What do you all think of this?

[frankykeno]

Heard this on the news this morning and boy it ticked me off. Here's the link to the Calgary Sun article about this 15 year old young man with his service dog that's being told he can't bring his dog to school with him. Since it's hit the press the school board is now backpedalling madly saying well okay he can bring it with certain paperwork (amazing what the press and a human rights lawsuit will do). It's unfortunate but a lot of the laws in Alberta pertain to guide dogs for the blind and I wasn't able to find clear indications that service dogs are given the same rights as guide dogs for the blind.

Really makes me mad that this kid has probably waited for his service dog, which apparently he just got in June, and it's tough enough being a disabled teen without his school (and the adults that run it) making him feel bad about attending when he should be excited to have a dog to help him fit in easier with his classmates. Personally if I had a teen attending that same school, I'd pull them out in protest that a classmate was treated so poorly.

The argument that some kids might be allergic to this dog is stupid, it's a poodle. Also that other kids might be scared of it. For heaven's sakes it's a fully trained service dog and highly unlikely to suddenly turn on anyone. These are teenagers, not 2 year olds that don't know enough not to harrass a dog anyways. Sounds like a bunch of garbage excuses and I hope the parents in this case nail that school board to the wall over this!

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...03240-sun.html

[Shaun J]

I say his family should move to a different province and a different school.

The school should be wanting him to bring his service dog so he can at least have a better chance of learning, then he would without his dog.

[recycling goddess]

more red tape... what is it about the colour red and that sticky tape which companies and gov'ts and corporations LOVE so much?

[Smulkin]

Sounds like a bunch of garbage excuses and I hope the parents in this case nail that school board to the wall over this!

I more than echo your feelings on that! I hope they get chewed up one side and down the other (on top of being ripped a new one). If you've ever personally known someone with a service dog you know they also allow a great window of opportunity for socialization and interaction that sometimes the person who requires them may not otherwise initiate.

[Nate]

I say let the dog in, but pulling your child out of school to protest would solve nothing. How many other parents would pull their kid out of school in protest? probably none. The faculty wouldn't care one way or another...Now you're stuck finding another school (or home school) and it would end up being nothing but hassle.

[recycling goddess]

who's "a champion of justice"?

the reality is... the boy and his dog will be in school within a couple of days. guaranteed. that's just how they do things up here. you make a stink and it goes through. quick and almost painless.

i agree with you smulkin... he'll have so many opportunities to meet other people thru his dog!

[Smulkin]

Jo is, of course!

If people fail to react to unfair things bad stuff follows (eesh so eloquent in the morning ain't I?).

[frankykeno]

I say let the dog in, but pulling your child out of school to protest would solve nothing. How many other parents would pull their kid out of school in protest? probably none. The faculty wouldn't care one way or another...Now you're stuck finding another school (or home school) and it would end up being nothing but hassle.

Nate just because the majority don't do something about an injustice, doesn't make it morally okay for me to ignore a situation, that's why I'd pull my kids out in protest if I lived there. Also I think parents need to stand with other parents so that it's clearly understood this is not about one kid and his service dog, this is about what is right and wrong and the horrible message that school board is giving to the students about disabled persons.

I think this quote from Edmund Burke says it better than I ever could...“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" (though personally I'd like to change that to "people" LOL)

[Smulkin]

I think this quote from Edmund Burke says it better than I ever could...“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" (though personally I'd like to change that to "people" LOL)

The logic of passivity is just as sinister - assuming "SURE it bothers me! But I am sure enough people will make enough noise about it that it will get resolved" but it boils down to the same thing - doing nothing.

[Nate]

Yeah I understand where you're coming from, but does your child have a decision in all this? I'd be pissed at my parents for pulling me out of school, away from my best friends, and then throwing me into a totally new environment (possibly in another county), or having to be home schooled......over a dog not being allowed in school? over somebody else's problem?
I would GLADLY voice my opinion and tell the school that what they're doing is very wrong, but pulling your child out of school seems way over the edge. If the child with the disability was my child and needed the dog and was denied bringing the dog to school, I would raise hell and consider finding another school for him.

I appologise for saying anything, this is not the topic of conversation. I think the school just want to piss another person off. I would love to see the outcome of this story. I think in the end the kid will be able to bring the dog to school.