[nagdu] Tie-Downs for our Guides on Access Shuttles

Sat Oct 3 18:22:06 UTC 2015

Jody,

That's my thinking, too. I wouldn't do the tie-down on the dog's collar 
because it would guarantee the dog would be badly hurt or killed in an 
accident involving any speed. /shudder/ I'm not sure I would attach it 
to the guide harness, either, though I might consider it... The 
harnesses made to use with seatbelts are designed to spread out the 
stress on the dog's frame in event of an accident. Guide dog harnesses 
are not. Hm...

If I got the right idea from the original description, the tie-down in 
question is in the wheelchair area, which is wide open when there isn't 
a wheelchair there. The dog could slide much too freely there. The first 
time I used paratransit with Mitzi, I had the van to myself at first, so 
I cheerfully took a front-row seat so she could have all that room... 
Then we started rattling along, and I realized my mistake as my poor dog 
went slip-sliding around at every corner. D'oh! So if I have a choice of 
seat, I make sure there is at least one row of seats in front of me and 
have her under the seat, braced by my legs in front of her and the row 
in front of us as the final line of defense to stop a high-speed slide. 
My hope is that my legs will slow her momentum a little and provide some 
padding to keep her from slamming full force into the legs of the seat 
in front of us. Honestly, the floors in the paratransit vans I've been 
in are so slippery and the vans themselves are so rickety, I've been 
inspired to walk a long way or sacrifice to spring for a cab just to 
avoid having to use them. That's not always possible, so I just brace 
both of us the best I can and hope for the best.

It just occurred to me that, while it's going to be trickier tucking 
Loki's bigger self into tight places, he will be more secure in moving 
vehicles because he just won't have room to bounce around. For now, his 
long poodle body is still puppy skinny and narrow. He can coil himself 
up like a big snake with leg attachments. As he starts to bulk up, it's 
pretty funny waiting for him to get himself stuffed into my friend's 
small car, when it was so easy for him just a few months ago. He learned 
to ride properly in a vehicle while he was still a baby and liked the 
security of being on the floor under my legs, so now that's where he 
actually likes to ride. Mitzi was introduced to such nonsense at an age 
where she was all about independence. She learned to ride 4 on the floor 
because she is supposed to, not because she chooses to. The end result 
is the same, but it does feel easier with the dog that thinks its 
natural to be there. /smile/

Tami

On 10/03/2015 09:55 AM, Jody Ianuzzi via nagdu wrote:
> There is no way I would tether my dog by his collar in a moving vehicle because if the vehicle stop quickly he could break his neck.
>
> JODY 🐺
> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
>
> "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."  DOCTOR WHO (Tom Baker)
>
>
>
>> On Oct 2, 2015, at 11:47 PM, Raven Tolliver via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I think this is useful for people who cannot secure their dogs with
>> their bodies on public transportation. More specifically, we as blind
>> people have ways of positioning our dogs so that they are secured
>> between our legs on buses. People in wheelchairs are typically unable
>> to secure their dogs using their legs, so a tie down might be
>> convenient for such an individual. If you have limited mobility in any
>> way, this might be useful.
>> --
>> Raven
>> Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
>> www.1am-editing.com
>>
>> You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
>> have or what you do.
>>
>> Naturally-reared guide dogs
>> https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs
>>
>>> On 10/2/15, Cindy Ray via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I had really not thought of it before, but I could see some advantages as
>>> long as I can be close to the dog. You wear seatbelts. However, I don’t know
>>> myself how easily you could get the things off.
>>> xo
>>>
>>>> On Oct 2, 2015, at 9:26 PM, larry d keeler via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Never had an issue where it would be required. Interesting concept though!
>>>> Personally, I don't really like it much.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elise Berkley
>>>> via nagdu
>>>> Sent: Friday, October 02, 2015 9:56 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Cc: Elise Berkley
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tie-Downs for our Guides on Access Shuttles
>>>>
>>>> They told me she would still be close enough for me to touch.  It just
>>>> makes me nervous when I think of the possibilities of something happening
>>>> and I do not know how to unattach the tie-down.
>>>> Elise and Becky
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Cindy Ray via nagdu
>>>> Sent: Friday, October 2, 2015 6:43 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Cc: Cindy Ray
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tie-Downs for our Guides on Access Shuttles
>>>>
>>>> How close would you be sitting to her if she were tied down? I think it is
>>>> definitely your decision, but I’m not completely sure.
>>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 2, 2015, at 8:36 PM, Elise Berkley via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hey, everyone.  I wanted to get your thoughts on this.
>>>>> Becky and I were going to school on the Access shuttle and the driver
>>>>> asked me if I wanted Becky tied down.  I did not know what he was
>>>>> talking about and I told him no.  Becky went up the ramp and sat
>>>>> quietly the whole trip (about 10 minutes.)
>>>>>
>>>>> I found out that, for the dog’s safety and so they cannot move around,
>>>>> they have these new gadgets.  You hook a shorter leash in a ring and
>>>>> then the other end gets snapped down where they tie down the
>>>>> wheelchairs.  I really do not like this idea of her being tied down at
>>>>> all.  She is behaved enough not to move around.  I What if we get in
>>>>> an accident, and I cannot get my dog loose.  Maybe they are trying to
>>>>> do a good thing, and maybe I do not understand fully.  Let Becky and I
>>>>> know what you think.
>>>>> Elise and Becky (San Diego bound)
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>>>>
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