[Mt-blind] service dog training schools in Montana

[Edward C Robbins]

Jim,
        Thanks.  You covered it well.

Ted
Edward C "Ted" Robbins, CFO
Montana Business Enterprises, Inc.
Phone & Fax:  406 453 6678   Cell:  406 799 6268
 
On Thu, 10 May 2007 11:44:09 -0600 "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
writes:
> The law regarding service animals does not speak to the training.  
> It's
> entirely legal for people to train their own animals, even for guide 
> dogs
> used by blind people.  At the same time, it's certainly also fine to 
> talk
> about what constitutes good training.  Each of us is entitled to an 
> opinion,
> but legal facts are not affected by how we feel about what is 
> allowed or
> prohibited.  Of course, individuals and groups can advocate for 
> changes in
> the law.  Then the legal facts could change to reflect the will of
> citizens.
> 
> I think that guide dog schools are not overly threatened by small 
> training
> programs or self-training of service animals.  For one thing, 
> service
> animals are used by people with physical disabilities and hearing
> impairments.  It's not really a blindness issue.  For another thing, 
> we have
> to look at outcomes.  Credible guide dog schools do such a great job 
> that
> one would be hard put to undertake some sort of alternative.  If 
> someone
> were to ask me, I would say go with one of the reputable guide dog 
> schools.
> Blind people can get good training for themselves from these schools 
> as well
> as wonderfully trained animals.  All costs are carried by the 
> school, and
> most schools provide ongoing support for the blind person and the 
> guide dog.
> Weighing such considerations would lead nearly all of us to the 
> conclusion
> that it would be foolish to re-invent a wheel that works perfectly 
> well.
> 
> As far as service animals for physically disabled and hard of 
> hearing/deaf
> people goes, these folks do not have the same options that blind 
> people do.
> That's why the options of small training programs or self-training 
> are used.
> When there's no choice, people have to do what they must.  Only 
> other
> alternative I can imagine is not to use a service animal.  But 
> service
> animals perform very important functions, and I do not think we 
> should stand
> in the way of those who are doing what they must to get a valuable 
> tool.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Jim Marks
> blind.grizzly at GMail.com 
> 
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