quick question re. hearing dogs for the deaf

Person_one

j.e.j. wrote: »

it's not bothering me personally, no

Then I'm afraid I don't understand the problem.

j.e.j.

I was just interested to get a bit of input from people who are not in any way involved.

GlasweJen

There's no rule that says a hearing dog has to wear its jacket when it's out in its own street. Certainly when it's in restaurants/taxis/actually on duty but these dogs need walked "off duty" too (as do guide dogs btw) so it could well be a registered hearing dog but the lad doesn't dress it up as he mostly needs it to be working around the house?

GracieP

GlasweJen wrote: »

but these dogs need walked "off duty" too (as do guide dogs btw)

I think that's something people forget. Service dogs are still dogs and they need time to play and unwind about as much as regular dogs do. I suspect that this dog is a service dog as the owner has approached the HA about the dog. He'd hardly do that if he just felt like getting a dog in a development with a no pet rule as they would be sure to check the relevant documentation once he informed them.

If people are being suspicious of his dog, not respecting his right and need to have it and have unreasonable expectations of service dogs and don't understand that it's still a dog with the needs of any other dog I can see why he might feel picked upon. It's also worth noting that he's deaf. Many deaf people often don't know how to modulate their vocal volume and tone. They don't know how anger or frustration can be heard in a voice and how to modulate accordingly. In a fraught situation a deaf person may well sound aggressive in a way that they don't mean. He may also be taking comments made to him in a way they aren't intended because certain elements of human communication aren't available to him. A light-hearted or sarcastic comment could be taken 100% literally when it wasn't meant to be, leading to this misunderstanding and bad feeling.

Sure there is a chance that the guy is just a bit of a tool and he's using underhanded means to get better housing. On the other hand it's just as likely that the neighbours are failing to exercise empathy and common sense with regard to his dog and his disability and he does feel isolated and bullied. The way the OP's posts are worded come across as very passive aggressive toward the man in question, and while the feelings behind that may be justified this way of dealing with it seems every bit as bad and somewhat bullying.

j.e.j.

Well, it seems the answer to my original question is: no it's not possible to know for 100%

@GracieP
You are right, absolutely, the HA aren't daft (!!) and would surely have checked these things. I don't know what to make of it, really.

With regard to the dispute I think it might be a bit of both, tbh. He apparently is rude to just about everybody, had one tenant in tears here not so long ago and he seems to be picking fights with people in order to claim discrimination (the guy speaks just like anyone else, btw, there's no idiosyncracies about his speech)

But it is also possible that some of the people here are being unfair and resentful of him having a dog while they can't.

Let the H.A. deal with it, methinks.

Anyway, thanks for your replies

tankgirl1

j.e.j. wrote: »

Thanks all. The HA know about the 'issues' surrounding this person/the dog and hopefully it will get sorted.

I think it's been brewing for a while, but came to a head when deaf tenant wanted HA to fence off an area of the communal garden for the sole use of his dog. That, and his behaviour in general seems to have ruffled a few feathers!

Hi
I just wanted to say that IMHO that is a sensible idea. I did my back in a couple of weeks ago - one of the things I cannot do atm is bend over - so I can't poop scoop the garden! Not a problem as mine is a private garden, and when I am better I can blitz it, but it would be a huge issue in a communal garden!

Just for the record, family and friends are well aware of poop scoop problem, and not one of them has offered to help - and there is no way I would ask someone else to pick up my dog's poo!

GlasweJen

Having a dog run for the exclusive use of the dog is a criteria for getting the dogs from some charities.