INDEPENDENCE - Advocates for the blind are expressing concern - and outrage - over an Independence woman's claim she was denied an apartment because of her self-trained guide dog.

The Courier on Sunday reported a property manager recently rejected Maggie Quinn's rental application citing the building's no pets policy. E-mails flooded into the newspaper after the article circulated online.

Quinn, 52, is training a 7-month-old rat terrier named Mafessie to serve as her guide. She said the dog understands forward and halt commands and keeps her from bumping into obstacles.

Many reacting to the story, however, claim it is impossible for such a small breed to meet guide dog standards. They criticized Quinn and the Courier for damaging the image of people who depend on service animals.

"Even the worst school in the country wouldn't train a terrier," said Carla Ruschival, a board member for the American Council for the Blind.

Quinn said she was born with a rare type of glaucoma that causes eye pigment to flake off and obscure vision. Her sight started to decline significantly two years ago, she said, and Monday an eye doctor declared her legally blind.

Quinn now has medically documented proof of her disability. But because she's teaching Mafessie herself the animal has no certificate of training. Guide dogs do not need diplomas for legal protection, however. California is the only state that licenses them.

Some readers complained, though, others have worked hard to improve acceptance of guide dogs. Progress could be lost without standards - which a terrier doesn't meet.

"If a guide dog in a restaurant swipes a steak one night, that's a huge step back," Ruschival said.

Jenine Stanley, who maintains the Web site for Guide Dog Users, said Quinn may not have made all the right choices, but her claims may be perfectly legitimate. Stanley also doesn't rule out the possibility of a rat terrier serving some function. But she said the breed is neither the safest nor easiest option available.

"I think she'd be surprised if she saw what a fully trained guide dog could do for her," Stanley said.

Others raised concerns for Quinn's safety, pointing out a rat terrier isn't large enough to move a person out of harm's way.

"I can't say that this dog isn't helping her in some way," said Karen Ann Young, a Seeing Eye dog user in Amsterdam, N.Y. "The fear for me for her would be using this type of a dog in traffic situations - which could really be dangerous."

Quinn said her dog can't push and pull her entire body, but it's trained to lean against her ankle when it wants her to step back.

"I understand the concern with traffic," she said, "but we have our way."

Quinn was unaware most people who are legally blind pay little or nothing for guide dogs because of endowments set up to benefit users. But she also didn't want to deal with a waiting list and reasoned a smaller dog might be less intimidating to others.

"I know there's going to be hurdles with her," Quinn said. "But I have confidence in her and in myself."

Dan Haugen can be contacted at (319) 291-1565 or dan.haugen@wcfcourier.com.