Service animal not a pet dog Thank...

Service animal

not a pet dog

Thank you for highlighting Michael Hingson, national public

affairs representative for Guide Dogs for the Blind, introducing

Costa Mesa residents to guide dogs (May 2). The article was very

informative. Service animals must be trained by a professional, as

they perform tasks that benefit a person with a medical disability.

A well-trained service animal can guide a blind person across a

street, alert someone with impaired hearing to the presence of people

or the sound of a phone or a smoke detector or an alarm clock, pull a

wheelchair, retrieve dropped items -- all in accordance with the

Americans with Disabilities Act.

A service animal is not a pet dog. The men and women who have

chosen to pursue careers as guide-dog instructors undergo three years

of apprenticeship and rigorous testing before receiving their

licenses. They are all highly motivated professionals who are

dedicated to the mission of providing the very best training possible

for dogs to guide the disabled. Service animals must obey leash laws.

Service animals must be vaccinated and be kept under the control

of their disabled handler. Service animals serve the disabled. A

service dog is not a “companion animal.” A service dog is not a

“therapy dog.” So-called “therapy dogs” are being touted as “aides

for the elderly.”

The $50-billion-a-year pet industry has found a new, easy way to

rob from the elderly, who live on fixed incomes -- con them into

purchasing “therapy dogs.” Now pet industry statistics pretend to

show that dogs reinforce companionship.

In fact, of course, people reinforce positive companionship.

CAROLE WADE

Newport Beach

Maybe church needs

a satellite facility

As an occasional letter writer on local and national issues over

the years, this is one of the most difficult because it involves both

secular and spiritual areas in life.

As dues-paying members of the Cliff Haven Community Assn. and as

members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, my wife and I have been

conflicted over the St. Andrew’s expansion since it was first

proposed in 2002.

Having participated on Saturday work parties for a number of years

and serving on a facilities committee for three years back in the

1990s, I am familiar with the church grounds and buildings. As a

result, my wife and I sent an e-mail to Ken Williams in the summer of

2004, suggesting they replace Dierenfield Hall with a multi-purpose

gym.

The idea stemmed from similar action by our previous Presbyterian

church in Placentia. It was located across from Valencia High School,

next to a Catholic church and was bordered on two sides by homes.

Even though it was a much smaller church, a similar parking situation

existed, involving a school, churches and residences sharing street

parking.

About a month later, St. Andrew’s modified its plans to replace

Dierenfield Hall with a gym.

The greatest dismay and sadness is what seems to be the

Balkanizing of our community, not unlike what we see in Northern

Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Iraq -- only without the

violence. Hopefully the personal attacks, sign-stealing and

unrelenting positions will not prompt that type of action.

My wife and I have and will continue our existing relationships

with those in the Cliff Haven community and members of St. Andrew’s,

whether they accept our position or challenge our knowledge of the

situation and its impact on the local neighborhood.

For those of my faith, I would ask, do you think Jesus would

prefer a battle to enlarge a temple of worship or the promotion of

brotherly love? From the teaching of Christ’s life I have received,

my understanding is he did most of his ministry out on roads and in

people’s homes. Does that say something about program over

facilities?

That brings me to my last comments. Hoag Memorial Hospital

Presbyterian, Think Together and McDonald’s have been very successful

with what I would call satellite operations.

Maybe St. Andrew’s might think about a satellite operation -- they

even have buses to provide transportation. Based on $3.5 million for

80 parking spaces for 50 years maximum, that would be $875 per

parking space per year.

With the $3.5 million invested in a 20-year First Mortgage Bond at

8% with California Plan of Church Finance Inc., they could help build

or remodel other churches and have an annual income approaching

$280,000 to pay for leasing a satellite facility.

On top of that, at the end of the period, they would have their

money back, greater flexibility to change locations, and would have

been able to concentrate on programs rather than buildings.

KAM GLEASON

Newport Beach