebrate Dusty’s Law being signed into a NJ law…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need you to call and write, the time to advocate is Now…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:efedush@verizon.net" title="efedush@verizon.net">ED FEDUSH</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;" title="Undisclosed-Recipient:;">Undisclosed-Recipient:;</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:28 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> EXCERPT FROM MATILDA ZIEGLER MAGAZINE FOR THE BLIND OF AUGUST 14, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hello All:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thought this might interest you, if you already have not seen or do not know about it.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As you undoubtedly know, the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, in particular, has made a strong, concerted letter-writing effort to our Assemblymen and Women to urge sponsorship and co-sponsorship of this important, valuable and necessary legislation.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ed Fedush</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>Feature Writer Ann Chiappetta - State Law Passed to Protect Guide and <br>Service Dog Teams<br><br>The rise in dogs attacking guide and service dog teams appears to be <br>escalating, or at least it seems that way to those who are keeping watch. <br>Just this week alone, an Australian man's guide dog was attacked and <br>subsequently died during the assault, and a Scottish man's 2 year-old black <br>Labrador guide dog was retired prematurely due to the trauma from continued <br>harassment by unsupervised dogs. The push for officials to pass laws <br>penalizing offending dog owners is gaining interest in the global community, <br>and most notably, right here in the United States, thanks to a long-time <br>guide dog handler and a Pennsylvania lawmaker.<br><br>The latest push to protect guide and service dogs comes from a woman named <br>Passel Helminski, who lives in Pennsylvania, and who has been lobbying for <br>stricter laws for over 15 years. Thanks to her and Pennsylvania State <br>Representative John Evans, House Bill 165 has passed and is now in the state <br>law books. The law makes it a third degree misdemeanor for offending owners <br>of a dog who attacks a service dog. A service dog is defined as a dog that <br>serves to mitigate a physical disability, a hearing dog, or a guide dog. If <br>convicted, the offender could pay a five thousand dollar fine. If evidence <br>shows a dog owner could have restrained their dog and prevented the attack, <br>they may also be forced to pay veterinary bills, and pay the cost of <br>retraining or replacing the service dog. The training of a guide dog is <br>estimated at costing roughly $45,000 and the cost of training a dog for the <br>deaf or a person with physical disabilities runs between $5,000 and $30,000, <br>respectively.<br><br>Aside from the economic strain resulting from an attack, the trauma is akin <br>to being the victim of a robbery or assault due to the physical and <br>psychological effects upon both dog and handler. A study performed by a <br>popular guide dog school revealed that close to one third of dogs are <br>prematurely retired after being attacked. As for Passel, all three of her <br>guide dogs were attacked by aggressive dogs.<br><br>Passel and her service dog are heading to Harrisburg for a ceremonial <br>signing of the bill later this week.<br><br>To view the original article in the PA press, go to:<br><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.erietvnews.com/story/19208079/new-law-protects-service-dogs?clientype=printable"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>http://www.erietvnews.com/story/19208079/new-law-protects-service-dogs?clientype=printable</span></a><br><br></span>The article on the Scottish Attack:<br><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-news/local-news-ayrshire/ayr-news/2012/08/10/prestwick-man-s-guide-dog-attacked-102545-31574911/"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-news/local-news-ayrshire/ayr-news/2012/08/10/prestwick-man-s-guide-dog-attacked-102545-31574911/</span></a><br><br></span>The Australian incident:<br><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/guide-dog-mauled-to-death-by-pit-bulls/story-e6frf7kx-1226447407343"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/guide-dog-mauled-to-death-by-pit-bulls/story-e6frf7kx-1226447407343</span></a> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vinny<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vincent G Chaney Jr<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>732-251-8650<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, NFBNJ New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, NFBNJ Diabetes Division<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vice President, NFBNJ Technology Division<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Webmaster: nfbnj.org <a href="http://www.nfbnj.org/">http://www.nfbnj.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>