<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>All,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Pasted below is a copy of a draft awareness letter from The Seeing Eye. We’re still working on the accompanying flyer. When the flyer is completed, we’ll be sending the letter and flyer via email to all NJ grads and puppy raisers so that they may distribute the info in their communities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Dear New Jersey Law Enforcement and Animal Control Officers:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>This letter is intended to explain the vital service that guide dogs provide for people who are blind or visually impaired, and to stress the importance of enforcing state and local laws – specifically a new state law passed in 2014 colloquially known as “Dusty’s Law” (2C:29-3.2).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Attacks and interference by uncontrolled dogs pose a significant threat to guide dog teams. Studies show that most of these incidents take place on public rights-of-way, often within 30 minutes walking distance of the guide dog team’s home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>These incidents are far more dangerous than simple dog-to-dog altercations. Bodily injury inflicted by an aggressive dog is not the only threat. The team’s safety depends largely on a guide dog’s ability to concentrate on its work. When the dog is distracted from its duties, the blind person’s mobility can be suddenly and severely impaired. Moreover, in the confusion of an attack and its aftermath, either or both team members may be exposed to vehicular traffic or other environmental dangers without being safely oriented to their immediate surroundings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Even without physical injury, attacks and interference can permanently affect a guide dog's behavior and work performance. If law enforcement and animal control agencies could step up their efforts to restrain dogs at large, especially in areas where guide dog teams typically travel, these negative encounters could be greatly reduced. Likewise, timely action when responding to calls and thoroughly investigating and reporting all interference and attack incidents involving guide dog teams could also help to minimize future risks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>The new law, New Jersey statute § 2C:29-3.2, penalizes pet owners whose dogs interfere with or physically harm a guide dog or a guide dog puppy. Sharing this law as well as a copy of the enclosed flyer with community members may help to encourage voluntary compliance in regard to keeping their dogs under control at all times.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Just as sighted people depend on their vision to go from place to place, blind people rely on their guide dogs to provide a safe and effective means of travel. Please help ensure that guide dog teams and the families who raise guide dog puppies can walk freely within their communities without fear of interference and attacks by aggressive dogs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>For more information about guide dogs and interference, please go to <a href="http://www.SeeingEye.org/protect">www.SeeingEye.org/protect</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Thank you for your time and interest,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>James A. Kutsch, Jr., PhD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>President & CEO, The Seeing Eye<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>