[OAGDU] FW: [NAGDU] Rev. Blake & Southeastern Guide Dogs in her Own words
marianne at denningweb.com
marianne at denningweb.com
Tue Mar 9 23:32:18 UTC 2021
I understand that you are a trainer rather than a handler but I think the school should have handled it differently. I also believe that ownership of the dog should transfer to the handler once training has been completed. If the handler is in any way mistreating the dog that can be reported to the county. When I had my first dogs I didn’t take them to the vet as often as I should have. If they had a health issue I definitely took them. Sometimes, it is a matter of not having the money to afford the vet. Schools provide the training for the dog and handler team even if they are aware that money may be an issue.
I think we should start with the assumption that what she is saying is true and conduct our investigation from that perspective. We have to stop believing the schools are always right and the individual is wrong.
I have never had a situation anything like this but the staff from the school only came to see me once or twice during the 28 years I had a guide dog that was trained by a school.
From: OAGDU <oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Diane Gudaitis via OAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 5:05 PM
To: Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users List <oagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Diane Gudaitis <dmgudaitis at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [OAGDU] FW: [NAGDU] Rev. Blake & Southeastern Guide Dogs in her Own words
I agree with Timothy. There is a lot that was not clear in her letter. It may not have been just a weight issue. She could have been behind in her shots and vet exams. If her dog had an untreated eye infection without antibiotics, the dog could go blind. Someone unbeknownst to this handler may have made reports to the school about observations they had seen. It could have been what the dog looked like or how it was being treated.
I was a puppy raiser with another guide dog school and their policy for released dogs was that they were adopted out to people who have been vetted and waiting a long time for one of these released dogs. They are usually waiting for at least 2 years and they are asked for a donation to the school in return. If a dog has medical issues, they have to have the means to pay for any medical treatment. There is usually a contract with their new owners that is similar to the one with the handler to make sure that the dog is safe and not neglected in any way. The schools want their dogs to be in a loving home where all its needs are taken care of. They want to work with the handlers to make sure that they can help the handler with any issues that arise in the home, with the dog or in their training. I’m very sorry to hear about this situation, and I hope that people don’t rush to judgment about this particular school without knowing all the facts.
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 9, 2021, at 3:58 PM, Timothy Meloy via OAGDU <oagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:oagdu at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
Marianne,
Thank you for sharing this. I saw a reference to an issue with Southeastern
over the weekend, and wondered what had happened.
I am without words at this point. I have received several dogs from
Southeastern and found them to be nothing but caring toward dogs and
handlers alike. The person referred to as Dianne is Deanne Miller. She
used to be by graduate services rep, and I went on a juno walk with her
before receiving Dusty, my current guide. She has always been pleasant and
informative to me.
I'm not sure when this person received her dog, but there is a weight
control plan that is part of the contracts now. As I remember, they will
work with you to develop a weight management plan if they get over weight.
I remember them telling us that 5 pounds over was the point we should reach
out to them for assistance. I recall a provision stating if they were over
15 pounds over, that would be grounds for removal of the dog. But it was
stressed that the school would work with us to keep the dog's weight under
control. The often repeated phrase was, "these dogs are like finely trained
athletes." Indeed, Southeastern has invested a great deal in doggy fitness
including treadmills, and a new dog aquatic area they are building.
I would have to look at the contract again to see what would happen if there
were multiple violations with the dog being five pounds over weight. It
seems they should have continued working with her.
The reps always call to schedule visits. I've never had a "surprise" visit
as described in Ms. Blake's account. And I find it very difficult to
believe that Southeastern would sell these dogs. I sympathize with Ms.
Blake's situation, but we need to get information from both sides before
jumping to conclusions. My apologies for the long E-Mail, but I thought it
was important to share my perspective as a fellow Southeastern graduate.
All the best,
T.J.
-----Original Message-----
From: OAGDU <oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Marianne Denning via
OAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 2:39 PM
To: oagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:oagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: marianne at denningweb.com <mailto:marianne at denningweb.com>
Subject: [OAGDU] FW: [NAGDU] Rev. Blake & Southeastern Guide Dogs in her Own
words
Here is a letter written by the person who most recently had her dog
removed. This has caused a lot of discussion in the NFB guide dog community.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala, via
NAGDU
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 4:28 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> >; blindtlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Marion Gwizdala, <blind411 at verizon.net <mailto:blind411 at verizon.net> >
Subject: [NAGDU] Rev. Blake & Southeastern Guide Dogs in her Own words
Dear All,
Please read Rev. susan Blake's account of what happened to her
in her own words. I have not edited the following in any way!
Marion Gwizdala
On Thursday, March 4, 2021 about 12 30 PM a car drove into my driveway. I
recognized the painted logos of Southeast Guide Dog Schoo. A woman emerged
from the car . She called herself Diane Miller. I had never met her before.
She said she had called while on her way from Tavares. There was no call on
my phone from her This was my first encounter with her. I had not seen my
usual representative since Nov/Dec of 2019. I had received a call mid
January from Diane announcing herself as the new rep, but I did not see that
call or listened to it until March 5th. Being visually impaired, sometimes I
don't see an entry. There has not been any other contact with the school in
all that time. I asked Diane where the other rep was and she said "she
isn't with our company anymor".
Diane was dressed in the usual uniform of SEGDS, tan slacks and jacket and
blue jersey. She had no ID, forms or paperwork. or contracts With her
that I could see. . with her. She presented me with nothing. I never
thought a thing about asking for ID, Why shouldn't I trust SEGDS who always
said they "care for the handlers and dogs".
I brought Didi out and had her in the harness while she went to her car and
was making a phone call. , I asked if she wanted to see her walk, and she
said "NO", I said "all the .trainer/reps want to see them walk and work."
She said nothing.
Diane said, about Didi, she seems to be overweight by 4 lbs". I looked at
her and said "she has lost weight, and now is at a good weight. I feed
her a vegetarian kibble, Pur Vita, frutis and vegetables".
She said "she was concerned she is not eating well. Did you know about our
program where you can get a bag of food each month and the Trifexus".
I said " I had learned a little about it from Rachel Weeks when they were
setting it up but done nothing about it. I said a lot of foods are not good
for the dogs and cause cancer. She said our food is from Wisconsin called
Fromm and we have salmon and potato and another fish flavor." I did not
make much of a comment.
I said "I do not believe in Trifexus, it is like a pesticide and I didn't .
want it".
She said "I probably agaree but those items will help you out. I feel she
is being neglected. " I said "no she isn't!"
She said " she has a stye on her eye and her eyes are cloudy."
I said "we're taking care of that with warm cloths and and this comes and
goes" .
Diane asked " have you had the dog's eyes tested"?
I said "no because I doubted if t here was any where around here to have
that done."
She said there were vets that gave some free shots and lower prices. She
took her phone and started reading locations; Bushness., Boynton. I said "I
can't get any where!"
She then asked " do you have rides?"
I said " no , only the para transit bus, with Lake County Connections."
She finally said there was such a vet, I do not know the name, in Eustis .
I said "I could get there if I arranged a ride." She seemed not to be aware
of barriers fffor the blind!
Dianne never finishing that story or the one about the special food and
medication program from SEGDS.
She just continued to say , at least 8 times or more, "you breached the
contract, I'm taking the dog."
She asked if I was up to date with her shots.
I said she may be a little late but I wasn' t makiing trips out due to
Covid. I said Didi and I were walking less at this time and I'd get it
taken care of. She is proably due.
I said that two months ago we went to a new vet that was less expensive,
Lake Vetinary Clinic of 19 A. She was treated for an ear infection, and the
vet weighed her she was 75 lbs. She said she looked good and was ok with the
weight. Vet Nancy Smith said "when Didi felt better, we could attend to any
other needs and shots. Let's wait a bit."
I was planning to go on the 5th , the next day, of March to get more Nexus
for the the flee control and make an appointment for follow up care and
shots etc. I was going to call the paratransit bus later on the afternoon
of the 4th , for the 5th. But now that Didi is gone... no need for that.
Diane askesd what vet I went to and I said Animal Wellness with Dr. Trac y
Wilson. She looked up the number and called and asksed when the last time I
had been there. I don't know who Diane talked to she went to the car to
call. She said 2018 when she returned. Then she looked up address for the
new vet but did not call them. See info above for Lake Veteinary Clinic.
During the visit, Diane seemed very disinterested in the dog or interacting
with her. She seemed cold, robotic and emotionless. Her mantra was " You
breached the contracct and I'm taking the dog".
When she got real emphatic, I burst into tears and shouted "NO, you can't
take her!" I began to sob. I She said, you have the other dog.! knelt on
the driveway, huged Didi, she gave me two wet kisses and I said good bye. I
didn't know what to do, I was in pure shock,. I felt threatened, shocked,
intimidated, and I didn't know what to do..I was so scared to resist. This
couldn't be happening. This is a terrible nightmare!
Diane detached the lead from the harness, and handed it to me.
I said "if you are taking her, what good will the leash do me"? She took
it, reattached it to the harness and tugged on Didi and said come we're
going to the car. She said, "she obviously loves you." I said "of course
she does" .
She asked me if I wanted another dog, and I shook my head no.
I said through tears, "will I see her again"? and she said "No"!
I couldn't even watch the car leave and I turned my back to the driveway
while she left.
I was sobbing so hard. I have cried a river of tears. I am so sad. I am
angry. I feel lost without my guide. I want my Didi girl back!!!!!!!
This was premeditated and . pre planned and well rehearsed for this
unnannounced visit. Great training!
Two days later, after many calls to agencies, asking for help, I was told
that the older dogs are " taken only with excuses that the handler's broke
the contract for a weight reason usually, and is taken away. and sold for 5
thousand dollars to off set the cost of the original guide dog teams.
I had had Didi since graduation in May of 2013. I have had her for almost
eight years! I love her with my whole heart. She 9.5 years old and has made
such a difference in my life. I am heartbroken, I want my dog back!!!! We
bonded at first sight! I've had her longer than SEGDS and know her. She is
smart, loyal and protective! Already my home is empty, she isn't here for
me, even guiding me in the house in the dark! Oh I miss her and love her,
no one could ever love her like I do!
I reflect on that incident. It happened so quickly.
This just wasn't a random visit, it was a pre calculated purposeful visit,
so well rehearsed with the phrase, you breach the contract, .I'm taking
the dog. They have taken advantage of a blind person, with low vision,
vulnerable and alone! They probably had their eyes on Didi, the prize, for a
long time! How many have they done this to?
What could I have done differently?
I should have run into the hosue with Didi, slammed and locked the door and
refused to surrender the dog. I just could think, I was so scared! I had no
one to help me!
The Police were contacted, they said it was a civil contract matter and they
could do nothing.
I should have called the police while Diane was there, I didn't have my
phone in my hands, and gotten her throw off my property. Intimidation wsa
the name of their game!
I am a Diabetic with high blood pressure. This excessive stress is not good
for me. My blood sugars have ben up, I have no appetitie and can't sleep.
I have cried so much my eye with sight is swollen and it's ahrd to see. This
unfortunate incident has taken its toll on me. How is effecting Didi???
My guide, my guide dog, my seeing eye dog dog has been stolen from me. I
have been robbed of independence,mobility especially.
Didi , a guide dog is not a pet, but a way to retain independence and
freedom, safe mobility and helps to keep confidence and dignity. This was
robbed from me. Doesn't the bible say, t " thou shall not steal"? I don't
feel as protected and safe now. Something precious beyond any amount of
money has been forcibly taken from me. This gift of independence, that
SEGDS gave me, should never have been taken away from me.
The SEGDS rep came unannounced. I had no knowledge she was .coming.
They gave me no chance to do any changes or resolve any issues, or d vet
care. They could have said, have it done, we'll be back in a week. Yes, the
last rep said she was overweight, and helped me help her lose weight, but
she never said, if you don't get the weight down, we'll take the dog. The
seems to be no recourse or due process or compassion for the people or dog
involved.
1 feel I have lost my protection, safety, security and unconditional love
from this guide dog who has taken care of me so well. She isn't here.
She's not here to greet me, be under my table on her bed and her chin isn't
on my foot under the computer. Her smiley bright eyes and wagging tail
aren't here for me. I feel so lost and alone. I can't think or function.
I keep thinking what must she be thinking. The uncertaintly, being scared
and where is my mom who takes such good care of me???!!!!
On Thursday, afternoon I had found the number and also a referrel from the
mobility instructor from New Vision for Independence, to contact the
National Guide Dog Users Groujp and this is how I found Marion Grizdala who
has been so helpful to me and he asked me to help speak out about this
issue. He said at least three dogs have been taken and clients treated this
way in the last year. I was shocked. I was over whelmed when he said the
dogs are sold for 5K. I also found out that giving is down for SEGDS from
2019 giving rates. I guess they must have found this money raising effort
to offset lower donation levels, but look at the price dogs and handlers are
paying!
Didi, don't forget me, I'll never for get you! We are working to bring you
home where you belong. The angels are watching over you!
Love, you mom,,,, Susan Blake
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