[Cagdu] FW: Re-opening and your rights

Tue Jun 9 10:00:16 PDT 2020

Subject: Re-opening and your rights

 <http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=oNcfv9Ivu7RVcdAIlGp3lw> 

Dear Graduate of The Seeing Eye:

I hope that you and your dog are safe and healthy as you read this message, although I suspect many of you are a bit quarantine fatigued and ready to be out and about again.

You may live in a state or municipality where businesses and other public places have begun to re-open, or you may live in a place where that process is on the horizon but has not yet begun. Either way, we are all heading into a new normal with uncharted territory and so are our dogs. Despite all of the changes caused by the pandemic, remember one thing that has not changed: The law still gives us the right to have equal access to public places, transportation, and air travel with our Seeing Eye® dogs.

We may encounter people who are fearful that our dogs’ presence will somehow increase the risk of spreading COVID19, but these fears are unfounded, and fear is not an excuse for denying access to a service animal under the laws that protect us. Studies have shown that the virus can survive for a period of time on surfaces, including the bodies of animals, but there is no evidence that dogs can transmit the virus to humans. Besides, our dogs’ bodies are surfaces members of the public should never touch without our permission, with or without social distancing. 

There may be places we do not go in light of the pandemic either because of our own comfort levels or because of circumstances beyond our control, but the choice should be ours whenever possible. Social distancing will continue to present unique challenges for us and our dogs as we navigate various environments and these challenges will sometimes take an emotional toll on us. As a community, we will have to come up with creative solutions in the face of new problems and uncertainties. As individuals, we must try to go about our daily lives confidently and with our heads held high. Whether we are going to stores, restaurants, doctor’s appointments, or using rideshares or buses to get to any of these places, we and our dogs have the right to be there. We may have to work a little harder to educate people and advocate for ourselves at times during the adjustment to the new normal, but our independence and dignity are worth protecting and we at The Seeing Eye are committed to that effort.

If you need information about your access rights, you have options. Take a look at the information on our web site at www.seeingeye.org/access <http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=FZvhoTpxWtmDaY_EcxkNmA> , send an email to advocacy at seeingeye.org <mailto:advocacy at seeingeye.org> , or call 1-800-539-4425 ext. 1724. I am working remotely but will return calls and emails as soon as I possibly can.

Please stay safe and give pats to your dogs from me.

Melissa R. Allman
Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations
The Seeing Eye

contact <http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=QLLZPmEo_qwLt4OaHSI5rg> 

The Seeing Eye
P.O. Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07960-0375

(973) 539-4425
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