Guide dog Max was the faithful helper for the blind Jo Bergman (75) from Vught for six years. Until Max, much to Jo’s chagrin, was taken from him in July. “He is my everything. Without him I am nothing and can no longer leave the house on my own.” The dog had to leave because the dog school thinks that Jo can no longer take care of Max. Member of Parliament Lucille Werner came to take a look on Monday.
Jo has nothing good to say about the dog school from which he borrowed Max six years ago. When he starts talking at the table, he doesn’t seem to stop. “I had had Max for six years and was unable to go out with him for a while after an operation. I did have a series of volunteers who went for a walk with him. But when there was talk that I would end up in a wheelchair, the dog school has Max taken away,” says Jo. “I don’t need a wheelchair after rehab, but the dog had to go anyway. It’s terrible, because now I don’t have Max to go outside with me.”
Previously, Jo also told that Max, in his opinion, was too short and not well trained by the dog school. He still had to teach his dog all kinds of things. After earlier reports, Jo received emails from other people with a guide dog who, according to him, also had bad experiences with the dog school in Almere.
“We have even been threatened with death.”
That dog school says in a response that there had been problems with the way Jo treated his dog for some time. “There were complaints from the police and local residents that Jo let his dog run free. He would also walk too little with Max and, moreover, the dog had become ten kilos too heavy. Agreements we made about this years ago have not been fulfilled. Then we stand for the interest of the dog,” says the dog school in a response.
“After the previous messages, we also received a stream of negative reactions and we were even threatened with death,” said the dog school. “We are certified and we do everything according to the rules. Dogs are trained with us, just like at other dog schools, for a year and a half. And not, as Jo claims, only three months.
Member of parliament Lucille Werner heard Jo’s story on Monday and has many questions about how this all went. She wants to ask Parliamentary questions about the rules regarding the training of guide dogs.
“I haven’t seen Max since he was taken away.”
Max has been a guide dog for six years and has now retired. Jo would have liked to keep his dog himself, but the dog school has found another address nearby. That way Jo would still be able to meet his dog Max. But according to Jo, that almost never happens. “I haven’t seen Max since he was taken away.”
Jo wants a new service dog as soon as possible, but the dog school in Almere doesn’t want to give him one anymore. “I have now requested an assistance dog from Martin Gaus’ dog school. But it will take eighteen months before it is my turn,” says Jo.
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