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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Ken Volonte
[mailto:kenvolonte@comcast.net] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, August 22, 2011 8:20
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'Shannon L. Dillon'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> from former "no dogs
allowed" people</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hi <font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>cagdu community.</span></font>
<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Pursuant to our last meeting, </span></font>I
spoke with several restaurateurs who used to not allow guide dogs in their
establishments. They couldn’t come to our convention because, in
many cases, they are family businesses and can’t get away. Here is
what they had to say.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>
We are new here, and we don’t want to get into trouble with the health
department. When you said that we wouldn’t get into trouble,
that’s all we needed to hear. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>
You’re here because we asked a blind man to leave yesterday. He
just dropped the handle to look at a wall menu board, but he didn’t put
his dog under a table or say anything, and so the dog just wandered around and
almost made his way into our kitchen. You didn’t do that.
Your dog was under control at all times. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>
We didn’t want people who were allergic to dogs to just walk out of here
and we didn’t want to scare people who were afraid of dogs. When
you asked the man at the next table if he minded that there was a guide dog, he
said, “What dog. Oh I didn’t even see him. Can I pet
him”? That changed our minds. He’s really old…
got a patch of gray right here around the muzzle.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>
It’s like that when ever there’s been trouble. The problem
has always been with unwarranted fear or with not keeping the dog under
control. I was surprised when these people remembered the incident.
In some cases, they were 15 years ago. None the less, they talked
about their experiences with me and with other guide dogs freely and in a
friendly manner. “What happened to your old dog, the big yellow
Lab. I liked him. So did my daughter. He washed her face all
the time. She’s your server today.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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