|
|
Can you believe that it is already September of 2000? I can't. It seems as though it just turned 1999 last week. GDUC has been ever so busy since the last issue of FORWARD. We have been taking part in seminars, attending trade shows, creating educational materials as well as doing our best to keep our fund raising project thriving and to come up with new ideas for raising funds for more projects. In the area of seminars, I have attended several pedestrian safety meetings and meetings at which the primary focus was on loose dog attacks on us and our guides. Pedestrian safety is the choice topic of the year. City, County, State and Federal Governments are taking notice of the need and are trying to make the streets safer for everyone. The number of City Engineers, City Planners and Public Works Personnel I've talked to over the past quarter is amazing. The biggest problem is that necessity seems to conflict with the funds available to use on the issue. Everyone I've talked to agrees that something must be done. Many are truly trying to do something worthwhile to make the streets safer. Much of what they would like to do seems to be put on hold while they wait for the Access Board Regulations to be completed. (I'll report on the most recent Access Board Meeting in San Francisco elsewhere in this issue.) Another problem that keeps rearing its ugly head is the inability of many planners to reconcile esthetics with safety. Somehow, all too often, in the "abled" world, esthetics weighs more than does safety. In Santa Ana, the pedestrian safety task force seems to be focusing on one group of citizens to the exclusion of all others. This accomplishes nothing real. Granted, the numbers, over all, of accidents do go down dramatically, but only in one area. There has been absolutely no improvement what so ever in the other categories. Their efforts are paying off! The numbers look good! But what about the rest of the pedestrian population? As you read in the Summer issue, LA is really working to make the streets safer. But, are they making the very best use of their funds? Which is more important, again is it safety or esthetics? It seems to me that making the streets safer for every segment of the population has a direct affect on the whole pedestrian population. In San Francisco they have a little better handle on the Aesthetic vs Safety issue. The VS isn't as much of an issue. I'm sure they have their problems too, but much more consideration is being given to the entire pedestrian population. They have a number of talking signs in place, both interior and exterior. They have several audible traffic signals in place. Detectable warning strips of one sort or another are installed in a number of areas. Everyone who lives or works in San Francisco is very aware of the need for even more considerations like this, but San Francisco isn't the only dangerous city in America or even California. I don't think I've ever been in a place that deserved the moniker "city" that didn't have some dangerous intersections or crossings for the pedestrian population to have to negotiate. In mid July I attended a seminar in the Bay area whose focus was the apparent increase of loose dog attacks on us and our dogs. The more you talk to Guide Dog Users from all across the country, the more you become aware that the increase isn't just imagined. It is genuine. This meeting was to kick-off a study to determine just exactly what can and needs to be done. Education and Enforcement are two areas for change that seem to have the greatest possibility of improving things. The other vital area is in the law. We, in California, already have a number of laws on the books that are basically good ones. The problem is two-fold. The enforcers - police, city attorneys and district attorneys - don't know what those laws are, and the penalties that exist aren't stiff enough to get the attention of offenders. What to do about all of this was discussed in depth. Everything was left way up in the air for the time being. Much more work can and will be done on this in the near future. GDUC has compiled a booklet, available in both print and braille, that has all of California's laws pertaining to Guide and Service Dogs in it. It is available to the public for the cost of production. But, when the cop on the beat does know the law and does his part to enforce it, the next area of difficulty is in the District Attorney's office. Here is where we could help. We need to stiffen the penalties for inflicting injury or causing damage to a guide or its handler. We can work to this end, but we have to be careful so as not to shoot ourselves in the foot. While striving to punch penalties up to the felony level may sound satisfying, perhaps that is not quite the approach to take. This must be handled with care. Much discussion and research is in order. We need several of you to join in and take this on as a project. This year's Restaurant and Hospitality Show in San Francisco was as much fun and was as much of a success as it has been every year since its inception. The Guide Dog Showcase was at the head of the escalator in one of the buildings. Everyone who attended the portion of the show that was in that building had no choice but to pass the showcase on their way in and out. There were as many wonderful things to smell, taste, and experience as there always is. And, as is always the case, the amount of education that gets done is phenomenal. It is really satisfying to have one of the vendors or other attendees walk up to you and say something like, "Oh, I remember you. I saw you and your dog at the show last year... or two years ago..." When that happens, you know for sure that the message is getting around. I found myself at one point standing at the end of an aisle, surrounded by several people that were handling booths and an attendee who was waxing eloquent about the wonderful work those beautiful dogs can do, and did we all know that there was a booth upstairs where you could go to pet one of them. And there was a sotto voce comment to the effect that you know you aren't supposed to pet them when they are in harness or working. I love taking part in that show and I wish you could all have the experience for yourselves. One thing lead to another and I was not able to go to KY for the National Convention this year. Since I wasn't able to go, I asked Abby Vincent to stand in for me as alternate delegate and assist Sheila Styron, our delegate, in Louisville. She agreed to stand in for me and they, Sheila and Abby, have a report on the 2000 National GDUI Convention in this issue. The easel and brochure educational project is going well. We have them in places all over the state. Several members have requested additional easels and brochures. This is good to hear. I have one in a bank here in Orange County and the manager reminded me the other day that I needed to put more brochures in it. He told me that it was about half empty again! So, be sure to keep an eye on the places you have put your easels. Ask them to please let you know when they need refilling. If you allow them to get empty, the easels may get discarded and we don't want that to happen. We will have another brochure to offer in the next couple of months, so there will be something different to put in the easels. Congratulations to Joan Underdown who has placed twelve easels in her home town and has requested a dozen more for additional businesses in her community. Good for you, Joan! Don't forget that we will be electing Vice President, Treasurer and one Director in November. If you are interested in holding one of these positions, please contact Lee Morton at (619) 223-1259. She and her nominating committee are looking for people who are interested in holding office in GDUC. Start thinking about your nomination for Guide Dog Instructor of the Year. The GDUC Board makes the decision based on your nominations. The GDUC Board is working on some criteria for this award. If you have suggestions, both as to criteria and as to this year's nominee, please let us know. There are so many worthy instructors, and so few awards. It is really hard to decide, so please help us with the criteria. We are coming up on dues time again. We will be changing Treasurer this year, Marion Fisher is terming out, so please make things easier for the new treasurer by paying your 2001 dues as early as possible. We will be having a table in the exhibit room for accepting your dues. When you pay dues to GDUC, we take care of your membership in all of the parent organizations. That is a lot of bang for your buck, wouldn't you say? One more exciting thing before I close this message. We will have a second table this Fall Convention. We have our very own Astrologer who will be reading the Tarot cards for either you or your dog - or both! If you decide to have both of you read, there will be a special rate for the two of you. This will be for you and your dog as a package deal. This will be a heap of fun. Reading the Tarot cards for our dogs is new to her and she is very excited. She is very much "in tune" with dogs. I hope to see all of you in Los Angeles this November. The GDUC functions will be held, as usual, on Saturday, November 4, 2000. The Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza is the place. See yah |
|
This past August 16th to 18th, the Access Board held a meeting in San Francisco. It was ably hosted by Richard Skaff of the Mayor's Office on Disability and was well done. ACB, CCB and GDUC were well represented. There were eight people there who were members of these organizations that I know of, and six of them were guide dog handlers. Charley Crawford, Melanie Brunsen and Julie Carroll were here from the east coast and Dan and Ann Kysor, Gene Lozano, Dave Foster and I attended from CCB and GDUC. There were representatives present from all over the country and from countless departments and organizations interested in improving travel safety for all of us. Whether your primary interest is intersection construction, public rights-of-way, way finding or accessibility in general there was something going on that would have been of great interest. My primary focus was on intersections and the audibility of pedestrian signaling. This included both the warning stripping to let one know that the pathway underfoot has transitioned from sidewalk to street, the APS (Audible Pedestrian Signal) systems, talking signs to let you know where you are and for general information, and audible tones for locating the pushbuttons at a crossing. All of this was discussed in depth. There were presentations of different kinds of systems that are in use in some other places in the world, there was the exchange of ideas on how different kinds of situations are handled by other countries. In many respects, this country is a long way behind. The mornings were devoted to this sort of information sharing. CCB's own Gene Lozano gave a presentation on a detectable warning strip that can be placed in a crosswalk that can be followed with a white cane to prevent an individual from drifting out of the crosswalk. This strip had been installed just down the street so that those who wanted to try it out could do so. There were different kinds of audible signals and talking signs on display as well. Just outside the building in which the conference was held were installed some talking signs and they loaned us receivers so we could try out this technology. At the other end of the block was an audible pedestrian signal installed for all of us to test should we be so inclined. The auditorium where the conference was held also had talking signs placed strategically inside the building for help in locating rest rooms, drinking fountains, elevators and the like. After lunch the first day the group broke up into subgroups to begin the really hard work of this conference. The task was to draft language for inclusion in government codes to make streets, intersections, traffic signals, pedestrian signals and sidewalks uniformly safe for all disabled citizens. The key was that emphasis was not given to one disability, but all were to be considered and the appropriate measures taken. They got right down to the real nitty-gritty. Things like how far apart the pushbutton poles should be for easiest and clearest use by all pedestrians; how large the level portion of the sidewalk should be for best use by people in wheelchairs; what kind(s) of warning surfaces are best for both blind and wheelchair using people. These are only a few of the many questions that were tackled. There were four different subgroups; way-finding, intersections, sidewalks and I think it was public rights-of-way. When they have all written up their proposed sections of the language, they will each present their recommendations to the full Access Board for approval and inclusion. Each of these different subgroups were also cross checking with the other subgroups to make sure they were not getting in each others' way and creating confusion. I was most impressed by the uniformity of purpose and the tenacity that every individual there showed. There was little "obstructionism"; everyone was working for the good of all. The people who were there as visitors moved from subgroup to subgroup and were always welcomed and listened to when they had something to contribute. Input was not only welcomed, but encouraged. I have no doubt that the result of this and other conferences like it will produce the language that will make traveling with cane, guide or in a wheel chair safer and less traumatizing than it has ever been before, especially in areas with which we aren't very familiar. The technology exists, now all we need is to get the powers that be to get it installed. No one can convince me that installing the proper technology won't be of benefit to everyone, and I do mean everyone! The conference wrapped up with a reception in San Francisco's City Hall hosted by Mayor Willie Brown. I wasn't able to attend this, but I understand it was a perfect finish to three days of hard and productive work. I'm so glad I got to take part in this most interesting, important and productive event. |
|
Well, maybe - We will be having two tables at the Fall Convention in Los Angeles this year. One of them will be the traditional table to take dues and sell our collar tags and lapel pins. The other is going to be a special event table. Our very own astrologer, Madame Daivra, will be reading the Tarot cards for either dog or human or both. This should be a lot of fun. Reading the cards is usually done for people, but our fur kids have such different and distinct personalities, and are so close to us humans, that reading the cards for them is something important. It is an area that has been overlooked. The lady doing the reading has been studying to make the readings as true and on the point as possible. The readings, whether for you (the human) or your dog, will be taped and you get the tape. There will be a special deal if you have both your dog's cards and your own cards read. Come to the "READINGS" table and join the fun. |
|
Take one puppy, roll and play until lightly pampered, then add the following ingredients...
Heat with warmth of your heart until raised or until puppy has doubled in size. Mix with owner until consistency is such that owner and puppy are one. |
|
In the ongoing pedestrian safety struggle, the traffic calming concept is receiving much interest. Described in a book by Dan Burden, the idea is to make the world safer for pedestrians and thus get more people out of their cars - making more pedestrians. It is proposed that when the vehicular traffic is calmed down, it is slower and therefore fewer people get hurt. Calming uses several techniques - most anything that will slow down cars. Making streets narrower will slow traffic, adding trees along a street, having the buildings out closer to the street, putting in speed humps - traffic circles, and round-abouts will all slow traffic. Sometimes the aim is to confuse the driver on the assumption that confusion will result in slower traffic. One of the ways they do this is to leave out the centerline markings. Slower, calmer vehicular traffic is a good thing, but the problem for guide dog users comes when they do away with signals and use round-abouts and lane dividers so that vehicles can proceed without stopping. This is the way to continue to carry the total traffic with fewer lanes and at lower speeds. Signalized pedestrian crossings are essential. If your town/city gets involved with the traffic calming concept, don't panic but do stay on top of the planning. Make sure that the city traffic people consider and plan for pedestrians. Reduction in pedestrian accidents is difficult to achieve. Santa Ana, which I mention because I live there, has reduced pedestrian accidents in one limited age group - school children - by highly concentrated education of that group. Of the three areas - Enforcement, Education and Engineering - that are the accepted ways to reduce pedestrian accidents, education of the school age group has been aggressively pursued. There has been a modest increase in enforcement and very little Engineering has been done. As would be expected, pedestrian accidents in the other age groups has not declined and has actually increased. Active advocacy is about the only way to get things changed in your town or city. Get the pedestrian handbook from ACB and use it. Be active. Fresno has had so many problems it is hard to believe. It seems that they commonly put sidewalks on only one side of the street. Only by the efforts of a very vocal and active coalition of blind and wheelchair users have they managed to get the city to adjust the timing on the pedestrian walk cycle. The moral is, it can be done, but you have to do it. All too often the city is going to do no more than it has to do. This excepts those enlightened cities that have decided that the disabled people in the city really are there and really do deserve to be considered, and after considering them, do something right. In the Orange County area, there have been several new big stores built recently, like Costco, Home Base, K-Mart, Walmart. These warehouse-type stores are being built with sidewalks outside the door that blend right in to the parking lot or driveway with no curb or any way to tell if you are still on the sidewalk or out in the street. This is a violation of the state building code, which is supposed to be enforced by the local planning department - the inspectors that make sure the buildings are up to code. The certificate of occupancy should not be issued if the warning material required by code, truncated domes, is not there. If you have a situation like this, call your building department, the code enforcement people, and tell them to look up California Title 24, Section 1133B.8.5. |
|
ARREST ORDERED FOR TAMPA RESTAURATEUR WHO BANNED GUIDE DOG Wednesday, August 30, 2000 TAMPA: "It's disappointing," Kathy Smallwood, 44, said. "We wanted him to know what he did wrong." Smallwood visited Zheng's restaurant on May 6, a few days after returning from a trip to New York where she met and trained her new guide dog, a black Labrador retriever named Perry. After being seated and served drinks, Zheng told Smallwood, her sister and her sister's children they would have to leave because no animals were allowed, police reports state. Zheng told police a customer had complained about the dog. Smallwood said she explained to him that federal and state laws require that blind people be allowed into any public facility, including restaurants. Whether they use a white cane or a dog, their mobility and navigation tools may not be cause for discrimination. He again asked her to leave. She called police, but the responding officer did not appear to know the law, she said. Police spokesman Joe Durkin has acknowledged a communication problem. The officer "told us not to tell him how to do his job," Smallwood said. "All I wanted was to make sure he knew what the law was." Smallwood, who has slowly lost her sight over the years, is blind in her left eye and has only 10 percent vision in her right eye. She used a cane for years before getting Perry. She said she does not intend to sue Zheng or the restaurant, but wants the law applied correctly. "I would be delinquent if I allowed someone to get away with discriminating against me," she said. |
|
"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." "No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation." "Ever consider what they must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing, haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!" "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion" "Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." |
|
It had been more than a year and three months since I moved away from my old neighborhood and all its familiar places, including everything from my dentist to the friendly dry cleaners and of course, my vet. I don't drive, so it didn't make very much sense to continue to trek all the way back to the west side when everyone knows there are lots of good vets in LA, right? Yet, it was hard to let go of my comfortable past, and how could I be certain I would be making a well informed decision when choosing a new vet? Where I now live in West Hollywood, I meet lots of apartment and condo dwellers who walk their dogs in the neighborhood, even taking them in to the many local restaurant patios where canines are welcome. Often, finding myself in casual conversation with these friendly fellow dog folks, I tentatively began asking them about their vets, hoping that the trumpets would blare and two out of three answers would resoundingly announce the name of my destined to be new vet. That wasn't quite how it all worked out though. There are lots of vets around here from which to choose, and none of these seemed to be as overwhelmingly popular as James Herriot, the beloved author of All Creatures Great And Small. So what should I do? I began phoning places such as the California Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Board and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. I was informed that not all vets belonged to the same associations, and that the only information they could provide included whether or not vets are licensed, the school from which they graduated and the date. None of these groups offered guidelines to follow when choosing a vet, except for some general information which is available at www.cvma.net. I also learned that veterinarians cannot purchase medical supplies or equipment without current licenses which are issued by California's State Veterinary Board. However, before January 2000, the process of license renewal simply consisted of sending in a registration fee of $200.00 which would cover the next two years. A veterinarian who renewed in January, 2000 will be required to pursue continuing education courses in order to maintain their licenses in 2002. Back at the drawing board with nobody willing to do all the work for me and simply hand over an easy answer to my dilemma, I began compiling a list of common sense questions to assist me in my search for the perfect vet, or at least one with whom I would feel comfortable making important decisions regarding the medical care of my pet cat and guide dog. I have already discussed two factors which are helpful in choosing a vet, reputation and location. If you know someone who has a vet they like and whose office is located in an area which is convenient for you, this is a good place to start. I first phoned three of the vets that dog walkers in my area had recommended to ask some general questions and also to try and ascertain the friendliness and knowledge levels of the people who answer the office phones. I asked them about specialties, provisions for emergency situations and the names of the vets affiliated with the practice. Since I work with a guide dog, I also asked if they offered a discount for guide dogs. At this point, I could have chosen to visit one or two of these clinics, when they weren't too busy, in order to get a feel for the atmosphere and cleanliness etc., but I ended up skipping this step. Once all the questions you might have for a prospective vet have been answered to your satisfaction, the most important consideration of all is the nature of the relationship you are able to establish with a vet. There must be an attitude of cooperation between yourself and office staff as well as between you and your vet along with a willingness to communicate openly. It is extremely important to feel comfortable talking with your veterinarian about any concerns you may have regarding the health care of your animals. After doing all this homework, I chose a vet with whom I had some prior experience because of his expertise and board certification in the field of canine dentistry. I had also received highly favorable reports from two clients I had referred there. What I like best about Dr. Ship's Animal Hospital is their practice of calling to check up on their patients after an office visit. Now, if only I could talk them in to making house calls. |
|
A water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily with the bearer only delivering one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. Nevertheless, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and felt miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?," asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. However, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again, it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That is because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." The Moral of this Story: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. However, it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You need to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you. |
|
With close to 500 guide dog teams in attendance, the GDUI suite opened its doors on Sunday, July 2, offering a wide variety of products for sale. This year, the suite was expanded to include a room next door where handlers and anyone else interested in learning more about guide dogs could talk to a GDUI empathizer or just hang out. Instructors from many of the schools provided orientation to the hotel and surrounding areas. I took advantage of Doug Roberts from The Seeing Eye to learn all the secret stairways which would help me avoid crowded elevators and also the way to the Ohio River, where one could enjoy a refreshing hike and a break from the Hotel. Later, that afternoon, Maya Scott offered the first of two doggy exercise classes, where handlers had an opportunity to combine a bit of working out with bonding and snuggling their guides. Next, Stephanie Schafer ran a Tellington Touch workshop that taught handlers how to energize, sooth and relax their guides, which meant even more fun sitting on the floor with my dog. The affiliate Presidents meeting took place as well that afternoon, and affiliate representatives shared their accomplishments, challenges and ideas for building stronger organizations as well as improving communications with GDUI. The GDUI Board meeting followed, concluding Sunday's activities. Monday afternoon, July 3, President Jenine Stanley officially opened the Guide Dog Users Inc. convention with a dedication to the World War II generation. Many of our guide dog schools and rehabilitation centers began as a service to blinded veterans who fought in World War II. These soldiers and their orientation and mobility agencies revolutionized rehab as we know it, and we owe a big debt of thanks to them for their contributions to the guide dog movement. Monday afternoon's program featured a panel on traveling with our guides in unfamiliar yet often encountered environments and offered perspectives and tips from three guide dog handlers and two instructors. Then came a presentation by Dr. Patricia Van de Coevering on the signs of aging in a working guide, what is normal and how we can assess our older dogs. Both these panels were well attended and received with much interest and will most likely be featured along with other convention program items in upcoming editions of Pawtracks. Monday evening, the schools gave their famous annual updates, and after that, came the GDUI reception hosted by the Kentucky affiliate. Needless to say, these popular, standing room only events were also well attended. Tuesday afternoon, the fourth of July, brought a new and hilariously enjoyable program event which I hope will become an annual GDUI tradition. Guide dog instructors came before us and spoke of their experiences working at the schools, which amounted to some pretty tall tale telling, and I laughed so hard I was crying for a solid hour. You should have been there! That tough act to follow was succeeded by two informative panels, one hosted by Jay Stitely, covering access issues faced when traveling, also delineating our responsibilities as guide dog handlers along with our rights. The last panel that afternoon focussed on differences between international and domestic airline travel experiences. Later, a brainstorming session on promoting understanding between minorities and guide dogs was held, which was another first time event for the GDUI convention. Finally, it was Wednesday and time for the GDUI luncheon. Sue Martin and her dog, Dakota, were announced as the winners of GDUI's photo contest whose theme was Life with a Guide Dog. David Loux from The Seeing Eye received the Ethel Bender award, which goes to someone who works in the guide dog field, and whose contributions on behalf of guide dogs have been outstanding. It was an honor to watch David accept his award. Luncheon speakers were Linda Bednarski and Nancy Schroeder, labrador breeders who discussed the history of the labrador as a working dog. Just so we all knew we were in the South, our lunch entrée was a local dish known as Kentucky Hot Brown. At the business meeting following the luncheon, it was decided to table the amendment to extend voting rights to GDUI members not in attendance at conventions until details and procedures for implementation have been fully worked out. Elections were held, and GDUI officers are:
GDUI Board members are:
On another front, Jenine Stanley and newly elected president Debbie Grubb participated in a training for people who want to produce programs for ACB radio. In the future, ACBradio.org will feature call-ins and talk shows about guide dogs. GDUI is also experiencing rapid growth. It will continue to serve its members with its extensive line of fun and useful products, its programs, counseling services and entertainment at national conventions. To finance this, GDUI is seeking support by developing fund raising strategies for corporations and individuals which will help us meet all our future needs. The final GDUI activity was a fun game of Simple Simon Says, which took place Wednesday evening and was hosted by Chuck Jordan. In this doggy version of the old game, the first team to drop out won the prize in the end. The game consisted of obedience exercises with a humorous twist that got everyone laughing and wagging with much gusto. On this same cheerful note, we would like to thank the U.S. Council of Dog Guide Schools for once again sponsoring the guide dog play area. We all work hard at conventions, and the time out made available to teams in this safe, relaxing environment where dogs can run free is much needed and enjoyed by all. So on to 2001 in Des Moines, Iowa, and hope to see as many of you as possible there! |