Recently posted by a guide dog handleer in a guide dog group for all #GuideDog and/or #ServiceDog handlers. Adapt and use to what fits where you live best if you wish. August 1 is not that far away.
Please write and call your senators, congressman, and the CDC regarding the new CDC dog rule set to take effect on August 1 of this year. I have prepared a template below that you are free to use in your advocacy efforts. You can edit, add personal anecdotes, or subtract anything you wish.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the recent rule implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the restriction of dogs entering the US as of August 1, 2024. This new rule will have significant adverse effects on individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs for their daily functioning and independence.
Service dogs are not pets. They provide critical assistance and support that enables individuals such as myself to lead independent and fulfilling lives. The new CDC rule, which imposes restrictive measures on dogs, fails to adequately consider the unique and indispensable role that service dogs play in the lives of people with disabilities.
1. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate their handler's disabilities. I am visually impaired. My dog has been specially trained to guide me around obstacles and to keep me safe in traffic while navigating on foot. By restricting the movement of my dog across the US border, the CDC rule effectively strips me and others with disabilities of our independence and ability to navigate our environments safely when away from our homes.
2. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by our guide dogs in all areas open to the public. The CDC rule undermines these legal protections which potentially leads to increased discrimination and barriers for people with disabilities. Additionally, Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that: "Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country." The new CDC rule restricts my ability to exercise this right.
3. For many individuals with disabilities, their service dogs are trained to respond to medical emergencies or to alert them to impending health crises such as seizures or drops in blood sugar levels. The CDC rule jeopardizes the health and safety of these individuals by limiting their access to their service dogs. (1/2)