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Greetings everyone, Finals are over, or nearly so; the National Conventions, if you are going, are on the near horizon; plans are beginning to be made for our Fall State Convention; and GDUC is on the threshold of change. Much hard work has gone into building up our affiliate to be, very probably, the largest affiliate/chapter of CCB as well as the largest affiliate of GDUI. A very great deal of work has gone into studying what we can do toward pedestrian safety and determining how we can put a halt to the tremendous number of dog attacks that happen to far too many Guide Dog Handlers; there has been much participation in educating the public about Guide Dog Teams and the proper etiquette and much more. How active a part have you played? Elsewhere in this issue you will read the minutes of the Spring GDUC meeting. What isn't in them, though, is a report on the absolutely wonderful luncheon speaker we had. Don Brown made contact with her and made the preliminary arrangements. Jennifer Larsen, MS, Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis talked to us about choosing our dog's food and how to read dog food labels. She was fabulously entertaining and most informative. We asked, and she agreed, to write an article for "FORWARD" to be in a future issue. She is currently working on her Ph.D. and was willing to share her expertise with us. She told me, just before she left, that she had really enjoyed talking to a group who were as knowledgeable as our group is. That was quite a compliment to all of us, wouldn't you say? Sheila Styron has received an honor from GDUI. She has been appointed by Debbie Grubb to be GDUI's Affiliate Coordinator. Good luck with this venture, Sheila! Over this most recent quarter, the project to educate the hospitality industry employees about dealing with Service Dog Teams has come almost to a conclusion. The filming has been completed and is being readied for production. The ancillary materials are being developed to go with the video. The hearing for the driver who hit and killed Cheri Moku has come and gone. The driver was slapped gently on the wrist and was sent merrily on her way. Probably the only additional thing GDUC could have done would have been to mount a letter-writing campaign on Sheri's behalf to the Court asking for a stiffer sentence. But hind sight is always 20/20. I didn't think of that until it was to late to do any good. We undertook to enhance the California Legislature's knowledge about the laws they have passed with regard to pedestrian safety at the annual Guide Dog Day at the Capitol. GDUC in conjunction with the California State Guide Dog Board contacted each and every one of the California Legislators and gave them a compilation of California's Pedestrian Laws. We asked the legislators to write letters to their home districts requesting the District Attorneys, Sheriffs and Police Chiefs make themselves familiar with and then to enforce these laws. The message was received by the Legislators very well, and I know for a fact that at least one of them did write just such a letter. And, if one did, it stands to reason that others did. Somebody said, something like Step Over Step, Step Over Step, And The Dog Got To Dover. I think we are like that dog. GDUC has been attending many Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety seminars and meetings to try to understand how some of the new things that are being suggested will affect the blind pedestrian whether they use a dog or a cane. So much of it sounds fabulous on the surface, but when you study it closely, it turns just as scary as you can imagine. Keeping close tabs on these goings on is very important for all of us. We are continuing to work on the 20 Questions Project. This is the tri-fold brochures that we have been distributing to the public to improve their knowledge of the Guide Dog Team. At the Spring Convention we appointed a Public Relations Committee and a Web Site Development Committee. These committees are: PR Committee; Melita Waters Chair, Ken Metz, Don Brown, Sheila Styron and Audrey Hebner; and Web Site Development: Melita Waters Chair, Ken Metz, Abby Vincent, Dave Foster and Dan Kysor. Since none of these projects are free, we are continuing to develop fund raisers. We have our Collar Tags and Lapel Pins which are beginning to run low. We have our California Laws Pertaining to Guide and Service Animals booklets for sale in both regular print and in braille. But, we need to come up with new fund raisers. The fund raising committee is working on several ideas, but we need your input as well. Elsewhere in this issue you will hear from Ken Metz the Nominating Chair for this coming Fall's elections. He will be giving you the contact information for the nominating committee. If you are interested in running, or if you would like to suggest someone, please contact one of them before the September issue of "FORWARD". We would like to have the slate of nominees presented then. The offices of President, Secretary and one Director will be up for election. The Presidency will have to change as I will be terming out. I really hope that many of you will let the committee know that you are interested in running and in which office you are interested. It is one of my most heart felt wishes that every office on GDUC's Board have a genuine race for the position. GDUI is continuing with the Coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations. They have had a meeting with the Department of Justice to present proposed changes to the ADA Regulations defining Service Animals. Things are looking up on that score though it is going to be a slow process. I don't think this is going to do much for us, though, since the passage of California's AB 2222 broadens the definition of disability so much that almost anyone can declare themselves in need of a dog, and if that dog has some kind of training, no matter how limited, it appears that it will qualify as a Service Animal. We are going to have to proceed, with this in mind, on our own. The breadth of the language in AB 2222 is so much more liberal than is the ADA, we have a real problem on our hands. Because we are members of GDUC we are all also members of both CCB and GDUI, thence, ACB. I also believe we are the largest affiliate/chapter of both CCB and GDUI. This status carries with it some serious responsibilities that our membership is being very lax about fulfilling. We should be making important contributions to all of our parent organizations. It seems to be the case in our affiliate that, as happens in many organizations, a very few do all of the work for a rather large contingent. You really do need to do something about this short-fall. The skills, abilities and know-how that is represented by the members of this group are staggering. You owe it to yourselves to lend GDUC some of those abilities. So, let's get busy and lend the strength of our members to the organization that we belong to. Share the abilities and skills that you have with the organization and make it even healthier and stronger. Have a good summer and do something special, just for fun, with your dogs. |
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Minutes of the Guide Dog Users of California business meeting President, Melita Waters called the meeting to order at approximately 8:30am. Present: all board members and various members of GDUC. Minutes of the Spring, 2000 business meeting were read and approved. Minutes of the Fall, 2000 convention were read and approved with the following correction; the $400 amount approved for "Forward" was for one year. The treasurer's report was read by Ken Metz and approved as read. The balance, as of the end of March was $6,746.42. Election of delegates to CCB's fall, 2001 and spring, 2002 conventions: Ken Metz as delegate and Ann Kysor as alternate were unopposed and elected unanimously. Sheila Styron was elected as GDUC's delegate to the GDUI/ACB national convention, with Abby Vincent as alternate. Fundraising. Melita reported that the tags and law booklets were still selling well. Delegate to CCB nominating committee: Protection dogs issue: Western Law Center has not supported our attempts to enjoin the San Diego group issuing dogs to rape victims. It was the feeling of those present at the meeting that GDUC needed more public relations. The public needs to know that people with disabilities need service animals, and they will not bark and growl in public. Melita pointed out that these "protection dogs" and loose dogs that attack our guides are two different issues. Harry Thomas from the Guide Dog Board announced that Guide Dog Day is May 1st and 2nd. Ken Metz suggested we work on a video and asked for help from the schools. Don Brown moved that the Board put the PR issue on the agenda for next meeting. In a friendly amendment, David Foster moved we form a committee at this meeting. The motion and amendment passed. Don Brown, Sheila Styron, Ken Metz, Dan Kysor and Audrey Hebner will serve, with Melita Waters as chair. All three schools volunteered to help. We also will establish a web site. Melita Waters, Dave Foster, Ken Metz and Abby Vincent as secretary will work in the site. Submitted by Abby Vincent Note: In Abby Vincent's absence, Sheila Styron took the following notes on Dan Kysor's legislative report: In discussion with Dan Kysor, we explored the idea of a GDUC resolution which would recommend expanding the guide dog board to include all assistance animal activities in the state of California. GDUC will consider writing a resolution along these lines for the fall 2001 convention. Dan reported that the sunsetting of the guide dog board appears to have been diverted, due to the efforts of those who testified at the April 5 hearing. Dan informed us that SB 1190, which raises the guide dog allowance for SSDI recipients from $35 to $50 a month, the amount currently received by SSI recipients, is unopposed at this time. He also informed us that GDUC members had assisted in improving language for the Sally Havice bill, AB 841, which will establish a commission for the purpose of studying and making recommendations regarding pedestrian safety throughout the state of California. |
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Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly. When they lit a fire in the craft it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your kayak and heat it too. Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, was known as the lesser of two weevils. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused his dentist's Novocain during root canal work? He wanted to transcend dental medication. |
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What? Puppies at the Getty Museum? Yes, it's true. On May 5, the J. Paul Getty Center opened its doors to GDB puppy raisers and yours truly, providing us with tours of some of its works of art along with the spectacular architecture which houses them. We may have appeared to be living art objects ourselves to other museum visitors as handlers and dogs ranging from small puppies riding in carts to a mature working guide in harness traveled throughout the museum's beautiful pavilions. I almost hate to say it, but we received nearly as much attention from the public as did the art pieces amongst which we were moving. Often being the only person with a guide dog in a public place, and maybe even the first one to have ever come through its doors, I am used to the idea of being observed by the public. However, puppies riding in carts was a first for me and probably for most other observers as well. Members of the L.A. Southwest Guide Dog Raisers, ably led by Pat Whitehead, developed this innovative new practice for the purpose of socializing very young puppies in environments where lots of walking is required. Puppies who are too immature to have developed the stamina to walk long distances ride comfortably nestled on pillows in light-weight collapsible carts and look out at the world through shopping basket style metal grill work. This ingenious technique allows puppies to gain valuable exposure to stimulating environments at a much earlier stage in their development than they would otherwise be able to experience. They can grow accustomed to sights and sounds without having to be carried for long hours by puppy raisers or exhaust themselves by the need to keep moving ahead on four tired little paws that quickly run out of steam when visiting places such as the Getty or Disney Land. Riding in carts also keeps untrained puppy noses away from ground level temptations as well as promoting more efficient relief training. When puppies are in their crates or riding in carts, they tend to let their raisers know when they need to relieve, giving handlers an opportunity to get puppies to appropriate relief areas in time to avoid accidents in public. Best of all, puppies riding in carts is one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time. Our group which included six puppies ranging in age from fourteen weeks to adolescent canines, plus my seasoned guide, was split into three separate tours. The Getty offers accessible tours for the visually impaired, and is constantly improving and expanding tour features. My group's docent was a talented and entertaining gentleman, Todd Conatser, who designed a tour consisting of works of art all within a canine theme. He recited passages from Shakespeare that corresponded to the art pieces we were studying and shared with us his belief that the greatest dog in all history was Argos, faithful companion to Ulysses. In Joseph Wright Darby's "Penelope Unraveling Her Web", Argos, once magnificent but now ancient and blind, patiently waits for his master, absent for twenty years, and is first to recognize him upon his return disguised as a beggar wearing rags. After seeing Ulysses finally safely home, Argos, now very, very old, closes his clouded eyes and goes to his eternal rest. All the puppies were extremely well behaved at the Getty, and docents along with the other Getty staff were gracious hosts to us and our dogs. I learned a bit more about art, in which I am interested but of which I know very little. Most important of all, future guide dogs received a very large dose of necessary socialization and an impressive snout full of culture as well. |
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Congratulations are in order to Sheila Styron. She has received an appointment from GDUI's President. She has been appointed GDUI's Affiliate Coordinator. This is the person who is charged with keeping in touch with and reporting, through the pages of PAWTRACKS, on the goings on at the State level to the members of GDUI. She will have a regular column in PAWTRACKS and will be the person to contact when information about starting a new affiliate is needed. It really is fitting that a Board member from GDUI's largest affiliate hold this position. I can think of no one better suited to take on this job. Sheila is one sharp gal and I am as proud of her as I know all of you will be. Good luck, Sheila. We're all looking forward to reading your column. |
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There will be an election as part of the business meeting in the November convention. Offices to be filled are President, Secretary and one Director's position. Ken Metz has been appointed chairman of the nomination committee; committee members are Marion Fisher and Dave Foster. If you are interested in holding office in GDUC please, please contact one of the committee members to get your name in the hat. Or, if you know of someone who you think would be good for the organization in one of these positions, tell the committee!!! The organization needs you!!! To contact a committee member: Ken Metz: (310) 787-0021 kmetz@socal.rr.com |
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This summer, during the GDUI annual meeting to be held in conjunction with the ACB convention, there will be an election to replace Carla Campbell as a Member of the Board of Directors. As you know, there is a limitation on the number of people from a state that can be on the GDUI board at one time. Carla is from California and, although she had let her membership in GDUC lapse years ago, counted as the member from California. Abby Vincent has said that she is very interested in holding that position. Her resume is included below and is impressive. The GDUC board thinks that she will make an excellent GDUI director, and that having an active member of GDUC on the GDUI board is a great idea, good for both GDUI and GDUC. Therefore, the board has instructed the GDUC delegate, Sheila Styron, to put Abby's name in nomination. Interestingly enough, the GDUI president and a member of GDUI's board had approached Mitch Pomerantz about running for the same position. While Mitch is well known and a prominent figure in blind circles, the consensus of opinion was that Abby would better represent GDUC. Go get 'em, Abby. |
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Summary of background and current positions Education Professional experience - Background Professional experience - Current Community Service Church Activities And: I am active on the e-mail "Buddy-L" list. I believe in keeping in touch and helping others and the Buddy list is a way to reach more people. |
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He's just my dog. He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He has told me more than a thousand times over that I am his reason for being - by the way he rests against my leg, by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile, by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me). When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another person. With him, I am all-powerful. He has taught me the meaning of devotion is loyalty itself. With him, I know the secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever... in case I need him, and I expect I will, as I always have. Who is he? -- He's just -- MY DOG! |
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A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer." A man entered his local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did. A woman had twins, and gave them up for adoption. One of them went to a family in Egypt and was named Amahl. The other went to a family in Spain; they named him Juan. Years later, Juan sent a picture of himself to his mother. Upon receiving the picture, she told her husband that she wished she also had a picture of Amahl. Her husband responded, "But they are twins -- if you've seen Juan, you've seen Amahl." Some friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise the funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the "men of God," the rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. He asked his mother to ask the friars to get out of business. They ignored her, too. So the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving... (Brace yourself.) That Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars. |
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On Monday, April 30, 2001, I attended the sentencing hearing for the woman that hit and killed Cheri Moku last October. For anyone who does not know the story I will relate the tale. On an October evening last year Cheri Moku and her Guide Dog, Coho, were leaving the college in Merced, California, where Ms. Moku attended classes. It was still light as we were still on daylight savings time. Cheri, was in a marked crosswalk, crossing from the college side of the street to the side that had a sidewalk. This crossing is a mid-block crossing without a signal. The nearest intersection was some 500 feet down the block. The intersection in the other direction was considerably further away. To get to the nearer intersection one would have to walk in the street with the traffic. So, the natural thing to do was to cross in the marked crosswalk to the side of the street that did have a sidewalk. Cheri did all of the things we all do when preparing to cross a busy street. When she stepped out into the street the traffic on the side of the street nearest her had all stopped. She crossed 3 and a half of the 5 lanes in that street (the middle lane is a turn lane). A vehicle coming from the right failed to stop, skidded and collided with Cheri. Cheri died of massive head injuries while in ICU. Her dog was not injured, but had to be retired due to his traffic trauma. The driver, Susan Ogard, had no excuse other than she did not see Cheri. An investigation of the incident was undertaken by Merced County law enforcement. The first Assistant District Attorney (DA) to work on the case was the felony charging DA. He had blood tests run on Susan Ogard. They were looking to see if the driver was under the influence of any outside substance. They looked for alcohol, street drugs and prescription drugs. If the driver had been under any one of these substances, the incident would have risen to the level of a felony which would have had jail time as part of the penalty. As it turned out Susan Ogard was under the influence of nothing but inattention. She just wasn't looking where she was driving. Her statement was that she just looked up and there Cheri was. Since Ms. Ogard wasn't under the influence of a foreign substance, the case was moved over to the misdemeanor department. Ultimately, charges did get filed. Susan Ogard was charged with one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and one count of violation of the "White Cane Act". The case was finalized on April 30, 2001. Without even having had a trial, a settlement was agreed upon between the Assistant DA and the Defendant. It is called a "negotiated plea". Ogard entered a plea of No Contest to the manslaughter charge. This means that she did not deny that she had killed Cheri. Her penalty was as follows: 3 years informal probation; 10 hours community service, a donation of $500 to an organization that works with the blind, $250.00 fine, $100.00 restitution, and a 60 day restriction on her drivers' license. The restriction was that she would be allowed to drive to and from work and do any driving required by her employment and she would be allowed to drive herself and her mother back and forth to the doctor, while the DMV determined if Ms. Ogard should be driving. It was admitted that Susan Ogard is legally blind in her left eye. The "White Cane Act" violation was dismissed. This sentence feels like they have declared open season on blind people. We would have been much better served if the manslaughter charge had been dismissed and sentence had been imposed for the violation of the "White Cane Act" (California Vehicle Code 21963). |
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For your information, the text of CVC 21963 follows:
Editor's Note: I have done some research recently to determine whether the "White Cane Act" is being enforced at all. It seems that the Highway Patrol has been keeping records of the citations they issue on violation of the "White Cane Act" since 1998. In that 2 and a half years, they have issued only 2 citations in the entire State of California. At first blush this appears to be a gross misscarriage. When more closely considered, one will admit that this is probably realistic being that the Highway Petrol is responsible for the State's highways and freeways. The more important statistics, those kept or not at the local level, are the figures that will really tell the story. I haven't been able to get much from the locals. I noted that when I called the different departments of the CHP and various police departments, the personnel usually had never heard of VC 21963. |
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Just 2 days after the sentencing in the Cheri Moku matter the Guide Dog Day at the Capitol was held. We have all been so interested in improving the safety of all pedestrians, not just blind pedestrians, that the theme for the day was Pedestrian Safety. We were carrying the message to all legislators that California has some very good laws, but that they do very little good if they are not enforced. The packets we distributed to each legislator included copies of all the California laws pertaining to pedestrians, some ten pages. All of us had the Cheri Moku case to point to as an example. We asked each legislator to write to the police, sheriff and district attorney in their district urging them to vigorously enforce the laws already on the books. I found that the legislators were most interested. In less than one week I received a copy of the letter sent by one assemblyman to law enforcement in his district advising them to know and enforce the laws that are already on the books regarding pedestrian safety. I hope that all of the legislators write the same kinds of letters. On the 2nd of June I received copies of responses that legislator had from the Chief of Police in Irvine, and from the District Attorney of Orange County. If the legislators did write the letters and if they result in more vigilance by law enforcement regarding the safety of all pedestrians, not just the blind pedestrian, perhaps Cheri Moku's death will not have been in vain. |
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After the Guide Dog Day, Assemblyman Bill Campbell of the 71st district wrote to me enclosing a sample copy of the letters he had sent. The letter said: Dear Ms. Waters: I enjoyed meeting with you the other day regarding pedestrian safety. As a result of this meeting, I sent a letter to the Sheriffs Department, the Police Chiefs in my district and the District Attorney's office urging them to enforce pedestrian laws that are on the books already for the sake of all citizens, but especially the visually impaired. Enclosed is a copy of the letter for your records. Thank you for meeting with me to discuss your perspective on this issue. Sincerely, And the enclosure said: The Honorable Mike Carona Dear Mr. Carona, Last week I met with a blind woman from Santa Ana. In talking to her on related issues, she asked me to help her pass on her message about encouraging law enforcement agencies to enforce laws already on the books regarding pedestrian safety, especially as it affects the visually impaired. It is vital to the blind community that they have the safe mobility that was intended to help them get around the community. I ask for your attention because the laws will work only if everybody knows they will be enforced. Even drivers' themselves are part-time pedestrians once they have parked, so enforcing pedestrian safety laws protects them too. Enclosed is a copy of the related civil codes that blind persons depend upon for their day-to-day lives. Thank you in advance for your help. Sincerely, I received another letter from Assemblyman Campbell the first week in June. This letter enclosed two replies that he had received, one from the Chief of Police of Irvine, California, and the other from the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The District Attorney's letter said: Office of the District Attorney May 24, 2001 The Honorable Bill Campbell Dear Mr. Campbell: Tony Rackauckas has asked me to respond to your May 2, 2001 letter concerning pedestrian safety as it affects the visually impaired. Thank you for enclosing the relevant Civil, Vehicle and Penal Code provisions affecting the visually impaired. We agree with you that it is vitally important to the blind community that they have safe mobility throughout the community. In order to enhance their mobility we will add the relevant Civil, Vehicle, and Penal Code provisions to our Deputy District Attorney training program. Thanks again for your letter. Sincerely, There can be no doubt that the efforts at Guide Dog Day were successful. We can all be proud of the work done, hopeful for the future and very grateful to the legislators who took time from their busy schedules to help. |
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At the Spring convention the membership voted to form a Public Relations Committee. The members of that committee are: Don Brown, Director GDUC; Audrey Hebner, member; Dan Kysor, member; Ken Metz, GDUC Treasurer; Sheila Styron, Director GDUC; and Melita Waters, Chair. The objective of this committee is to develop ways and methods to counter the difficulties posed by the passage of AB 2222, the protection dog problem, and to educate the public regarding the different kinds of jobs our dogs do for us and the different kinds of jobs we need for them to do. AB 2222, and certain court decisions, allow dogs with minimal training to have all the access rights that the well-trained, well behaved guide, hearing and true service dogs enjoy. We must figure out a way to allow those of us who need a dog to serve as an assistant to us to have that assistance without having to contend with some other dog that has been minimally trained in order to take advantage of the ambiguities that AB2222 caused. I continue to maintain that our acceptance in a public setting is only as good as the memory an individual has of the last person/dog team they encountered. We have our work cut out for us and we cannot allow the grass to get any higher before we begin to help ourselves in this matter. We must guard against being guilty of "all talk and no action" behavior. This committee's task is to come up with the public relations aspect of a solution. If any one of you has an idea that can make this job easier, please do let us know what it is. It may very well be that we will have to seek amended legislation to improve the training required for a dog to qualify as a bone fide Assistance/Service/Guide Dog. |
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At the last convention the idea of GDUC having it's own web site was brought up and a committee formed. There has been some progress - an outline has been developed, a web site designer contacted about how to do this, costs of starting it and having a regular web-master maintain and service it. There is real progress. The site would have all about GDUC, archive issues of FORWARD, news of all kinds of interest to the guide dog world, information about what is going on in California and nationally, and links, links, links - to everywhere you could possibly want - for guide dog stuff. One of the interesting questions discovered is that we can't use GDUC.org as our domain name (domain name is a word of art - isn't this fun?) because it seems that Guide Dog Users of Canada beat us to it. There are many other possibilities. It is entirely possible that the site will be up and operating before the next issue of FORWARD. |
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Hello! My name is Muff. I'm a male, Yellow Labrador Retriever. But much more than that, I'm now a Guide Dog! I was born about two years ago, and I have five brothers and sisters. Every one of us are Yellow Labs, and Mother sometimes had trouble telling us apart. We'd laugh when she'd mistake us for one another, and she'd just smile and tell us to behave. That word, "behave," became very important to me and my brothers and sisters. When we were about six weeks old, something wonderful happened to us. Each of us became members of families called Puppy Raisers. They were called that because we were just puppies then, and they were going to raise us. These Puppy Raiser families were wonderful people. They taught me how to behave -- which is what my mother always wanted me to do. They taught me to sit, stay, lie down, heel and lots of other neat things I didn't already know how to do. They made learning fun. I was eager to learn, because they told me that if I really behaved and learned all the things I needed to know, someday I could be a Guide Dog. Wow! Can you imagine that? I could actually become a real Guide Dog who could help someone who couldn't see to be able to walk safely to wherever he or she needed to go. That was so exciting! And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to become someone's Guide Dog. So I did what my mother had told me to do -- I behaved. The Puppy Raiser family I was with took great care of me. I got to go everywhere with them. I met so many nice people, and they all wanted to pet me and play with me. I really wanted to play with them too. But since I was being trained, I couldn't always play with everyone I wanted. I had to behave. My Puppy Raisers did a fine job raising and training me. I was so proud of myself when they gave me commands, and I obeyed. I could tell that they were pleased with me too, because they praised me for being good and doing things right. Before I knew it, I had learned everything they were supposed to teach me. As much as I enjoyed being with my Puppy Raisers and their family and friends, I always knew that, someday, I would have to go to Guide Dog School to complete my training. There I would learn all the things I would need to know to become an official Guide Dog. It would be kind of like going to college. Then, one day, it was time for me to leave for school. I thought everybody would be so happy for me, but some people actually seemed sad. I couldn't understand this. Wasn't this why they had raised and trained me -- so I could go on to become a Guide Dog? Then I realized that the tears in their eyes weren't from sadness; they were tears of joy! They knew that I was going to learn how to do all those things that a real Guide Dog needs to know, and that they had done their job well to help me get this far. They were so happy for me! Then I was off to school at Guide Dogs for the Blind. It was so exciting! There were lots of other dogs there, all of them training to become what I had always wanted to be -- a real Guide Dog! And guess what? My brothers and sisters were all there too! We visited with one another, and shared stories about how much fun we had while we were with our Puppy Raisers. One thing we knew was that, no matter where we went, we would always remember the many wonderful people who had done so much to raise and train us, and who gave us the opportunity to prove that we were good enough to become real Guide Dogs. We spent the next four months training at Guide Dogs for the Blind. The trainers there were so nice. They taught us all about wearing a harness. We learned that, when we are wearing a harness, we are working. It's kind of funny that they call it working, because it's really a lot of fun! We were taught commands like left, right, forward, hop-up, steady and lots of other important commands. The way the instructors taught us these commands, they were really easy to learn. And then, one day, they introduced us to some new people. There was something different and special about these people; they couldn't see. We quickly learned that these were the people for whom we had all been trained. They would become our Handlers, and we would become their Guide Dogs! It was so exciting getting to know our new Handlers. They were all so nice and kind, and we fell in love with them almost immediately. And they fell in love with us, too. For the next month, we trained together. The more we practiced, the better we worked together. And then, one day, we graduated. I was now an official Guide Dog, and a graduate from Guide Dogs for the Blind! It was such a thrill. After that, I returned home with my Handler. I got to meet all of his family, friends and neighbors. They were all so impressed with how well we worked together. And I was rather impressed myself at how nicely things had worked out just by doing what my mother had always told me to do -- just behave. I'm having so much fun these days. My Handler and I go to so many great places together -- even places where other dogs are not allowed to go. That's because, being a Guide Dog, I have special privileges ordinary dogs don't get to enjoy. I really love my Handler, and he loves me too. We go everywhere together, and we play together a lot. I even have my own toys! And I get to sleep in the same room with my Handler, so I'm always nearby for whenever he needs me. As my fellow Guide Dogs and I enjoy our journeys through life, we often think back to the times we spent with our Puppy Raisers, and all the great friends we made along the way. We may never get to see them again, but we know we'll never miss them. That's because we get to take all of them with us, wherever we go, in our thoughts, our memories and in our hearts. And what a wonderfully special place that is! So please think fondly of us, and think of us often. And know that we'll always be thinking of you too, our special friends!
Copyright May, 2001 Reprinted by permission |
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The Coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations (CADO) was formed during the February meeting in Ohio. The coalition is made up of Assistance Dog International (ADI), the organization of assistance dog trainers; the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP), the association of users of all types of assistance dogs; and Guide Dog Users Inc. (GDUI). The coalition developed wording to submit to the Department of Justice to revise the regs that define assistance - or service - dogs/animals. The coalition is being very close-mouthed - at least GDUI is - in fear of letting "our enemies" know what is being proposed. This wording, in a well-produced presentation, was presented to DOJ personnel in April. The regulations on service animals are to be reviewed this year. However, there is at present no "chief" in that area of DOJ, so the revision must wait until there is one to set the tone of the DOJ section. In the meantime, DOJ has said that they can revise the FAQs that are published. These FAQs may or may not reflect the concern about protection dogs, flying pigs and such. GDUI's actions with the coalition seem to be confined to actions by the GDUI president and past president, with selected members of GDUI's board of directors and officers participating. The fact that these service animal people, users and trainers, and guide dog people came together in a common cause seems to be an amazing feat. Much credit is being taken by the GDUI president and some is truly due. We will probably hear how she succeeded in creating a coalition for many years. At this time, nothing has been done in public by GDUI or the coalition. The coalition members had a telephone conference June 6, 2001, to decide what to do, who to do it and when and how. Rest assured, the matter will be discussed with much fanfare and back-patting at the GDUI convention. However, that does not solve the problem. California has other problems (see the paragraphs on AB 2222) and nine months have gone by since the first article on protection dogs appeared in the San Diego newspaper. A lot of time has been lost and there is apparently no action to be taken by the coalition in the foreseeable future. At this time GDUC stands alone. We can expect little or no assistance from GDUI and the assistance that we may have gotten from the other service dog people has been preempted by GDUI. We face a real challenge. There are some tools available to GDUC. There is a strong working organization, a public relations committee, this magazine, and soon a web site. Suggestions? |
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Last year the California legislature passed AB 2222, to the great relief and delight of many people who are actually disabled but whose disability was only marginally recognized by the Americans With Disability Act. AB 2222 added the word "mental" to the disability lexicon, and defined at length "disability". This action was sorely needed and filled a definite requirement. However, these definitions go beyond the ADA and extend the rights to access, non-discrimination, etc. to people who are not covered by the Federal laws. They are now covered by the California laws. In 1998 a case was heard in the Federal District Court in Oregon, Green v. Housing Authority of Clackamus County, 994 F. Supp 1253. The court considered the rights of a person to have a service dog, and just exactly what were the requirements to be considered a service dog. The court held:
The effect of these two actions, AB 2222 and the Oregon case, is that there are few people who are not disabled, and that almost any dog may be legally be a service dog. This is over and beyond the Federal laws and regulations, this is in California. There is a need to revisit AB 2222 and the state laws regarding service animals; the federal regulations will not be applicable to defining what is a California Service Dog, to go with California disabled people. It is entirely possible that protection dogs are legal considering the effects of AB 2222. |
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Versatility on four feet Introduction Surprisingly, the GSD has been in existence as a distinct breed for only about 90 years. The breed traces its ancestors to a widely diverse group of sheepherding and farm dogs in Germany. In the late 19th Century, informal breeding groups of sheepherders banded together through a common interest in their dogs and attempted to produce dogs with the desired working attributes. The initial group disbanded, but another society formed in 1899 flourished. This group, Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde (sv) was founded by Max von Stephanitz, a cavalry officer known as the father of the breed. The GSD came to the US as early as 1908, but its popularity rose dramatically after World War I, when returning soldiers told of the heroic dogs' work with the Red Cross, at the front, for the police, and on guard duty. In addition, Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart, two beloved silent film stars, captured the hearts of the American public. Today, the German Shepherd is distinguished for his loyalty, courage, and ability to retain training for a number of special services. Members of the breed are widely used by police officers and the military, as guide dogs for the blind, guardians, drug and contraband detection dogs, and Search and Rescue dogs. Most, however, are purchased to serve the important role of devoted family friend and protector. Temperament The character of the German Shepherd Dog is one of self-confidence and nobility. Although a mature German Shepherd will not wear his heart on his sleeve, he should be approachable and outgoing. Strangers may be regarded with some suspicion, but the dog should be neither overly sharp and aggressive nor cringe with fear. A sound German Shepherd makes an excellent companion. An unsound one is a disaster waiting to happen. Because of a desire to have a family protector, many GSD puppy buyers think they need a very dominant, aggressive dog -- an unwise choice for a family. Sound GSDs are naturally protective of their homes and families. Puppies will begin to show some awareness of "their" people and "their" space at about five or six months of age and will display a desire to warn of approaching strangers. An alert dog and a few warning barks is all the protection most families require. For those who have a true need for more serious protection, a sound, balanced dog is still the best choice. Such a dog can be trained in formal personal protection by a competent instructor. An overly aggressive or unsound dog should not be trained in protection, for it will be a danger and cannot be trusted. Anyone planning to acquire a personal protection dog should choose the dog and the trainer carefully, for a poor dog or a poor trainers can court disaster. Physical attributes The GSD generally weighs 75-95 pounds, with males usually larger than females. Males should be 24-26 inches at the withers (top of the shoulder blades), and females 22-24 inches. Although larger dogs exist, excessive size is not desirable. Diversity |