[nagdu] Ownership; what about other countries?

Tue May 6 10:11:26 UTC 2014

thanks so much Marsha, I believe you are right in what you say below.  It is 
possible perhaps, that some of the info that vivianna is getting, may be 
from some who have a grudge for whatever reason against GDBA.  it happens 
sometimes, as with all schools I'm afraid.  some of the info is a case of 
chinese whispers I think, where certain things are said, then taken out of 
context, passed on to others, where the whole thing gets changed and becomes 
something completely different.  GDBA is not perfect, well what is in life! 
we might do some things a bit different to the US schools, as do many of the 
other european countries, that is just the way it is, a country/cultural 
thing.  however, when the info being passed around is totally incorrect, 
it's only right I should try to clarify and put things in to context..

I have seen vivianna's other message, which also is for the most part 
incoorect info,, I will reply to it later when I get a moment.  we are in 
the process of moving house so I'm up to my ears in packing boxes!

Kind regards,

Tracy and guide dog Drew, from the UK

-----Original Message----- 
From: Marsha Drenth
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 1:56 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Ownership; what about other countries?

Vivianna,
Although I am sure you have spoken to friends of yours from UK. This is also 
hear say. I would just ask you be careful in making judgements on what 
people have said to be true, but perhaps might not be the case. Tone down 
the accusations, okay? Its okay to be curious, but please remember to ask 
for information in a respectful manner.
Thank you,

Marsha drenth, NAGDU List Moderator
Sent with my IPhone
Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As 
such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. 
Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary.

> On May 5, 2014, at 5:35 PM, Vivianna <irishana at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Tracy,
> well, i am certainly glad to read all you said.  you are the first i have 
> heard of who did not confirm all i said.
> and i have spoken with several folks.
> i have seen lots and heard more.  i heard that you are not allowed to even 
> get a guide dog unless you have a garden.  we call them yards here.  so, 
> if you live in a flat you have to have a place to let the dog relieve 
> itself because they do not train the dogs to relieve on leash.  also, they 
> do not train the handlers to pick up after their dogs.
> and, even more, the schools insist that you allow your dog to free run, 
> say, in a park or something several times a week.
> maybe you went to a different school than all these other people?
> i was planning on attending a weekend over there of blind folks and, the 
> guide dog school is going to have a pen set up so that the staff of the 
> hotel can take the guide dogs out and relieve them for the guests.
> i am not making all this up, i promise, i am not.
>
> Vivianna
>
>> On May 5, 2014, at 2:37 PM, "Tracy Lloyd" <tracy_lloyd at btinternet.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Sorry, but this person is talking nonsense!
>>
>> I live in the UK and disagree with everything this person says below.
>>
>> First of all, yes you can, if you don't have the means to pay, have food 
>> paid for by the association if you wish too, it's personal choice, and 
>> most owners either pay for their own food, or contribute to it if not. 
>> We also can, if we wish, have vet bills paid for, but many owners don't 
>> and pay them themselves.  I pay for all of my dog's food, both for my 
>> working dog and my retired one, and so does my husband.  We've chosen to 
>> feed a food of our choice, no problem at all with that, we also choose 
>> our own vets to take the dogs too.
>>
>> Next, that is utter nonsense regarding us being told when to retire our 
>> dogs, and total and utter crap that they are taken away on retirement! 
>> We are not told when to retire our dogs, it's a joint decision between 
>> owner and a GDMI on aftercare.  If a dog retires and the owner can't keep 
>> it for whatever reason, then the asociation will find a home for the dog, 
>> thatis the owner's choice, and the owner has input in to the type of 
>> family they'd like for their dog.
>>
>> regarding dogs being badly behaved? god knows what you are on about with 
>> that, certainly, like with most programs, there are dogs who are badly 
>> handled out there, but it's certainly nothing like you portray in your 
>> message below.  My Hubby and I have had 4 fantastic dogs each, since 
>> 1986, all of them have had excellent behaviour.  My current dog is a 
>> German Shepherd who  is almost 9, her work is faultless and her behaviour 
>> is  of the hhighest standard.
>>
>> I can not believe someone could write such a damning message, see below, 
>> which is totally untrue and unjust.  I rarely write, but on this 
>> occasion, I felt I must put the record straight!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> tracy from the UK.
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Vivianna
>> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 5:04 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] Ownership; what about other countries?
>>
>> all this talk of ownership and the policies of different schools has me 
>> wondering about other countries.
>> i know that, in the UK not only do they give you the dog, all its food 
>> for life, all the vet bills for life, board if you go out of town, and 
>> who knows what else but, they tell you when to retire the dog and come 
>> and take it from you when they say it's time to retire the dog.
>> i know many many folks there have guide dogs simply because it's a free 
>> deal.  the ones that i have seen were extremely misbehaved in my opinion. 
>> jumping on people, barking, running around at the end of the leash.
>> i will venture to say that blind folks here in the states, and even in 
>> canada are leaps and bounds ahead of most of the world in the 
>> independence department.
>> sure, it's nifty to have everything pertaining to the dog and it's care 
>> given to you for free but, i'd rather pay for everything on my own and 
>> make my own decisions on how to feed my dog, what vet to take her to, 
>> etc.
>> i know, i know, yet another contraversial topic.  smiley.
>>
>> Vivianna
>>
>>
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>
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