[Nyagdu] Introduction

[Lucy Marr]

Hi Heather,

Glad you joined the list and we are also happy to have you as our First Vice 
President. I hope everyone will give some consideration to ways we can 
strengthen this division. It has not been active in a few years.

All the best to you and your family for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Lucy and Jayden


-----Original Message----- 
From: Heather Bird via Nyagdu
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2016 10:51 AM
To: nyagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Heather Bird
Subject: [Nyagdu] Introduction

Hello, list.

My name is Heather. My current guide is Ilsa, a black and tan German
Shepherd Dog from the Seeing Eye in Morristown New Jersey. Ilsa is my
second guide from TSE, my previous Seeing Eye dog being Frieda a black
and tan coated GSD who just retired in August of 2016. I have had two
GSDs, Paisley and Drew, sable and black and tan respectively, from
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and my very first guide dog who I got at
age 16 was a yellow Labrador retriever named Brittany, from Guiding Eyes
for the Blind in Yorktown Heights New York.

I grew up with guide dogs as my mother, Bernice, has been working guide
dogs for almost 40 years. When I was an infant my mom, essentially a
single parent, did such a good self-advocacy job that Jeff Lock agreed
to make her one of GEB's first home placements, and the first of her
dogs that I met was a black lab named Brenna. Now my sons, Jeremy 8 and
Caleb, 3 in January are growing up watching me work my dogs, which is
great because both of them are visually impaired. I had Paisley when
Jeremy was born and I brought Frieda home just after Jeremy's third
birthday. Caleb still asks where Frieda is, but he is adjusting to Ilsa.
My biggest challenge is convincing my toddler parrot not to repeat all
of the commands that I give to Ilsa while he rides in a baby carrier on
my back.

My husband, Jim is a service dog handler as well. He is sighted, but he
uses a psychiatric service dog, a smooth coat collie named Dante, a dog
we jointly owner trained to address Jim's combat-related PTSD. Jim is
supportive of guide dog handlers and is quite savvy about the different
schools, the guide dog/service dog laws and he and I help one another
not only as spouses, but as fellow service dog handlers.

Jim and I are both members of IAADP, International Association of
Assistance Dog Partners. Jim, Bernice and I are all members of NFB
Rochester as well. Jim and Bernice are also joining NYAGDU and one or
both of them may or may not join the mailing list in future.

I am a total guide dog geek, I admit it. *smile* I love to learn from
and be inspired by more experienced guide dog handlers, and I love to
teach/mentor less experienced guide dog handlers. I am a big preponent
of my current school, the Seeing Eye, but I am also supportive of the
rights of owner trainers and I am very interested in the constant
changes in the guide dog world, including the areas of strength and
weakness, growth and change  at all guide dog schools including my own.

I have a passion for working dogs of all types as I believe that
generally speaking, dogs are happier, healthier and more fulfilled when
they are guiding, herding sheep, pulling sleds, finding drugs,
identifying bombs, rescuing people who are lost, partnering with police
officers, serving in the military, providing animal assisted therapy,
helping hunters bring home dinner, or performing service dog tasks. I
contend that a trained dog is a secure dog, a working dog is a fulfilled
dog and as we all know, a tired dog is a good dog.

PS, as an icebreaker for me to get to know some of you other listers...
If you were a dog, what breed would you be and why? I would be either a
German Shepherd or a Dobermin Pincher, as I am intelligent, but also
very vocal, a little bit dramatic, a little bit obsessive, and these
traits often work to my advantage, but sometimes work against me. My
older son would be a standard poodle, my younger son would probably be a
golden retriever, my mom a Labrador and my husband would be a
golden/doberman cross, civilian self combine with military self.

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