[NFBF-L] Didi Comes Home

Thu May 20 21:16:28 UTC 2021

Thank you for the follow up, Sherrill.
Respectfully,
Judy Hamilton

On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 4:59 PM Sherrill O'Brien via NFBF-L <
nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> *Hello to all,*
>
>
>
> *Below my signature, you’ll find some great news!*
>
>
>
> *Sherrill*
>
>
>
> Sherrill O’Brien, Secretary
>
> Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Florida
>
> Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890
>
> Email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
>
>
>
> *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
>
> FROM: Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)
>
> DATE: May 20, 2021
>
> TO: All Media
>
> CONTACT: Marion Gwizdala 386-272-7411
>
> RE: Stolen Guide Dog Returned
>
> SHERIFF’S OFFICE RETRIEVES STOLEN GUIDE DOG
>
> On Thursday, May 20, the Columbia County Sheriff’s department notified
> Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) that Didi, Rev. Susan Blake’s
> guide dog, had been retrieved and was in their custody. ASAP immediately
> drove to Columbia County to pick up Didi.  Didi had been sent to Columbia
> County by Southeastern Guide Dogs after the organization forcibly removed
> the dog without warning, without cause, and without authority. The court
> order known as a writ of replevin was supported by the same transfer of
> ownership contract Southeastern claimed gave it the right of unilateral
> repossession.
>
> “The contract indicates that Southeastern must obtain an injunction to
> retake the dog,” explains Marcy I. LaHart, Susan Blake’s attorney. “Once
> the issue of possession is fully resolved in Columbia County we are
> considering further action against Southeastern Guide Dogs so the
> organization does not unilaterally help itself to another disabled person’s
> service dog based upon some trivial perceived shortcoming.”
>
> The saga began on March 4, 2021, when a representative of Southeastern
> Guide Dogs, a Palmetto, Fla. nonprofit organization that trains guide dogs
> for the blind, showed up unannounced at the home of Rev. Susan Blake, a
> blind Episcopal priest for the Diocese of Orlando, and removed Rev.
> Blake’s 9-1/2-year-old guide dog because the dog allegedly appeared to be
> about four pounds overweight. Blake pleaded for her beloved guide dog to be
> returned and Southeastern refused, citing a contract that they claimed gave
> them the right to unilaterally make such a radical decision. Southeastern
> gave Rev. Blake the chance to appeal their decision; however, the appeal
> was a sham heard by the same group that made the original decision. Rev.
> Blake was not allowed to speak in her own defense nor rebut the lies
> Southeastern made concerning the health of Didi.
>
> Once the outcry from the public began to impact Southeastern, they began
> changing their story and their web of lies began to crumble. They asserted
> Rev. Blake had not had her dog to the veterinarian since 2018 while Blake’s
> records have her visiting the vet exactly one month earlier on February 4.
> Southeastern claimed the dog had tumors on one of its eyes while Blake’s
> vet noticed “a small growth on its lower right eyelid”. Southeastern
> asserted the dog needed dental surgery to address “severe gingivitis”;
> while Blakes vet stated, “The gums are pink, the teeth a bit worn, and
> there is some tartar”, all to be expected for a dog of Didi’s age. When
> confronted with facts that contradicted their statements, Southeastern
> changed their story again, claiming Blake “let Didi run free”; Blake admits
> Didi got out twice but she did not ever intentionally let her dog roam.
> Still unable to justify their immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior,
> Southeastern changed the narrative once again, asserting Susan Blake
> voluntarily returned the dog.
>
> “The return of Didi is only the beginning of a process to hold
> Southeastern Guide Dogs accountable and put the service animal training
> industry on notice that they cannot treat their consumers with such blatant
> disregard,” explains Marion Gwizdala, president of Advocates for Service
> Animal Partners (ASAP), the Tampa-based advocacy and policy organization
> that is supporting Rev. Blake.
>
> Gwizdala asserts these incidents are not uncommon. During his past
> thirty-three years as a service animal advocate, he has heard this story
> several times and has published other articles about these abuses.
> Convincing consumers to take on the multimillion dollar nonprofits with so
> much community influence and respect is a daunting prospect. Even when the
> abused are willing to come forward, finding an attorney to take on the case
> was problematic.
>
> “For two months we just kept following the path that was unfolding before
> us,” explained Merry Schoch, a licensed clinical social worker and ASAP’s
> Vice President. “Susan finally came across Marcy LaHart and here we are!”
>
> Gwizdala and Schoch were both involved in a similar case in which another
> Southeastern Guide Dog consumer, Les Demers, had his dog removed without
> warning and without cause on April 22, 2020. They did not know Marcy at the
> time but they do now!
>
> “Their cruel, immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior stops here!”
> asserts Gwizdala.
>
> Advocates for Service Animal Partners has created a special advocacy fund
> to help others like Susan Blake and Les Demers, as well as anyone in need
> of advocacy support because of their choice to use a service animal. All
> funds are used specifically for advocacy efforts; none of these funds are
> used to pay salaries. You can support this fund by making a tax-deductible
> contribution by visiting the following links:
>
> http://www.facebook.com/asap411/
>
> https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MEPNDCN89FDQ2
>
> If you have a concern or need help, contact Advocates for Service Animal
> Partners (ASAP) at 386-272-7411 (386-ASAP411) OR Advocacy411 at gmail.com.
>
> # # #
>
> *About Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)*
>
>                 Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is a
> newly-organized network of service animal advocates across the United
> States. Our goal is to encourage, educate, and support service animal
> handlers through printed and electronic publications, informational
> webinars, recorded educational materials, and direct advocacy support,
> intervention, and mediation. In support of this mission, we also work to
> educate employers, governmental entities, private companies, housing
> accommodations, and the airline industry about the rights,
> responsibilities, and limitations of access under state and federal law.
>
> *About Marcy I. LaHart P.A.*
>
> Marcy LaHart Esq. is a solo practitioner focusing her practice primarily
> on animal law and open government law. She represents persons with
> disabilities in matters relating to emotional support animals and service
> animals. She also advises pet owners, rescue groups and other animal
> welfare organizations that have legal issues regarding companion animals,
> including defending allegedly dangerous dogs, pet custody disputes, and
> various animal related torts such as veterinary malpractice. Ms. LaHart has
> also handled many public records law and government in the sunshine cases.
>
>
>
>
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