Help a paraplegic buddy out.

[skifishbum]

Threatening to "destroy CCI," "bury CCI," and bring a "reign of terror" to CCI, then refusing to meet with CCI to resolve the leash issue, does not sound very constructive toward the goal of getting custody of Elon back. The Dr. is sabotaging himself and letting down the people who signed his petition.

pretty much my feelings if the doc really wanted his dog back he'd be there meeting with the people that provided him with a trained service dog and convincing them he would follow the rules and guidelines or he could purchase, personally train,or get trained his own dog and then do his own thing, whether that be allow him to be unleashed use a shock collar or however he feels fit to care for "his" dog
You can huff and puff on facebook or all over the webz but the bottom line is you where given a dog and I'd imagine signed a agreement of some sort saying you would abide by certain rules. when you choose not to obey those rules for whatever reason well consequences will occour. The doc isn't going to destroy a good orginization doing good things for animals and people with disabilities. I've been involved with animal assisted threapy for over a decade now. I don't agree with all of the the rules of the org., but I obey them as they provide insurance and if I repeatedly broke the rules they would not recertify me or my dog. Doesn't mean I couldn't do my own versions of animal therapy or convince places to let me visit, just means if I choose not to abide by the rules I'm not going to be allowed to certify and continue to have the insurance, inferstructure and benifits the orginazation provides.

[northernescape]

I may be way off base with this but when I first read this story I sided 100% with Gael. I thought it was ridiculous that he had Elon taken away from him and the dog should be returned immediately. However after reading through the things on his facebook group page he has taken such a hard line with CCI. Refusing to speak with certain individuals within the organization demanding the dog back or else strong media backlash towards CCI. I get that he may have needed social media to get the ball rolling with awareness for him but why doesn't he just do what they ask if that's all it will take?? Maybe I'm missing something. There is really no benefit for CCI to drag this out any longer than necessary.

They should definitely return the dog to him but he's definitely not making it any easier for himself.

[Art Shirk]

Why is this so hard for people to wrap their minds around? (1) Unless you were Gael or the CC agent handling this matter, we cannot know all the facts, so anyone taking a fully committed hard-line stance is letting emotion overcome rationality, and (2) from everything available, it looks like strict adherence to rules beat out the spirit of CC's underlying mission to provide service companions to those who's lives may be enriched by the assistance and companionship.

No one is "right." It all depends on which side of the line you fall. Are you a spirit person, or a procedure person? Most people on TGR are the former, hence the outcry. I happen to also fall into the former group and signed the petition.

Where do you fall?

[DoWork]

I may be way off base with this but when I first read this story I sided 100% with Gael. I thought it was ridiculous that he had Elon taken away from him and the dog should be returned immediately. However after reading through the things on his facebook group page he has taken such a hard line with CCI. Refusing to speak with certain individuals within the organization demanding the dog back or else strong media backlash towards CCI. I get that he may have needed social media to get the ball rolling with awareness for him but why doesn't he just do what they ask if that's all it will take?? Maybe I'm missing something. There is really no benefit for CCI to drag this out any longer than necessary.

They should definitely return the dog to him but he's definitely not making it any easier for himself.

I agree with this. I feel like CCI overreacted personally but rules are rules and I understand this even if I don't like it.

Gaeil is being a huge prick about it now that he's got the attention he wanted, which sucks and it makes it harded to even take his side for sure. That said, I'd be pretty heated if somebody lured me to a public place, dognapped my dog in front of me and then threatened to call police on me when I was (predictably) blown away by that. I understand where his head is at, but he sure isn't doing himself (or all the people who have been backing him) any favors by running his mouth. I feel like he's the dog's rightful owner, but he sure has let this all go to his head in a bad way. Anger is natural but in instances like this, losing your cool is one of the worst things you can do.

Unfortunate all around that it's pretty much turned into a big dick swinging contest now. What REALLY sucks is that there's a great dog in a kennel right now...

[OverTurn]

signed...keep us updated as to what happens!

[akokskis]

Signed...
I hope Gael and Elon get reunited!