From: Vaughan Dodd 
Subject: Re: Seeing Eye Resolution
On 1996-10-21 NFB-Talk@NFBnet.org said to vdodd@actrix.gen.nz
   >The down side of dog user and puppy raiser reunons was described
   >to me by a friend who had a friend of theirs have the puppy
   >raiser of their dog start dropping in unannounced at the blind
   >person's home to visit "their dog".
   >Seems the dog didn't give two hoots and the blind person found it
   >a pain in the neck.
   >The British guide dog school will provide the blind person with
   >contact information on the puppy walker as they call the puppy
   >raiser and lets the blind person decide whether they wish to
   >contact the puppy family or not.
   >.... Pardon Me, But Would You Have Any Blue Poupon?
In New Zealand, we have a very good system of choice.  Guide dog handler can
contact puppy walker if he/she wants, but if handler doesn't want to contact
puppy walker, puppy walker can't contact handler.
We also have a contractual arrangement which protects the user from unwanted
harassment from the puppy walker.  Thus, if I don't want puppy walker to
contact me, I can't contact puppy walker.  If I do want contact with p.w.,
that can be a direct arrangement between me and p.w.and overseen by
Guide Dog SErvices heere, so
long as the contracted agreement says so.
A good scheme.
Looking at the current row between NFB and Seeing Eye: It seems very odd
that two groups of mature adults, both with the interests of blind people at
heart, can't get round a table and sort it out.  It seems that discourtesies
have occurred and misunderstandings have resulted.  However, it is not the
New Zealand way, (for what that is worth in the scheme of things) to not
sort it out.  The only loosers will be blind people who want guide dogs.
Certainly - the United States allows for much greater choice with respect to
guide dog acquisition than is the case here.  However, should the NFB
promote one school ahead of any other?  Should it instead sijmply advocate
for the best possible service to each individual, taking acount of
individual circumstances?
It is impossible for me to answer those rhetorical questions from this
distance, but the issue is clearly more than just a sparring match between
NFB and Seeeing Eye.
Vaughan.
'
Vaughan Dodd
Vdodd@actrix.gen.nz
Net-Tamer V 1.07; Beta - Test Drive
---
---------------