Category: the Rant Board
i am afraid to rant on this board, because apparently if I do I'm considered unkind. Well those of you who think so, go to the next topic.
recently my daughter got a guide dog. on sunday, my step mom's church is having an all souls day service to honor the dead of the past year. my dad was one of them. she asked us to come and support her which we are glad to do.
last night, I said something about pria, the guide dog coming. She said "she can't leave her home?" "Dogs shouldn't be in churches." "i'll have to talk to the pastor and see what he says."
Aileen's 88 years old and of the old school where the men do the dirty work of saying bad stuff, laying down the law, and breaking unpleasant news. Even at age 52, I have an adolescent side which says "how dare you be so narrow minded!!!" However, I realize that she has lived a very sheltered life. This is not the hill I will probably die on today.
As yet I haven't discussed this with my daughter, but will recommend that she does the same thing.
Am I being a wimp or what?
If I'm understanding this right, your stepmother wants your daughter to leave her new guide dog at home? If thats right, I have the following to say. Your daughter will most likely be miserable without her guide dog, especially if its new, I know I am, I hate not having my guide dog with me, its like leaving my left arm at home. Second, you tell you stepmom this, tell her that if she plucks her eyes out and leaves them at home while she goes to the church, then your daughter will leave her guide dog in church. Or, tell her that dogs are god's creatures, and there is no reason to not take them to church, itss a dog, and its a well trained, quiet dog, more than likely. I'd go with the first one though, much more fun.
that is my six cents, hope they help.
The 88-year-old isn't in charge of the church, so it's not up to her. I'd say it's up to the people who run the church but I don't know the law where you are. If the law says that visually impaired guide dog owners are entitled to take their dogs to church, then the dog can go regardless of what the church or the 88-year-old think.
Wait, I'm confused, your daughter is being told to leave her guide dog at home, and you're thinking she should? I personally think she should not. Guide dogs are allowed anywhere, and no one has the right to tell your daughter she can't bring hers. It particularly angers me when people in places of worship do stuff like that, as such places are supposed to be where all are welcome. Key words, supposed to be, as often they are where people are least welcome.
The purpus of getting the guide dog is so that she can move about without asistance from sighted people therefor giveing her more freedom and independance. Takeing her freedom and independence from her just to go to church is wrong. They are all right, there are laws saying that she can take it anywears with her. It is a sorce of mobility for her. That would be like forceing someone in a weel chair to go to church without their weelchair. Or an older person without their walking cane or a ampatee without their leg...!
She should take her dog if that's what she wants to do. Technically, churches may legally refuse to allow a guide dog to enter as churches are not considered public accomodations within the ADA. But if she just showed up, I'd be stunned if they turned her away. You're apt to get mor resistance if you ask first. My rule of thumb is always to just show up and deal with resistance if necessary. However, my experience has been that once you're there, people don't have the stones to hassle a blind person even if they object to the dog. Don't worry about stepmom. She'll get over it and perhaps once she sees how well behaved the dog is she'll be more accepting in the future. Just support your daughter in whatever decision she makes. It's her dog and her decision to make. Keep in mind that if she does leave the dog, she will likely have some seperation anxiety and feel guilty. I know the first time I left my dog I was a basketcase for the first hour or so. I still don't like to leave my dog and rarely do, but I deal with it better now. I do always feel a sense of loss, but I don't go to pieces anymore. Good luck.
I don't know how the laws are in the US, but in Canada, your guide dog is allowed to go anywhere you go. End of story. I think it should be the case everywhere.
That reminds me of stories I've heard where some Muslim taxi drivers would refuse to pick up blind people accompanied by dogs on religious grounds because apparently according to their beliefs dogs are unclean. So then when you bring up the ADA or whatever access laws your country happens to have, the driver gets upset because they view that as a restriction on religious activity. THe irony is that it's not Muslims in general who seem to do this, since one of their madates is to help a disabled person in any way possible. But there have been a few cases where a taxi driver has refused to allow the dog.
They are also allowed to go wherever you go in Australia, too, besides emergency rooms, restoraunt kitchens, and a few other places that do not come to mind at the moment. However, churches are not one of those said places.
The dog is there to give your daughter more independence, and your her Step-mother needs to know that the dog is not only allowed in church, but is well-trained and will behave.
Holly, first off, by all means, your daughter should bring the dog with her. I'm reminded of a song I used to teach children when I taught music in Sunday School for a few years. "All God's Critters got a Place in the Choir."
Lou
Yes, I too have seen instances where foreign taxi drivers will not take a blind passenger if they have a guide dog. In each case, the company has received an angry phone call. That happened to me when I used to have a dog, and I've known it to happen to friends who are guide dog users as well. Heck, I even had an American driver try to charge me extra for my dog, because that company charged extra to transport pets. I made it clear that my dog was not a pet, and had to fight with him for a couple minutes before he finally listened to me. Ugh.
And Lou, I've never heard that song, but it's so true. Smile.
lou, i wanna hear that song!!! it sounds very cute.
well my daughter got the flu, so the whole rant was ridiculous. she just doesn't like dogs. her latest bitch of the day is that it is selfish of me to get a dog because i shouldn't expect people to take two dogs in their cars. i said that she's the only person whose complained about it to me. therefore i must have special friends or she has a special problem.
You’ve forgotten one thing, our lovely friend the white cane. If someone minds so much adapt and just bring that instead and get rid of this ridiculous whining. There are always ways to modify things, you just need to think.
Some people are not good with a cane, and prefer their dog. Besides, if that is her preferred way, there should be no reason why she shouldn't be able to bring her dog.
unfriendly, dogma ridden rachel
there are many things i do in life but whine is not one of them. this is the rant board. if you don't like the negative go to the rave one. of course your negativity and unkindness would make you unwelcome there.
Haha. Well said, turricane.
I agree wholehartedly. A person shouldn't have to sacrifice something that makes them feel comfortable and independent just because someone else is uninlightened. Not only that, but no matter how well you use it a white cane can get in the way a whole lot more when in use than a dog. I guarantee they'll be begging for the dog back again after a few people have been tripped with the cane.