[Nfbf-l] First Dog
Tom & Debbie Ryan
seekers2 at bellsouth.net
Sun Feb 18 01:57:48 UTC 2018
Congratulations, on your new Guide.
Deb Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2018 5:17 AM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] First Dog
Roanna,
Thanks for following my blog! I hope you enjoy it!
Peace!
Marion
-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Roanna Bacchus
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 3:38 PM
To: Marion Gwizdala via Nfbf-l
Cc: Roanna Bacchus
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] First Dog
Hi Marion thanks for your message. I just subscribed to your blog.
On Feb 16, 2018 3:08 PM, Marion Gwizdala via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
>
>
> As the president of the National Association of Guide
> Dog Users, a strong and proud division of the National Federation of
> the Blind, I sometimes refer to my guide dog as "First Dog". Some of
> you may already know that my beloved German shepherd guide dog,
> Sergeant, passed away in early September. I have not shared it too
> widely, as I am a fairly private person when it comes to my guides and
> have had a pretty challenging time adjusting to his passing. We are
> not really positive why he passed away but we suspect liver cancer, as
> we found he had nodules on his liver leading to a diagnosis of chronic
> hepatitis in February of last year. We were treating the symptoms and
> he seemed to be responding well but took a turn for the worse on August 31
and passed away on September 9.
>
>
>
> I share this with you as a prelude to let you know
> that I will be meeting my potential new guide dog and NAGDU's First
> Dog next Friday, February 23. Trooper is being trained by John Byfield
> of Freedom Guide Dogs in Cassville, NY. Trooper is a Blue Merle
> Smooth-Coat Collie who stand about 28" at the shoulders and currently
weighs in at about 66 lbs.
> The Blue Merle is a silvery gray marbled with black and tan with white
> areas on the chest, neck, feet/legs, and tail tip.
>
>
>
> There are some major reasons I chose Freedom Guide Dogs
for
> my next dog. One reason is the opportunity to train with John Byfield. For
> those of you who do not know John, he is probably the most experienced and
> well-respected guide dog trainer in the world. John began training guide
> dogs in the U.K. at the age of 20 and just recently celebrated his 80th
> birthday, though you would likely not guess him as much more than his
> mid-60s. This is likely due to his walking several miles every day while
> training young pups for the past 60 years. Training with this legend will
be
> an honor and very exciting.
>
>
>
> Another reason I have chosen Freedom Guide Dogs is because
> of their unique breeds. I am unaware of any other guide dog training
program
> with Collies in their strings. They have a very soft temperament, lots of
> energy, and an incredible work ethic.
>
>
>
> Freedom Guide Dogs also conduct exclusively community
> training, meaning they bring the dog to you and train you in your home
town.
> At the same time, though, Trooper has been prepared to live and work my
> lifestyle. Since I travel a lot, he has been exposed to flying, buses,
busy
> city traffic, and subways - something we do not have here in Florida. They
> have kennels in Cassville but no dormitories.
>
> My final consideration for choosing Freedom Guide Dogs -
and
> something I share with anyone asking me which program I recommend - is
that,
> when I am finished with my training with Trooper, he is my dog, free and
> clear. Freedom will provide me with any follow-up I need but relinquishes
> any ownership interest in him. They will not and cannot remove him for any
> reason whatsoever. Such a policy respects my dignity as a blind person,
> ensures a safe, sound team, and creates a relationship based on the
> expectation that I am an adult with the ability to independently care for
my
> dog and make decisions about his care and training without their
> interference. I have no hesitation asking them for help if needed because
I
> am confident they will not interfere with my ownership rights.
>
>
>
> I intend to document my training from the time I meet
> Trooper for the first time next Friday, begin my training regimen, and
while
> John puts us through our paces throughout Tampa and the surrounding areas.
> If you would like to follow Trooper and me on our exciting journey, please
> subscribe to my blog, "Marion's Musings" at
>
>
>
> http://mariongwizdala.wordpress.com
>
>
>
> Let's take this adventure forward!
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (813) 626-2789
>
> President at NAGDU.ORG
>
>
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind
people
> and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what
holds
> you back.
>
>
>
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