[Ohio-talk] Another view - I don't have it in for any airline
Deborah Kendrick
dkkendrick at earthlink.net
Wed Nov 20 12:15:43 UTC 2013
Hello Colleen,
Thanks much for your thoughtful remarks.
It is true that some handlers don't seem to have gotten the same training as
others, and it frustrates those of us wo have dogs.
On the other hand, sme dogs are just more challenging.
In the Rizzi case, though, it didn't sound to me that anything unusual was
going on. The flight attendant just didn't understand -- and that was why I
wrote the column as I did. The only thing that will really fix it in the
end, I suppose, is more of us putting up with being out there and educating
the public, one person at a time. It's tiring for sure, but eventually, it
works.
Be well, and thanks for writing.
Deborah
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of COLLEEN
ROTH
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 12:17 PM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Another view - I don't have it in for any airline
Hello Deborah,
I think your article was right on target. Sometimes people get so upset that
they can't be very rational when dealing with difficult people.
Maybe this flight attendant was apraid of dogs and was uncomfortable with
the dogs head or paws sticking out from under the seat.
If this was the case maybe that person could have traded with another
attendant and worked another part of the plane.
It wasn't fair for Mr. Rizzi to be treated the way he was but how did he
handle the situation.
I understand that dogs would get restless in a cramped space and I just
wonder why the dog couldn't have been allowed to walk up and down the aisle
with Mr. Rizzi handling the dog.
Let's be honest, some handlers did not do a good job with their dogs.
They do not monitor the dog and even let it wander around when it should be
under control.
I am sure dogs need to be worked regularly to keep their skills sharp.
Recently I encountered a blind person with a Guide dog who told the dog to
lie down seven times before the dog did what it was supposed to do.
This was in a restaurant. Either the dog needs some retraining or the blind
person does not take the dog to restaurants very often.
This is a rarity but I do believe Guide Dogs need to work on a regular
basis.
I also think dogs should be kept closer to the handler when at a Convention.
Not everyone appreciates your dog as much as you do.
This goes for any situation where you have your dog in public.
I really would appreciate it if people would think about how they handle
their dogs.
I certainly feel that everyone who wishes to use a Guide Dog should have the
rights that go along with this use. I also think that they should have the
responsibility of caring for their dogs, cleaning up after them, keeping
them off of other people's feet, not allowing them to get in other people's
person space, etc.
It is hard when employees are not on the same page.
I am sure that some education is necessary.
I hate to say this but two of the dogs which were not very well behaved were
from Pilot Dogs.
Colleen Roth
----- Original Message -----
From: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com>
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Sunday, November 17, 2013 2:03 pm
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Another view I don't have it in for any airline
>
>
> Deborah, it was a very good article. I hope your trip to Florida goes
> well. Are you flying through Philadelphia or Charlotte? As you can
> tell, I have used U.S. Airways a few times.On 11/17/13, Deborah
> Kendrick <dkkendrick at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Since the whole airline situation has everyone talking, I thought
> > I'd share my newspaper column, in today's Columbus Dispatch, with
> > you all. You could go read it yourself, but I am pasting it here,
courtesy of NFB NEWSLINE.
> > Would love to hear what you think of my spin on the situation.
> >
> > Deborah Kendrick commentary: Common sense can smooth out a flight.
> > Sunday November 17, 2013 6:58 AM At first, I admit, I paid attention
> > to the story only because I had just booked my flight to Florida for
> > Thanksgiving and had found the procrastinator's lowest fare to be on
> > an airline I've never
> > patronized: U.S. Airways. A story combining U.S. Airways and "guide
> > dog" in its lead naturally garnered my attention. Albert Rizzi and
> > his dog, Doxy, were kicked off a U.S. Airways flight from
> > Philadelphia to Long Island on Wednesday night. The flight was
> > delayed. Maybe you've been there everyone cramped in their tiny
> > spaces, sitting on the tarmac, waiting for the plane to just take
> > off already. Guide dogs are typically extremely well trained, but
> > they are living creatures, after all, and this one was apparently
> > restless after an hour and a half. The flight attendant told Rizzi
> > to get his dog completely under the seat. When he couldn't do that,
> > she called security, the plane returned to the gate, and the man-dog
> > team were escorted off the plane. What made the story noteworthy was
> > the reaction of the remaining 30-some passengers. Removing Rizzi
> > from the plane was absurd and uncalled for, many passengers
> > protested. The pilot came out of the cockpit and pronounced the
> > flight cancelled. In a powerful act of solidarity, the passengers
> > followed Rizzi and Doxy, many of them then taking the bus back to
> > Long Island rather than booking another flight. Email lists and
> > Facebook pages have been buzzing with the outrage and support of
> > guide-dog users and general empathizers. Everyone has a story. And
> > most of the stories represent a simple lack of communication and
> > common sense. The problem is not so much that there aren't
> > regulations in place. There are. The problem is that each airline
> > and airport employee whether working security, curbside check-in,
> > or serving coffee to the squished human cargo has a tendency to
> > interpret rules in line with his or her own personal biases. Here
> > are just a few of my own experiences when flying with dogs: I have
> > been told while going through security that I cannot touch my dog
> > until we have both been inspected. I have been told while going
> > through security that I must touch my dog until we have both been
> > inspected. I have been told that I absolutely can not sit in a
> > bulkhead row. I have been told that I must sit in a bulkhead row and
> > nowhere else. I could go on, but you get the gist. Each of these "rules"
> > has
> > been stated with absolute conviction and authority by the employee
> > involved and, luckily for me, I have dissuaded them of their
> > convictions through good, old-fashioned conversation and
> > explanation. No doubt I have been very fortunate. I have never been
> > kicked off a plane. In fact, I've often received unexpected treats
because some other human loves cute canines.
> > Gate
> > agents have generously given me a seat with an unoc'cup'ied one
> > beside it so my dog can stretch out. Flight attendants have been
> > known to move me to first class because they like Labradors. And
> > fellow passengers have begged to mind my dog while I go to the rest
> > room at the back of the plane. I have had several guide dogs over
> > time ranging from 46 to 86 pounds, including a German Shepherd, a
> > few golden retrievers, both black and yellow labs. And I've flown
> > more times than I can possibly count. What I've learned is that
> > every person using a service animal develops a personal style for
> > handling the traveling-with-dog situation. Some dogs fits easily
> > under a seat, and some don't. Some sleep through anything, while
> > others are a bit more prone to anxiety. These are humans and dogs we
> > are talking about here. Living beings simply are never going to be
> > as compliant or predictable as inanimate objects. If other airlines
> > indeed, other businesses of all types want to avoid being the
> > center of similarly unpopular headlines, here's all you need to do.
> > Test your employees for common sense from time to time. And require
> > that anyone dealing with customers has a certain measure of respect
> > for other humans even ones who use dogs to guide them on and off the
plane.
> > Albert Rizzi's fellow passengers clearly possessed that kind of
> > respect for a fellow human. Maybe U.S. Airways should hire some of
> > them. Deborah Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people
with disabilities.
> > dkkendrick at earthlink.net This article is provided to you as a
> > courtesy of NFB-NEWSLINER Online for your sole use. The content of
> > this E-mail is protected under copyright law, and is not to be
> > distributed in any manner to others; infringement of our
> > non-dissemination agreement is strictly prohibited. Allowing someone
> > to have access to this material is in violation of the Terms of Use
> > agreement that you electronically signed when you signed up for
> > NFB-NEWSLINER Online. Please do not forward this E-mail or its
> > attachments to any other person or disseminate it in any manner. Thank
you.
> > The NFB-NEWSLINER Team.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> > Dawn
> > Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:18 PM
> > To: 'Ationfb of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
> >
> > Hello I am laughing this is so funny everyone have a blessed day
and
> > thank God for the N F B and all the wonderfull people who are
> > members
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> > COLLEEN ROTH
> > Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 7:36 PM
> > To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
> >
> > Well if Wanda has been an NFB Member for 188 years she was
> > definitely pre-NFB.
> > Happy 73rd Birday, NFB.
> > We were formed in Wilke-Barre November 16, 1940.
> > Go have some yummy to celebrate.
> > Colleen Roth
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com>
> > To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> > <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Date: Friday, November 15, 2013 10:51 am
> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Wanda, you don't look as old as you must be if you have been an NFB
> >> member for 188 years. (smile)
> >>
> >> On 11/16/13, Wanda Sloan <wsloan118 at roadrunner.com> wrote:
> >> > I agree. I have been a NFB member for over 188 years and this
> >> > issue with the Guide Dogs has always been a topic of aggravation
> >> > for the blind
> > users.
> >> > On going education is very necessary.
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> >> > Of Marianne Denning
> >> > Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 12:09 PM
> >> > To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> >> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
> >> >
> >> > Cheryl, we did that several years ago in Cincinnati, excuse me,
> >> > Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport. I think it is
> >> > ongoing education that needs to happen. Great idea!
> >> >
> >> > On 11/14/13, Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> Mary Ann,
> >> >>
> >> >> Some years ago I had a dog and I never had a problem traveling,
> >> >> by air or bus. The majority of my problems were with people and
> >> >> their cars, smiles, my dog was big and they always wanted him to
> >> >> get in the back seat.
> >> >> Do you think we should have some guide dog users and wheel chair
> >> >> users schedule some conversations with local administration of
> >> >> airlines to offer some education for their employees? This could
> >> >> be helpful and get directly to the problems.So many airline
> >> >> employees move from city to city, once educated they can spread
> >> >> the word and learn about the nfb.
> >> >>
> >> >> Blessings,
> >> >> cheryl
> >> >>
> >> >> On 11/14/13, Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> wrote:
> >> >>> Please don't think I hate any airline. It looks like there is
> >> >>> a pattern developing at U.S. Airways and that is of concern.
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> >> >>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> >> >>> (513) 607-6053
> >> >>>
> >> >>> _______________________________________________
> >> >>> Ohio-talk mailing list
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> >> >>> ain
> >> >>> e19
> >> >>> 57%40gmail.com
> >> >>>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Peace
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> >> 40d
> >> >> enn
> >> >> ingweb.com
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> >> > Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> >> > (513) 607-6053
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
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> >> > r.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
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> >> > nningweb.com
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> >> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> >> (513) 607-6053
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ohio-talk mailing list
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> >
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>
>
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
>
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