[nagdu] rejected by the lions club?

Mon May 3 18:32:47 UTC 2010

Julie,

You're being practical and offering good information, which also counts as
support.  /smlie/

It's the reality you describe that is harsh.  Which is why I still cringe
when people ask me about owner-training because they're thinking about doing
it....

I never want to discourage, and I know how much negativity they're going to
get from others along the way, so I don't want to add to that, certainly!

But even now, looking back from the standpoint where the training is recent
history, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how much it turned out I
was so totally on my own.  And how often, even though I had good support
from owner-trainers and guide dogs on the internet, it sometimes seemed like
Mitzi and I were playing "You and Me Against the World" over and over and
over....

I really had to learn to focus on the positive people in our environment, by
how much I did enjoy working with my dog, even during the really aggravating
phases of her youth and my never-ending quest for more tools to take us to
the next level of skill, etc.

Once we started getting into the actual guide training part and having
successes, even tiny ones, the thrill of victory was such a blast that I
stopped noticing the negativity from those who seemed to consider it their
duty to heap upon me -- or worse, my dog!  Do not insult the dog!  That is
just going too far!

I will also admit that there were times I had to work on myself to listen to
good and useful observations of either one of us by reminding myself firmly
that this person was not doing the same thing as the others until I got the
hair-trigger emotional response smoothed out.  So those things were really
positive, whether the observations and suggestions were on target for us or
I was able to use them or not.  Once I appreciated the spirit of those
interactions, I could think and consider and look at things in a new way,
which is always essential.  /smile/

Still wouldn't trade the experience for the world!

And I did always have good advice, suggestions, anecdotes, etc., etc., from
guide dog users and owner-trainers all over the country.  Life savers!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 5:09 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by the lions club?

Jessica,

I want you to understand that I only want the best for you and that I will 
help you out in any way that I can.

You have to be your best advocate.  That is just as important as the 
training of your puppy.  When you choose to owner train its all you all the 
time.  The people on this list, including me, can't be there to walk you 
through the challenges that will come.  We will offer support, 
encouragement, training ideas, even help with access challenge issues, but 
in the end it is you that must do the hard work.

If you feel that the Boy Scouts or high school volunteers would be helpful 
make some phone calls and make those connections.  I don't want to come 
across as harsh or uncaring and I think I'm doing just that, but I cannot 
stress enough that owner training is much, much more than just training a 
dog.  It will stretch you in ways you never dreamt of.

All my best,
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Pitzer" <rolosgirl at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by the lions club?

>I have no idea nor how to find out.
>
> On 5/2/10, Nicole B. Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
>> Just an idea, but are there any groups locally--scouts, Honor Society,
>> etc--that have teenagers that may be able to help you in some way?
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jessica Pitzer" <rolosgirl at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 3:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by the lions club?
>>
>>
>>> Go for it. For me so far the costs have been shipping for the dog,
>>> equipment, food, soon I will be paying vet care, training, etc. I was
>>> just asking for a little help whether it be money or time, even if
>>> they'd just help us go for walks, take us places for soialization etc.
>>> Jessica
>>>
>>> On 5/2/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
>>>> Well, first we have someone who understands some of what goes into some
>>>> people's choices  in their options for mobility. We also have another
>>>> misinformed individual who knows nothing of the handlers who prefer to
>>>> owner
>>>> train their dogs. We also have a person who has a strong affiliation 
>>>> with
>>>>
>>>> a
>>>> school that the Lion's Club committed raises funds for. So, perhaps 
>>>> there
>>>>
>>>> is
>>>> an opportunity to educate miss rosemary on the fact that some people 
>>>> are
>>>> very adept at training their dogs and that as a president of a chapter
>>>> she
>>>> needs to be better informed before she offers advice or as I have
>>>> interpreted the tone, condemnation for those who choose to owner train.

>>>> I
>>>> would be happy to suggest forwarding this email to our lion's list 
>>>> serve
>>>> and
>>>> ask them their opinion, and I would even offer to write her, for I 
>>>> myself
>>>>
>>>> am
>>>> a lion and would welcome the opportunity of opening her eyes to the
>>>> truths
>>>> about guides and options with everything that is Lionism. She is just
>>>> unaware and ignorant of what is possible in this regard, and may
>>>> obviously
>>>> be getting her skewed  opinion  from the organization  which she and 
>>>> her
>>>> club give so much money to and get so much publicity from for doing so.
>>>>
>>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>>> CEO/Founder
>>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>>> New York, New York  10004
>>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>>>> is
>>>> doing it."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf
>>>> Of Jessica Pitzer
>>>> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 3:53 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> following is an email I received in response to an email I sent to my
>>>> local lions club about asking for help with some of the costs of owner
>>>> training. I'm.. not quite sure how to feel right now except baffled as
>>>> we have some many owner trainers and I just embarked on this journey
>>>> myself.
>>>> Thoughts?
>>>> On 5/2/10, Rosemary Richert <rosemary at richertnet.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi Bert,
>>>>>
>>>>> It is highly unusual, and questionably irresponsible, for someone to
>>>>> train
>>>>> their own guide dog.  The state only recognizes service animals which
>>>>> have
>>>>> been professionally trained.  Any other such dogs may be banned from
>>>> places
>>>>> which would otherwise allow access to service animals.  Necessary
>>>>> training
>>>>> of the dog is very comprehensive and time consuming.  And, 
>>>>> subsequently,
>>>>> training of the blind person with the dog is, also, very comprehensive
>>>>> and
>>>>> time consuming.  For the person's training, alone, three weeks of
>>>>> on-site
>>>>> training with the animal determined best suited to their needs is
>>>> required.
>>>>> The blind person needs to prove their orientation and mobility skills
>>>> before
>>>>> even being accepted into a training program.  Without proof of the
>>>> adequacy
>>>>> of those skills, they will not be accepted.
>>>>>
>>>>> I served on the Board of Directors of Leader Dogs for the Blind for 
>>>>> four
>>>>> years, and am the person who convinced the facility to become trainers
>>>>> for
>>>>> the blind/deaf community...to the best of my knowledge, it remains the
>>>> only
>>>>> facility with qualified instructors of deaf/blind individuals.  I tell
>>>>> you
>>>>> this, so that you may understand that I have a credible background in
>>>> these
>>>>> matters, and know whereof I speak.  I would strongly caution your 
>>>>> Lions
>>>>> club, or any other Lions club, about considering involvement with a
>>>>> person
>>>>> who thinks they can train a guide dog for the blind on their own.
>>>>> Involvement under such circumstances could come back to haunt an
>>>>> otherwise
>>>>> well-meaning club.  It would make much more sense for this person to 
>>>>> be
>>>>> screened as to qualifications; and, if qualified, be sponsored to a
>>>>> recognized service do training program.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> God bless.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> With Lionism at Heart, C
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> PDG Rosemary
>>>>
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