Category: Animal House
Hi all, I have just been refused another guide dog again for the second time. I was angry and am thinkin of apealing aggenst it. The instructor said I could. It is because of my depression that they refused all though the rehab worker said give her a chance. Does anyone know how to go about apealing about guide dogs? I know most of you are in a different country from me but just wondered if anyone has any idea. Thanks.
Wow. That just doesn't seem right. I mean I could understand if there was potential for you to harm the animal but to defer you just on the grounds of depression seems wrong. I would think depression might be aleviated by the animal. I don't know what I'd do without my cat and I plan to reapply for a guide dog once I get more established. Since my fiance and I will most likely be moving into a larger apartment I'll have a new neighborhood to learn. I'll probably apply then. But I don't understand how depression can be sufficient grounds to defer you.
The closest viable complaint they might have against you is that your depression is inhibiting you. Which is to say, they're going to be leery about giving you a guide dog, I should think, if you're never doing much of anything and you and the dog would mostly just stay home. I'm not saying that -is the case, only that it's the first thing that comes to mind as worthy grounds to even consider refusing you.
Myself, I'd just bomb around with a cane and call it good if they're going to be difficult, but that's me. Best of luck to you, however things go.
That's it. I think it is because I don't do enough as in to go out. They are so strict in Scotland. I don't know about anywhere else.
Well if you'd applied here in the US it might have been a concern but I would think and hope they would have given you a reasonable chance. Then again Guide Dogs for the Blind did defer me partly on the grounds that I "live in too dangerous of a neighborhood because of no sidewalks." About the only reason they gave me that did make sense was that I probably should have gotten more familiar with my neighborhood. And I've been working on that since then.
No sidewalks = dangerous? Uh...most roads have some sort of verge. Have they ever heard of rural travelling? Good grief! I was taught with a cane to begin, of course, and -all the streets I grew up on had no sidewalks...it's not that hard, really. A little harder than sidewalk travel, to be sure, especially if ditches are involved and the shoulder's very narrow or steeply-graded, but still!
That's the irony of the whole thing. Part of their training program involves training in just such areas. About the only reason why this might make sense would be if, say you had the street on your right and the safe area on your left on the way to a destination. Fine since the dog is on your left side. Well on the way back the situation would be reversed and the dog would be the one closer to the traffic. But as inconvenient as that might be sometimes you could always just cross over to the other side of the street, assuming you had a sidewalk on that side (which is the case for much of my neighborhood), and then cross back to the correct side at the first opportunity. The main reason I walk on the verge of the street on my way to, say, the housing office to pay my rent is that on the other side of the street there's a large church parking lot, and as any blind person knows parking lots can be confusing sometimes, particularly if they're empty. And if you're unlucky enough to be travelling during a period of light traffic it can be difficult to get your bearings if you do wander into the parking lot.
I have done that a few times. There isachurch near the lesure centre and I have ended in the church instead of crossing the correct road.
And from a bit of experience, Brian, I can tell you that the UK is a bit strange with regard to traffic in general. They're often really good about tactile pavings for crossings, but as for actual roads? They sometimes do things we wouldn't even dream of, layout-wise.
For me, if it's a sidewalk I'm on and there's a parking lot on one side, I will often find the edge between and shoreline because I can tell the difference between cement and asphalt...but if it's a new parking lot or an old sidewalk, or if you're dealing with snow, this isn't always an option...same deal if the parking lot's on my left. I don't particularly like being on the wrong side of the sidewalk. Heh.
Nor do I. That's why I do that. And we definitely get snow in Idaho.
Somebody phoned from the guide dogs today. He wants to ask me why I want to appeal. I think he is coming to talk to me soon.
good luck with that.
I'm not trying to step on any toes but I'm genuinely interested to know why you would admit to having depression in the first place? Do they actually ask whether you have mental health issues on a guide dog application, and if so, why is that their business? Also, how could they prove it if you lied, and more importantly, if it was a previous diagnosis, or you're on medication that helps control whatever it is, why should it matter? I can just see a lot of potential for unfair judgments based on something like that.
Not only that but I would think having an animal would help with depression. Having Max, though he's by no means a guide cat, has helped me. And yes, I suspect I do have a milder form of depression. And if I have a guide dog it might give me more incentive to get out of the house and go do stuff.
I totally agree with that. For one thing, guide dogs have to be active or they will lose their skills. But more importantly, animals have been proven to help people with depression.
That's why I think it would do me good to have a guide dog. Even though I don't particularly like to walk (and no, I don't mean that from a laziness perspective, I genuinely don't find much enjoyment in walking), a guide dog would give me more incentive since I would actually have a purpose for it.
I don't like walking much iether but a guide dog would give me a reason to walk. I cant get a hold of guide dogs nobody is answering thephone. It is because I didn't do enough with my first guide dog Luke. But that was 8 years ago. Guide dogs just don't want to take any chanses.
That's true. My situation is a bit awkward though since I am in the process of looking for work. Though I've more or less decided I'd like to apply now and at least get things moving there is the issue of if I were to get job interviews I could hardly ask the would-be interviewer to wait until I was home from guide dog training since even in a small town lots of people are applying for a few positions. On thhe other coin we have the possibility, however remote, of me getting a job and then being informed that I've been accepted at a school, then finding difficulty getting the required four weeks off work for training. So a part of me feels I ought to apply now and see if I get accepted before I even find work. Legally at least in the US I think employers are supposed to make reasonable accomodations for their employees, which I would think would include allowing them the time off for things like guide dog training which might make it easier for the blind employee to maneuver around the business premises. And while I haven't actually heard stories of employees being denied that time and therefore losing their jobs I don't doubt that it has happened. I suppose if I did get an interview while I was in the process of applying I could inform the interviewer that i am in the process of attempting to get into guide dog school and that I might need the four weeks off at some point for that if I was accepted and see what their reaction would be, then decide based on that whether I took the job.
For the person who was denied on the basis of no sidewalks, I bet it was more to do with you not traveling and knowing your area well than the no sidewalk thing. Although areas of high trafic are dangerous for both humans and dogs, if there is sidewalk
part of the way and it is possible to cross the street with the dog without getting run over or playing frogger, they will work with you. I should know... I just had someone from GDB come out and help me with this issue here at my apartment for school.
There are villages here in the UK which, to this day, don't have any footpaths/streetlights etc, but it is a good idea to know a few routes round where you live. I've been on the guide dogs waiting liste since July this year.
I got denied a guide dog. They assumed I was depressed.
i use no sidewalks all the tiem and have a guide dog. at gdb in california i asked for extra help with this and they were happy to provide it.
Wow, this is all interesting to read. I don't know if all schools in the US want to know about depression. They just probably want to make sure that you're capable of taking care of yourself and a dog. Some people have depression so bad where they don't do anything. I was there once. And my dog was with me through it all. It was just a bad time I was going through. I say though, if you don't go out everyday, it's ok to take a few walks a week, they don't have to be long just make sure you're going out. I take my dog for a walk once or twice a week. In the summer and fall we did walk more, but I don't want to be walking in 20 below zero weather in Mn, so I don't. Everyone handles a dog differently to. It sounds like the school was pretty strict for some reason and I don't know why. And about the whole no sidewalks thing, I didn't have sidewalks when I got my first dog, and I got into a school, but I was going to college in the few months that followed, so that might've had something to do with it. In any case, I'm very happy with my dogs. One didn't work out, but still, i wouldn't trade it for anything. I think it's interesting to find out how things are different in other countries guide dog wise when it comes to schools or training. I heard in Canada that the schools aren't as good as the US, but that's just what I heard. I'm not saying that out of my own mouth. So anyway, I think I'm done talking since I've been doing a lot of it lately. lol. Good luck to everyone with their dogs, and to anyone who's applying or appealing.
That's what I'd do. I'd try to take my dog out for a walk every day but no fewer than twice or three times a week. Even on days when I didn't have to go anywhere I'd at least want to take him out for even just a short walk to keep us both in practice.
It absolutely is something the guide dog school needs to know. I'm sorry, but I'm going to be blunt here, ok, ready? A. If a person is so depressed that they might be suicidal, then they will leave the dog uncared for, and devistated if they kill them self, thereby wasting a dog that took 60000 dollars to train and tons of love, energy and effort. B. If a person is so depressed that they do not adiquately care for themself, then they will neglect their dog. C. If a person is depressed, not suicidal, able to care for themself, but just doesn't really go out, then the dog will be a great pet or emotional support animal, but won't be being used as a guide dog, and frankly, there are a lot of people who are not depressed or whose depression is under control with tharapy or medication that need that dog more and won't waste it. D. If you, personally, are not suicidal, are taking care of your self, do get out at least 5 or 6 days a week doing volinteer work, running erronds or working a job, then what you need to do is write an indepth letter explaining how you have addressed and resolved your previous mental health issues, and get documentation from a psychiatrist or psychologist stating that although you suffer from, major depression, bipolar, minor depression, insert name of your particular condition, it is undercontrol through X Y and Z means, and you will be no danger to a dog, can care for a dog, and will actually utalize the dog to it's potential, thereby, not wasting it. A guide dog is highly trained to guide, not as an ESA, emotional support animal, a tharapy dog or a psychiatric service dog. If you want a pet, get a pet, if you want and need a guide, then write it up in a well-thought-out way and present your position to the guide dog school. Also, have to point out the politics here. In the UK, you have no choice, you get a dog from the one huge school that has many branches, but is essentially the same school, or you use a cane. In the US, for better or worse, usually better, this is a consumer driven industry and there are choices, options and freedoms in having many schools training many breeds in many ways to select from. Basically, Guide Dogs in the UK has a monopoly, and yes, a non profit or a not for profit can form a monopoly if their existance and or their methods result in their being the only choice out there, that is, taking all choice away from the consumer. At this time I really only consider Seeing Eye an option for me, because of their values, polacies, quality, consistancy, phylosophy and history, but I am damn good and greatful that I have the choice of Pilot, Leader, GDF, GDB, TSE, GDD, GDA, Freedom, Fidelco, etc, of german shepherds, poodles, boxers, golden retrievers, labradors, dobermins, of away training, home training or combination training, puppy raiser contact or no puppyraiser contact, formal graduation or no graduation, etc. Choice and freedom are important, and highly benificial when paired with an informed outlook and a willingness to challenge, question, research and evaluate until the best possible situation is found.
a guide dog is a mobility aid first and foremost, it is an alternative to a cane, and should be carefully considered. in the UK, a guide dog owner needs cane skills before they can even apply for a dog.
I don't think there's any question that she has appropriate cane skills as she had a dog before. The issue of mental health and guide dog training and level of disclosure seems to be the main issue here.
To whoever said walking it about two or three times a week dogs love to run, my sister-in-law's puppy was here and I took it out 2 to 3 times daily just so it could run.
I'm guessing if it didn't get to move that often it would probably feel imprisoned / unhappy.