[nagdu] Attaching the Cane to the Harness

Sat Jul 16 14:40:02 UTC 2011

Public awareness is a great thing. /smile/ I'm finding more and more
that people express awareness but without seeming to feel uncomfortable
like they're afraid they might set a foot out of place and say the wrong
thing that is insensitive to poor, delicate me. So that's nice. I still
run across those who struggle, generally in a kindly way, not to be
insensitie. It's always awkward for me to try to address their issues
while educating them on the fact that I can deal with the "b" word and
everything. /lol/ I think I'm getting better at it, but it's taken some
work, since my first impulse is to do something obnoxious since I find
it really insulting that they would think I haven't figured out I'm
blind and can't cope with that reality. Or that I haven't clued in that
being blind makes me different from most other people. Poor things.
They're try;;ng so hard to be kind and spare my delicate, delicate
feelings, and I just want to slap some sense into them.
Metaphorically. /grin/

With Mitzi, I get a lot of poodle people, so that's fun. You know how
poodle people are: 'bout as nutty as their dogs. lol/ Someone around
here was commenting on the differences she find s with a new GSD that
doesn't look so much like the classic GSD. So I guess the new dog isin't
as scary as her old one with his classic police dog markings and
profile. I guess with him, people would cross the street to avoid
walking by that dangerous beast. /lol/ 

Jst for fun, now that we're out and about mroe again, I think I'm going
to try to remember to pay attention to see if I figure out if we're the
ones doing something different or what. Is it different when we're using
the purple Laveau harness vs. the red sports harness? Is Mitzi's mood
different, so that maybe she's communitcating more reserve sometimes
with her poodle eyes? WHat? 

Well, I'm glad the designer dog has her admirers, too, even though she
is a scary attack dog. People are funny, aren't they? /smile/

Tami

On Sat, 2011-07-16 at 08:46 -0500, Wayne Merritt wrote:
> I think it may have to do with the cuteness of the dog. With my first
> guide,a  yellow Lab, it seemed like we attracted people from every
> direction and though I did have a sign, it didn't do any good. My
> current guide,a  German Shepherd, has still attracted some attention,
> but there's a noticeable change in the numbers of people that will
> venture over for a closer look, whether they're afraid of the GSD, had
> a bad experience with a GSD, or some other reason. That's fine by me
> though, :) Actually, I've been pleasantly surprised by the numbers of
> those that still come up to me, even though the dog is one of those
> "vicious breeds." Mostof them have said something like, "That dog
> reminds me of my mom's brother's sister's aunt's uncle's cousin's
> dog." The decrease in petting attempts might also have to do with
> where I live too, since people seem to be more aware of disabilities
> and service animals here, which is also nice to see.
> 
> Wayne
> 
> On 7/15/11, Tami Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> > I've heard that a lot about the signs so just never bothered to get one.
> > I've been noticing lately though that for some reason a number of people
> > will ask very politely if it's okay if the say hello to my guide dog,
> > but we've been refreshingly free of drive by petting. I wonder if it's
> > just random chance or if something has changed. Not that I'm
> > complaining. I always appreciate a polite request. Most of the time I
> > agree to allow my super model rock star to accept the adoration of her
> > fans, but the other day I decided it best to say no because we were in a
> > restaurant, and the people were very understanding. WHo knew? /grin/
> >
> > On Fri, 2011-07-15 at 20:28 -0400, Buddy Brannan wrote:
> >> I tried a sign for a while once. My experience was that people would still
> >> pet my dog, sometimes while reading the sign. So I gave it up as not much
> >> more effective, if any more effective, than not having one.
> >> --
> >> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> >> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Jul 15, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Steven Johnson wrote:
> >>
> >> > And, make sure it says, do not pet, feed or talk to me in a color that
> >> > one
> >> > could see in the middle of the night...yeh, fluorescent.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >> > Behalf
> >> > Of Tina Thomas
> >> > Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 10:18 AM
> >> > To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> >> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Attaching the Cane to the Harness
> >> >
> >> > I like the idea of  us selling a harness pouch. We could possibly design
> >> > it
> >> > so that there would be a space to attach a telescopic cane to the pouch.
> >> >
> >> > Tina
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >> > Behalf
> >> > Of Marion Gwizdala
> >> > Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 5:07 AM
> >> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >> > Subject: [nagdu] Attaching the Cane to the Harness
> >> >
> >> > Gary,
> >> >    I completely understand about not using your hands to gain
> >> > information
> >> > in a public bathroom! I don't even let my dog get too close to the
> >> > urinals
> >> > and, unless it is a very urgent situation, never use anything else! In
> >> > fact,
> >> >
> >> > if you ever notice that paper towel behind the door, I dropped it there
> >> > so I
> >> >
> >> > didn't need to touch the handle. Not everyone washes their hands in
> >> > there,
> >> > don't ya know!
> >> >    Frankly, I have gotten out of the habit of carrying my white cane
> >> > with
> >> > me since I broke my telescopic one. It's a bit challenging to tote a 69"
> >> >
> >> > length of carbon fiber around! Now I have one of the new NFB carbon
> >> > fiber
> >> > telescopic canes in its nifty little carrying case and I will be able to
> >> >
> >> > return to it.
> >> >    Since it has a carrying case, I am wondering if I could run a couple
> >> > of
> >> > zip ties through it at the seams and attach it to the handle of the
> >> > harness.
> >> >
> >> > I'm going to check it out! I wonder if NFB sells the carrying cases
> >> > separately!
> >> >    NAGDU has entertained the possibility of selling harness pouches as a
> >> >
> >> > fund raiser, so we will keep the idea of toting the cane in mind while
> >> > deciding upon such a thing in the future.
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
> >> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> >> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >> > Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 4:35 PM
> >> > Subject: [nagdu] carrying white cane
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Hello:
> >> >>
> >> >> This is slightly related to  the email I'm responding to. :) I like to
> >> >> have a cane with me even when I have Bogart for several reasons. The
> >> >> most
> >> >> notable I've come across is having to use public washrooms. Really need
> >> >> a
> >> >> cane to find things rather than ones hands or feet.
> >> >>
> >> >> Has anyone rigged up a way of carrying a cane on the harness? I was
> >> >> thinking of getting a longish ID cane so it would be light and thin but
> >> >>
> >> >> would serve in case of emergency. I was hoping I could fit it in his
> >> >> harness pouch but I think even my short ID cane is too long. Has anyone
> >> >>
> >> >> thought up something ingenious that they would like to share?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks
> >> >> Gary
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> >> From: Tami Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> >> >> Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011 11:06 am
> >> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] attachment or anxiety separation
> >> >> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> >> >>
> >> >>> Bibi,
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Wow. You sure have beeen through a lot recently. That alone, or
> >> >>> so it
> >> >>> seems to me, would make anyone more prone to anxiety in general. As
> >> >>> would being without a white cane! I did once go for a time
> >> >>> without a
> >> >>> white cane after I lost my very first one somehow, so now I have a
> >> >>> zillion canes and need to get to ordering a spare straight cane,
> >> >>> as well
> >> >>> as a new pocket cane, whether it's a telescoping nfb cane or a light
> >> >>> foldup ambutech. /lol/ I trust my guide now and use her
> >> >>> exclusively for
> >> >>> nearly everything, but I don't want to get stuck without a dog
> >> >>> or cane
> >> >>> ever again! /lol/
> >> >>>
> >> >>> I haven't yet had to find out how I will cope with my guide's
> >> >>> retirement, and I plan not to for another 5 or 6 years at the very
> >> >>> least. Still... I feel very sad and get a twinge of separation anxiety
> >> >>> just thinking about it. Heck, I get separation anxiety just
> >> >>> leaving her
> >> >>> at the groomers. Sad, but true. /smile/
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Hope your new cane arrives soon, and good on Dale for being your
> >> >>> eyes in
> >> >>> the meantime. My then-husband was, well, useless and also made a big
> >> >>> deal about expressing the extent to which he just didn't know
> >> >>> what my
> >> >>> problem was and that I should just not go to work until a new cane
> >> >>> arrived, but it was no hurry, there was some reason he was interfering
> >> >>> with my attempts to acquire a new one, I can't even remember
> >> >>> what it
> >> >>> was. Thus, he is now the ex-husband. Argh! I did manage to get
> >> >>> my hands
> >> >>> on a support cane, which was better than nothing but not at all
> >> >>> the same
> >> >>> and it was too short, so it actually made life more difficult,
> >> >>> especially since there was snow on the ground at the time, all nicely
> >> >>> packed down even on the sidewalks and all icy and limpy, so... Well,
> >> >>> having friends with brains around helped many times but I am
> >> >>> glad you
> >> >>> also have a cooperative , even helpful partner to assit in
> >> >>> covering the
> >> >>> gap. /smile/
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Best to you both, and to Odie as well.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Tami
> >> >>>
> >> >>> On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 07:55 -0600, Criminal Justice Major
> >> >>> Extraordinairewrote:
> >> >>>> Hi, all,
> >> >>>> Have any of you felt that big attachment toward your retired
> >> >>> guide dog and
> >> >>>> experienced anxiety separation?
> >> >>>> It seems like I've been experiencing that lately and was
> >> >>> hoping I wouldn't
> >> >>>> be the only one.
> >> >>>> I've found myself feeling all of that, especially when Odie is
> >> >>> left at home.
> >> >>>> On Saturday, Dale and I went to see a Cinderrella play live
> >> >>> that my step
> >> >>>> sister Sarah was in.
> >> >>>> It was held in the theater inside the King Center on Auraria
> >> >>> campus and
> >> >>>> total amount of people was probably four hundred.
> >> >>>> There was no way that Odie was probably going to handle it, so
> >> >>> the hard
> >> >>>> decision was to leave him at home for me at least.
> >> >>>> While Dale and I were out with family, that's when it all hit me.
> >> >>>> Yesterday was a different story however.
> >> >>>> Odie was in his medical alert service dog vest walking with my
> >> >>> husband.> I was using my support cane and walking ahead of the
> >> >>> two men slowly and
> >> >>>> carefully.
> >> >>>> Odie began to move faster upon trying to bolt out in front of me.
> >> >>>> I think he still felt that he needed to be my eyes and was
> >> >>> concerned that I
> >> >>>> was going to get hurt.
> >> >>>> I'm in the process of getting a new fold up white cane through
> >> >>> Ambutech.> unfortunately I had lost my current one, especially
> >> >>> after the convulsive
> >> >>>> grandmal seizures I dealt with two months in a row.
> >> >>>> Thankfully, my husband told me he'd happily be my eyes until I
> >> >>> can get my
> >> >>>> replacement folding cane and be matched with a successor partner.
> >> >>>> Bibi
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> _______________________________________________
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