[Cagdu] FW: Article: As Charity Cash Swells, Blind Await Guide Dogs

Sat Sep 19 13:42:25 PDT 2009

Hello Tina,
I know that this has been an issue for a couple of years now.
I do not know, why the Guide Dog Board has not taken action on this issue.
They can worry about schools coming in to train, but not schools that are not 
training any dogs in this state.
Thanks,

Robert Stigile

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "tina thomas " <tinadt at sbcglobal.net
>To: <cagdu at nfbcal.org
>Date sent: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:57:13 -0700
>Subject: Re: [Cagdu] FW: Article: As Charity Cash Swells,Blind Await Guide Dogs

>Good question Ken.  I am in the process of contacting some attorneys to see
>what legal steps need to be taken to stop this school from continuing their
>illegal practices.
>Tina

>"Trust your own instinct.  Your mistakes might as well be your own instead of
>someone else's."
>- Billy Wilder

>  _____

>From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf
>Of Ken Volonte
>Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:33 AM
>To: cagdu at nfbcal.org
>Subject: Re: [Cagdu] FW: Article: As Charity Cash Swells,Blind Await Guide
>Dogs

>Where is the California Guide dog Board?  After all, they are supposed to
>guard against illegitimate schools from doing business in this state.

>----- Original Message -----
>From: tina thomas  <mailto:tinadt at sbcglobal.net
>To: cagdu at nfbcal.org
>Cc: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of
><mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> Guide Dog Users'
>Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 3:15 PM
>Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Article: As Charity Cash Swells, Blind Await Guide Dogs

>Subject: Article: As Charity Cash Swells, Blind Await Guide Dogs

>As charity's cash swells, blind await guide dogs
>by Robert Anglen - Sept.  18, 2009 12:00 AM
>The Arizona Republic
>A charity that raises and trains guide dogs for the blind has been
>collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and investment
>income but has not placed a dog in more than two years.
>The California-based Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind, which has its
>training facility in Phoenix, has placed no more than 30 guide dogs since
>2000, an average of about three a year.
>Some blind people say the foundation has reneged on promises of providing a
>dog on a timely basis, so they go without a vital companion and link to the
>outside world.
>The Eye Dog Foundation is not lacking in resources.  In 2007, the most recent

>year for which tax records are available, it reported $7 million in assets
>and $716,000 in expenses.  It spent more than $156,000 in salaries and
>benefits and $215,000 in legal fees.
>The foundation is one of only two facilities in the country that exclusively

>train German shepherds, considered prized guide dogs but sometimes difficult

>to train.
>In the past two years, the foundation has gone through three professional
>dog trainers who walked off the job, and it repeatedly padlocked its
>training facility and kennel, once for more than three months.
>In 2008, volunteers who raise puppies in their homes until they are old
>enough for training began refusing to return dogs to the foundation.  They
>cited the training interruptions and alleged the dogs weren't properly fed
>or cared for.
>The foundation sued 24 puppy raisers, saying they had stolen the
>foundation's assets (the dogs) and violated their contracts.
>The foundation's president, Gwen Brown, refused to comment.  In a court
>hearing, she denied that dogs were neglected and maintained that past
>problems have been resolved.  Her lawyer said a new trainer has been hired
>and dogs again are being trained.
>"There are well-meaning people on both sides of the issue," said attorney
>Glenn Hotchkiss of Phoenix, adding that a lack of trust exists among all
>parties.  "There are a certain number of puppy raisers who won't believe
>anything that comes out of my mouth or out of Gwen Brown's mouth."
>Hotchkiss said there were "problems in the past," including an internal
>dispute that led a California court to take over operations in 2007.
>Hotchkiss said that no longer is an issue.
>"Since last September, things have been going well," he said.
>Meanwhile, some members of the blind community say they are in dire need of
>a guide dog.
>"I can't put into words what this has done to me," said Janis Limon of Mesa,

>who has been waiting for another dog from the foundation since 2007, when
>her previous dog died.  "My life has literally been taken from me.  I live
>alone.  I'm blind.  My dog went everywhere I went.  I used to walk 6, 7 miles a

>day.  Not anymore."
>Important mission
>The foundation started as a non-profit in California in 1952 and for decades

>was presided over by a Beverly Hills attorney, Lequita McKay.
>In 1988, after disputes with the state over licensing, the foundation bought

>land and opened a training facility in Phoenix, where no licenses and
>certifications were required.
>The foundation's purpose is to provide German shepherds to the blind free of

>charge.  The dogs are raised for the first year in the homes of contracted
>puppy raisers.
>More than 7,000 blind people in the United States rely on guide dogs.  While
>about 20 schools across the country train guide dogs, two train only German
>shepherds.  The rest primarily use Labrador retrievers.
>For nearly two decades, the foundation placed five to 10 dogs a year with
>blind handlers through the Phoenix facility on 15th Avenue near Baseline
>Road.
>But placements came to a halt in 2007, after infighting among six board
>members led to a stalemate over who should run the foundation.  One faction
>sued the other, and the foundation went into court-ordered receivership.
>Brown was voted in as the foundation's executive director.  Her management
>was called into question by some board members.
>McKay's death in 2007 effectively broke a board stalemate, giving Brown a
>majority in the dispute.  She moved the headquarters to her home in
>Claremont, Calif.
>The court decided it no longer had jurisdiction over the foundation and
>recalled it from receivership.
>No dogs placed
>The foundation since has been mired in controversy, culminating in the
>lawsuits against the puppy raisers.
>In March, 17 of the 24 puppy raisers returned the dogs as part of a deal
>with the foundation, which dismissed the suits and agreed to assess and
>place the dogs within six months.
>Seven of the dogs since have been returned to the puppy raisers as unfit for

>guide-dog duty, and 10 remain at the facility.
>Still, no member of the blind community is working with dogs at the training

>facility or has signed up to reside at the facility's dorms in the past six
>months, the foundation's lawyer said.  A handler is required to live for two
>to four weeks there to establish a relationship with a dog before taking it
>home.
>The puppy raisers say the failure to begin placing dogs is proof that the
>foundation is not making a good-faith effort.  They question whether the
>current trainer has enough experience to work effectively with guide dogs.
>The seven puppy raisers who still are being sued by Brown want a guarantee
>the dogs will be used to help the blind.
>"There is nothing that (Brown) has done to relieve our concerns," said
>Paradise Valley resident Anna Thomasson, one of the seven.  She has raised
>three dogs for the foundation in the past five years.  "We don't believe they

>have hired a qualified trainer." Hotchkiss, who represents Brown only in the

>suit against the puppy raisers, said Brown is working in the best interests
>of the foundation and wants to avoid conflict.
>"I fully understand (puppy raiser) concerns," he said.  But he believes those

>concerns are focused on the past.  "Puppy raisers won't concede what is
>happening now."
>Complaints abound
>The puppy raisers' concerns are echoed in complaints from the blind
>community, past donors, former employees and the court-appointed receiver
>who once managed the foundation's finances.  In interviews, letters to
>regulatory agencies and published accounts, they questioned the foundation's

>management.
>Joseph Etienne, appointed by the court to take over the foundation's
>operation two years ago, was critical of the way the foundation is run.
>"Dogs are not being used for what they are trained for," Etienne said.
>"People's donations are not going for what they intended.  Money is being
>used to litigate instead of furthering the training of seeing-eye dogs."
>He said his analysis of the foundation and its finances from January to
>September 2007 found that it had nearly $8 million in assets and could place

>a dozen dogs per year without receiving another donation, using only the
>interest it receives from investments.
>During the months Etienne was trustee, he said, the foundation placed two
>dogs.  He said it placed about three dogs over the two years before his
>involvement and has placed none since.
>In contrast to the Eye Dog Foundation, the other school that trains German
>shepherds exclusively, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Connecticut, reports
>that it places as many as 75 dogs per year.
>Consumer-complaint letters about the Eye Dog Foundation have been sent to
>regulatory and law-enforcement agencies in California and Arizona.
>Investigators with the California Attorney General's Office will neither
>confirm nor deny an investigation into the Eye Dog Foundation.  Etienne said
>in May that investigators interviewed him.
>In December 2008, the National Federation for the Blind published a scathing

>article in the Braille Monitor magazine that concluded that the foundation's

>practices should raise concerns.  Tax records show that donations to the
>foundation have declined from $894,217 in 2004 to $139,899 in 2007.  The
>foundation's single biggest expense in 2007 was legal fees, which totaled
>$215,296.  It paid Brown $43,000 in salary.
>The foundation reported on its federal tax form in April 2008 that it had
>purchased and bred 23 dogs for training and that "class schedules have been
>established and dogs are finishing training for release in later 2008."
>Limon said she was promised a dog in 2007 and still is waiting.  She said she

>considered applying for a German shepherd at Fidelco, but there is a
>two-year waiting list and she didn't want to start the clock over again.
>"I keep hoping it will all be worked out," Limon sai

>__._,_.___
>Messages
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/message/20474;_ylc=X3oDMTM2aDQ5M2Vx
>BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BG1zZ0lkAzIwNDc0
>BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQR0cGNJZAMyMDQ3NA--> in this
>topic (1)
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxaTkybXRuBF9TAzk3M
>zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BG1zZ0lkAzIwNDc0BHNlYwNmd
>HIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ--?act=reply&messageNum=20474> Reply
>(via web post) | Start
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbWVwNHVpBF9TAzk3M
>zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc
>3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ--> a new topic
>Messages
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMTZhMzRrBF9TA
>zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ
>3MEc3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ-->  | Files
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZXI2NDlyBF9TAzk3
>MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2ZpbGVz
>BHN0aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk->  | Photos
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNnI3cXEzBF9TAzk
>3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bob3Q
>Ec3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ-->  | Links
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZWt2YTBrBF9TAzk3
>MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtz
>BHN0aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk->  | Database
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjajFmdmxwBF9TA
>zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2RiB
>HN0aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk->  | Polls
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbWEwNTF1BF9TAzk3
>MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3BvbGxz
>BHN0aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk->  | Members
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZDBtZHNxBF9TAz
>k3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21icn
>MEc3RpbWUDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ-->  | Calendar
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMWszdnVjBF9TA
>zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2Nhb
>ARzdGltZQMxMjUzMjk1NTA5

><http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYjhrbzZuBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4O
>TcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMjUzMjk1NTA5
>Yahoo! Groups
>Change
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbTl1MGlwBF9TAzk3M
>zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3N0bmdzB
>HN0aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk-> settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
>Change settings via email: Switch
><mailto:gsdguides-digest at yahoogroups.com?subject=Email Delivery: Digest
>delivery to Daily Digest | Switch
><mailto:gsdguides-traditional at yahoogroups.com?subject=Change Delivery
>Format: Traditional> format to Traditional
>Visit
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides;_ylc=X3oDMTJkazg4dHNyBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz
>E0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2hwZgRzdGltZQ
>MxMjUzMjk1NTA5> Your Group | Yahoo! Groups
><http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
><mailto:gsdguides-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com?subject=
>Recent Activity

>Visit
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gsdguides;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMTAxdnNiBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz
>E0BGdycElkAzM4OTcyMTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3Mjk0OTk0BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbW
>UDMTI1MzI5NTUwOQ--> Your Group
>Give Back

>Yahoo!
><http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJtdDQzaXRyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ3JwSW
>QDMzg5NzIxNARncnBzcElkAzE3MDcyOTQ5OTQEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNicmFuZARzdGltZQMxMj
>UzMjk1NTA5;_ylg=1/SIG=11314uv3k/**http%3A//brand.yahoo..com/forgood> for
>Good

>Get inspired

>by a good cause.

>Y! Toolbar

>Get
><http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJvYTdxanRoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ3JwSW
>QDMzg5NzIxNARncnBzcElkAzE3MDcyOTQ5OTQEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawN0b29sYmFyBHN0aW1lAz
>EyNTMyOTU1MDk-;_ylg=1/SIG=11c6dvmk9/**http%3A//toolbar..yahoo.com/%3F.cpdl=y
>grps> it Free!

>easy 1-click access

>to your groups.

>Yahoo! Groups

>Start
><http://groups.yahoo.com/start;_ylc=X3oDMTJvaDViNDJsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzME
>Z3JwSWQDMzg5NzIxNARncnBzcElkAzE3MDcyOTQ5OTQEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNncm91cHMyBHN0
>aW1lAzEyNTMyOTU1MDk-> a group

>in 3 easy steps.

>Connect with others.

>...

><http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=3897214/grpspId=1707294994/msgId
>=20474/stime=1253295509/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3

>__,_._,___

>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.104/2379 - Release Date: 09/18/09
>07:49:00

>  _____

>_______________________________________________
>Cagdu mailing list
>Cagdu at nfbcal.org
>https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu

>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.105/2380 - Release Date: 09/19/09
>06:03:00