[Travelandtourism] One More Detail

Thu Mar 29 01:40:12 UTC 2012

Hello Margo and everyone,

    I think you lived in New Orleans for a while. You didn't happen to run 
in to Amos Moses by any chance did you? He's probably still hunting 
alligators somewhere in the bayou. After all the gators got the Louisiana 
Cheriff  not Amos Moses according to the Jerry Reid song.

    One thing I failed to mention this morning is that on the trip to Six 
Flags in 1998 there were three guide dogs in that building where the animal 
show was held. All of them were well-controlled during the show and while we 
met some of its cast members when the show was over.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margo and Arrow" <margo.downey at verizon.net>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Guide Dogs and Animal Venues

Peter, no, didn't have to wait until conventions.  I lived in new orleans
for 9 and a half years and I took that tour.  No, what I did was to go out
with friends into the bayous in flat boats and we were very close to
alligators.

I had firsthand experience just aobut any time i wanted to.

margo and Arrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Guide Dogs and Animal Venues

> Hello Margo and everyone,
>
>    Super! Let's see. You must have taken the Life of the Cajun Swamp Tour
> when the national conventions were held in New Orleans. During both the
> 1991
> and 1997 conventions we did that tour. Both times we took the boat ride
> down
> the bayou and were close to alligators and other swamp critters. In 1997
> we
> had the chance to hold a baby alligator. When I held the alligator it nor
> my
> then guide dog Tim became alarmed. This is surprising as Tim was very
> feisty
> and could be a handful to handle.
>
>    I had Ogden in 1991. During that particular swamp tour we visited a
> gentlemen who I believe was involved in wildlife rescue. He took us to his
> back yard and allowed us to touch and handle some of the animals he was
> rehabbing. I had a nutria fall asleep in my arms while Ogden sat calmly by
> my side. We also handled baby raccoons, baby alligators, and some other
> creatures I can't remember in close proximity with our dogs and without
> incident.
>
> The same was true in1994 when a friend and I visited Greenfield Village
> during that national convention. We toured the farm and were able to hold
> baby chicks and pat some sheep along with witnessing a sheepdog
> demonstration. Again this  was with Ogden by my side and in close
> proximity.
>
>    In 1987 we went to Rawhide a recreation of a western town near Phoenix.
> There livestock ran loose in the streets. Ogden decided to make friends
> with
> some of the sheep even to kissing one of them. This setting was similar to
> what a petting zoo would be like at Animal Kingdom and other zoos and
> wildlife parks around the country. Again there was no hint of aggression
> and
> everyone including Ogden and the sheep enjoyed themselves.
>
>    We've also been to several horse and cattle ranches and  never had any
> problems with my dogs and the ranch animals.
>
>        I've been to a number of aquariums including Sea World here in San
> Antonio and the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Sea World has
> birds
> that run loose in their enclosures which are very open particularly
> Flamingo
> Cove. The Aquarium of the Americas has a tropical rain forest exhibit
> which
> is similar to a bird aviary where guests can enter and be among
> free-flying
> birds in addition to various fish species in tanks throughout the rain
> forest. Ogden was with me and all went without a hitch.
>
>    I've visited numerous state and county fairs with my first dog Nash and
> my second dog Ogden. I even showed chickens at several of these fairs and
> at
> some poultry shows in Texas. Since chickens can get worked up when they
> feel
> threatened and since I would be in the show barn for the duration of the
> event I put Nash in a room where the chickens couldn't see him or chained
> him up out side near the barn so I could check on him to be sure he was
> all
> right.
>
>    Another animal encounter took place at Fiesta Texas quite unexpectedly.
> I stopped to ask for directions. The next thing I knew I had a maccaw
> purched on my head. He was joined by an African Grey Parrot that was
> placed
> on my left arm. An amazon Parrot was placed on my right arm. The gentlemen
> who owned the birds then took a picture of me and gave me a copy. All that
> time Ogden sat by my side and did not attempt to go after the birds nor
> did
> the birds become aggresssive towards him. It was quite an experience that
> demmonstrates that when handled well our dogs are not a threat to zoo
> animals, nor does its presence create a hazard for the animal collection
> or
> other park guests.
>
> As all ready mentioned I've visited several zoos with my dogs. These
> ranged
> from roadsize animal attractions to major zoos like the Audubon Zoo in New
> Orleans, The Detroit Zoo, and the North Carolina Zoological Gardens in
> Ashborough North Carolina. In all three cases we were not restricted from
> any area of the zoo including the petting zoo. The only thing that
> happened
> along that line was during our visit to the zoo in North Carolina they
> requested that a ranger accompany us during our time in the park. I gladly
> said okay and we saw just about every exhibit they had. we didn't make it
> in
> to the chimp exhibit but that was our choosing. At no time was there a
> problem between my dog and the other animals on display.
>
>    Eventually the rangers went away and left us to tour the rest of the
> zoo
> on our own. One of them told me that they had a previous guest with a
> guide
> dog in the zoo that wasn't well controlled. He didn't say if they asked
> them
> to leave or what happened. I assured them with both words and my example
> that most guide dog handlers control their dogs well and should there be
> problems with a particular handler in the future they have the legal right
> to ask them to leave the  part of the zoo where the problem is occuring.
> If
> the situation is extreme they can have the dog and/or the team removed
> from
> the park.
>
>    In 1998 we went to Six Flags over Texas. By now I had Tim who
> accompanied me on that tour. To escape the heat we went inside a building
> where a live animal show was performing. After the show we were invited to
> touch some of the animal performers. These ranged from mice to a llama. We
> were able to handle many of the animals. Here again we were in close
> proximity and there was no sign of fear or aggression where the animals
> and
> Tim were concerned. I've also taken several dogs in to dog and cat shows
> without incident.
>
>    I'll wind this up by sharing with you "The legend of the Eagle." In
> 2000
> Mary, myself and another friend of ours traveled to Phoenix for a business
> conference similar to the one in St. Lewis that I spoke of previously. The
> "Save the Eagle Foundation" had an exhibit there including a live American
> Balled Eagle. And it wasn't just any eagle. It was "Challenger."
> Challenger
> was found by hunters. Since he was injured he was almost killed. He was
> rescued by a wildlife sanctuary and was raised domestically. Since his
> injuries made him unsutable for release bak in to the wild Challenger was
> trained to perform exhibition fly-overs and was featured as entertainment
> for many big-name events. He was named Challenger in honor of the space
> shuttle Challenger and her crew.
>
>    During the conference Challenger performed a fly-in while the national
> anthem was sung on the second night of the event. A lady named Eve Selis
> sang while challenger performed. I had Tim with me during this event. I
> doubt Challenger even knew he was there. When Eve finished singing the
> national anthem Challenger swooped down and landed on her head. I'm not
> sure
> if that was planned or if Challenger thought Eve's head was the most
> convenient purch he could find to take a rest. Hopefully Eve wore a
> special
> head piece so Challenger could land without hurting her. Eagles are
> raptors
> with long tallans which can pierce through to the bone. Since Eve sang for
> our Sunday morning worship service I'm sure no harm was done.
>
>    Since the incident generated some negative publicity concerning animal
> performances at live events this story wasn't widely shared until after
> Challenger died several years ago. And we were eye witnesses to this
> event.
>
>    Like Margo and hopefully others I've had a wide variety of animal
> encounters accompanied by my guide dogs. These are the kinds of stories we
> need to collect and share with entities who question the presence of guide
> and service dogs in their venues. All the best.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
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