[NFBF-L] Didi Comes Home

Thu May 20 23:06:22 UTC 2021

Big Smiles.

Marion Gwizdala has been working on this issue for years in Florida and
nation-wide.  This will effect how dog guide schools address blind people,
not as people who need over-seers, but as responsible citizens.

This is civil rights and a victory for Susan Blake, Marion Gwizdala,
Advocates for Service animal Partners (ASAP)    , the NFB and everyone who
may begin to see the blind as people.

JD

Helping the Light Dependent to See.

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sherrill O'Brien via
NFBF-L
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2021 4:58 PM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sherrill O'Brien <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
Subject: [NFBF-L] Didi Comes Home

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 <mailto: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
<mailto: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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