Guide Dog Users
of California

EDITOR'S NOTE
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
AIRPORT SECURITY NUMBER
HEAT EXHAUSTION IN OUR GUIDES
DONATION
VACCINES
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
FALL CONVENTION
WEB SITE
CADO
GDUI CONVENTION REPORT, 2001
THE LEOPARD

Greetings all,

Now that summer is over and we are all back from vacation and, hopefully, ready to pick up the reins and sally forth to do great and wonderful things, I hope that everyone is ready.

The terrible tragedy that occurred earlier this month has stunned and stalled many of us and what we were doing. But now, the best we can all do to honor those who were directly affected by the disaster is to get back to the things that were most important to us before September 11th, don't you all agree?

In an effort to do our part the Board decided to make a contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund for Animals. We made a nice donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Disaster Relief Fund. I did a lot of research and found that the Search and Rescue teams really didn't need help. They were financially supported by Governmental funding, but the Animals who had lost loved ones and who no longer had homes because of the tragedy did need monetary assistance. So, we did our part.

Our work on GDUC's web site is going forward and will be complete before the Fall convention. Thanks for your hard work Dave. There is a report on it from Dave Foster, chair of that committee in this issue.

The nominating committee has met several times to decide who will be on the slate of nominees for President, Secretary and one Board of Directors member. Ken Metz chairs that committee and will submit the slate in this issue. If there is anyone who would like to run for one of these offices please make sure your name is placed in nomination from the floor. It is one of my fondest wishes to have all the positions of the GDUC Board sought after by several candidates.

Our fund raiser, the collar tags and lapel pins, continue to sell but we are running low. We are completely out of Golden Retriever collar tags. In the line of fund raising, we have been offered a hand made quilt as a fund raiser by Amish Country Traditions again. I was approached in May to see if we would be interested. The group that they had been donating the quilt to didn't seem to be interested anymore, so they came to us. When we had the quilt last time it was for their Ventura craft show. This time, and if it is offered in the future, will be the Orange County Craft Show in mid March. You will hear much more about this in the next issue of "FORWARD". Need I tell you I accepted the offer?

The "Law Books Pertaining to Guide and Service Dogs" has been updated and is still available in both print and braille.

The Coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations (CADO) which I attended last February is moving forward with their activities. They are developing a PSA to be offered to radio stations for airing. Sheila Styron has donated her services to develop this PSA. Thanks Sheila, good PR never goes amiss. I'm sure there will be a report on this project in "PAWTRACKS".

Take care everyone and have a good and productive Fall. I hope to see lots of you at the convention in November.

The events of September 11 have been reported, discussed and analyzed by the best writers and commentators and speakers in the country. The tragedy need not be described here - there is nothing more to say after the hours of news reports and speeches, and the newspaper and magazine articles. High points stand out for each of us - the two guide dog users who got out are a tribute to the entire guide dog world, and a proof of the bond and the abilities of guide dogs. If ever there was a question about what a guide dog can do, it was answered.

After the Pearl Harbor attack, President Roosevelt called Dec. 7 "a day that will live in infamy." September 11 is a day that will live in treachery. Nothing we can say can honor the victims and their families - they have already acquired all honor. We can and do recognize it and declare it and respect it and do homage to their memory. We can go on, never forgetting, but maintaining this country and its institutions and liberties, warned now about the despicable evils that delight in taking advantage of our goodness and charity and helpfulness to hurt us. We will not forget, but we will remain free and Americans.

For checking on the security matters at airports, the Air Travel Advisory Reports number is:

Have you ever petted the fur on the backs of a black and yellow lab at the same time when standing beside them or calling them indoors on a bright, sunny day? When I first received my black labrador guide, Dorian, while still caring for my retired yellow lab guide, Nicole. I never ceased to marvel at how much more heat Dorian's coat absorbed than Nicole's almost white fur did. Although she chooses to lie in the sun from time to time just for the pure pleasure of it, I have also observed slightly less energy in Dorian's guide work on a hot, sunny day than I was used to when working my previous guides, two yellow labs and a golden retriever.

Dorian is seven now, not overweight and in very good condition for her age. Yet, when I recently took her hiking on that early August day which I did not consider too hot for this activity, she exhibited some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion. It was early August, and Dorian and I went hiking with a friend in a fairly steep area not too far from the beach. There was a breeze, and we were carrying water. My companion and I did not become too winded going uphill, and I did not believe Dorian, who worked part of the trail and did some of it out of harness, would experience anything differently than us humans. However, as we neared the top of our climb, Dorian was panting excessively and even starting to appear to be having some difficulty walking. We had not been on the trail 45 minutes when these symptoms became apparent, and we knew we had to somehow get Dorian back safely to ground level. We began seeking out what few patches of shade there were along our path so she could rest and cool down a bit and we offered her small amounts of water as well as pouring some over her head. We made it down with her, but the symptoms did not disappear until later.

In a situation such as this, it is important to let the dog rest and cool down as much as possible before allowing them to drink excessive amounts of water. There wasn't much shade and we did not have large quantities of water up there on the mountain. So needless to say, it was very stressful getting her back to where there was running water and my friend's air-conditioned car. Once there, I wet Dorian down to lower her body temperature, though I did not have a thermometer with me to measure this change. It is important to allow the water to evaporate from the coat when cooling down a dog in this manner, as you do not want the dog's body temperature to drop below normal. Your dog can drink more water once panting has slowed and its temperature has lowered.

Within a few minutes of resting in the shade with water soaking into her coat and evaporating into the air, Dorian no longer appeared to be experiencing heat exhaustion. Symptoms can become much more serious than those that occurred in Dorian's case. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, including physical dehydration, rapid or reduced pulse, vomiting, diarrhea and even death.

When Dorian's symptoms disappeared fairly quickly after finishing our hike, I did not visit my veterinarian as a phone call to an emergency animal hospital assured me that a checkup seemed unnecessary in our case. However, it is always important to consult a vet if ever in doubt of your dog's physical condition and you find yourself in a situation where you believe medical attention may be necessary. I was surprised when my dog exhibited symptoms of heat exhaustion on this not so hot summer day near the beach, as I thought my 30 years of experience as a guide dog handler would protect me from making unwise choices about my dog's welfare and keep us safe.

Dorian is fine now, and although I would rather be telling a different tale here, if relating my experience can serve as a reminder for others to always carefully consider their dogs' well-being, never taking any situation for granted, then I am glad to have told it.

The GDUC board decided that GDUC had to do something to take part in the rescue and support efforts. The search and rescue dogs did such a great job and it was such a strain on them - they really suffer when they don't find a live person. It was thought that a contribution to them would be a good idea. However, they were sent from all over the country and the teams from California were, as best could be determined, sent by sheriff and police departments and other organizations that were well funded.

The search and rescue dogs were given special medical examinations and treatments after every shift - eye and ear washes, IV for rehydration, baths and plenty of food. This medical treatment, it turns out, was provided by a large Manhattan vet hospital that is very well funded; no more was needed.

One area that needed attention was the plight of the animals left in apartments whose owners would not be coming home. Besides the victims of the disaster, a large area of New York was closed off to ordinary people and in the early days these people were not allowed to return to pick up their pets. This problem was addressed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York. There are organizations from all over the country that come in to rescue the pets; in New York, it seems the efforts of the different organizations was coordinated by the ASPCA, who also did a lot of the work.

When they were contacted, they reported that they had plenty of food and supplies, and that they were continuing to find more pets. These pets didn't - couldn't understand what had happened, or where the boss was. The ASPCA is giving these kids a safe place, care and support and will be finding homes for them. The effort will be on-going and the need is for money. Considering how a well-bonded guide dog suffers when the boss doesn't come home on time - if the boss ever leaves - and that the animals cannot understand and are among the most vulnerable victims - support for them seemed to be a good and appropriate place for GDUC to make a contribution.

This newsletter is not in the veterinary medicine business, as if you hadn't guessed. However, there is a growing school of thought that questions the indiscriminate vaccination of dogs. It seems that the vaccines are longer lasting and there are serious side effects from unnecessary vaccinations.

There will be no recommendation as to what and when and how often to vaccinate, but do, repeat do, contact your school for their recommendations and discuss them with your veterinarian. GDB for one has sent a letter to it's grads about vaccinations. If you haven't heard from your school, call.

This November, as part of the GDUC convention, there will be an election of officers. The positions to be elected are President, Secretary, and Director. Melita Waters, the incumbent president, has served for two terms and is not eligible for reelection. The incumbent secretary is Abby Vincent and the incumbent director whose term is up is Don Brown.

The nominating committee has contacted tentative candidates and presents the following slate:

For President: Sheila Styron
For Secretary: Abby Vincent (incumbent)
For Director:    Don Brown (incumbent)

As always, nominations may be made from the floor.

The Fall 2001 convention of GDUC will be held in conjunction with the CCB convention on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001 at the Holiday Crowne Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. There will be a business meeting, an election of officers, various committee reports and a panel discussion about the idea of expanding the present State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind to include all service dog schools and trainers. The luncheon speaker will be Chuck Jordan. The meeting starts at 8:30am and the luncheon at 12:00. Do make it a point to be on time, there is a lot to do and the panel discussion is important.

The panel should be most interesting. At a previous meeting, it was proposed that GDUC present a resolution to expand the functions, and the membership, of the State board to do this. Discussion and research resulted in efforts to draft a resolution. It was found that not enough was known about the positions of the other service animal schools and trainers, and that more information was needed. This panel discussion is an effort to get that information and to have as many members as possible get the same information at the same time. Again, the aim is to keep the membership informed.

Development of the web site progresses. It should be up -or on-line- soon, although in a skeleton form. The site will be completely accessible without having to look for the "text only" button. The background and font has been chosen to be as visible as possible for partially sighted visitors, and will work well with all screen readers. Links inside the site will be easy to find and use and the different subjects or articles can all be reached directly from the home page. And, if you wish, you can go from one page to another without going back to the home page.

The initial site will have the home page that will tell who we are, the latest issue of Forward, a calendar of coming events, a page about the organization, news items, some important laws, and links, links, links, to other sites, including ACB, CCB, and the supply houses and of course, the place to order the chocolate guide dogs. It will be a very useful resource and a place to check out for the latest happenings.

CADO or Coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations, has been not too active since the last issue of Forward. IAADP, the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, a member of CADO, posted a description of CADO with it's aims and objectives, on IAADP's web site. The proposed regulation wording change was posted with the existing wording. There was some response including response from the people with the "hidden disabilities." The response was mixed, with the initial response mostly opposed as taking rights away from those who have interpreted the laws and regulations in a way to permit them to have full access rights.

There are three organizations that make up CADO: GDUI, the national organization of guide dog users of which GDUC is a part; IAADP, an organization of service dog users that includes guide, hearing and service animals; and ADI, a national organization of service dog trainers. IAADP has approximately the same total number of members as GDUI but it seems to be a monolithic organization, without separate chapters. IAADP was organized in 1993 at a joint convention of ADI and Delta Society. ADI and IAADP hold joint conventions. It is not known how IAADP and ADI handle the CADO matters within their organizations. GDUI handles CADO at the national level, and does not consult the membership or its affiliates. GDUI has not included any information on CADO on GDUI's web site.

The Council of United States Guide Dog Schools, CUSGDS, and NAGDU, the National Federation of the Blind guide dog special interest group, were originally invited to attend the February conference. NAGDU declined. CUSDGS attended but did not join CADO.

GDUI and CADO have undertaken to produce a PSA to tell that assistance dogs are not pets, and that pets are not assistance dogs. Sheila Styron is applying her expertise on this project.

Any changes to the present regulations must be made by the Department of Justice. The proposed changes have been presented. It has been rumored that business interests have presented their side of the changes to the definition, but what business or what they presented is not available. It was expected that the changes would be taken up at the time the regulations have their automatic review this year. It is now September: with the lateness of the year and the concentration of the DOJ on the terrorist situation it seems unlikely that any action will be taken in the foreseeable future.

Once again, guide dogs and their handlers came together for fun and games, interesting presentations and the chance to take care of a little guide dog business as well. This summer, hundreds of guides came together in Des Moines Iowa where many had their first experience working through a major skywalk system, and handlers enjoyed some fabulous midwestern hospitality. And you thought they only had that in the south?

The GDUI convention got underway Sunday afternoon, July 1, with orientation walks inside and outdoors at the Polk Convention Center. In this way, handlers and their dogs had an opportunity to catch up with some of their favorite instructors while learning the lay of the land and meeting rooms which would become all too familiar by the end of the week.

Next came the affiliate presidents meeting where affiliate representatives shared news of local successes and challenges as well as discussed issues where GDUI might be able to offer assistance. The new GDUI leaders list was discussed as a forum for the exchange of information between affiliates. This list is up and running now, proving to be a stimulating environment for asking questions and providing information gained through each affiliate's unique experience. If you are interested in learning more about affiliate business, how others handle legislative and advocacy issues or anything else related to guide dog business, send a message to GDUI-LEADERS-SUBSCRIBE@yahoogroups.com

The GDUI Board meeting, open to the public, followed, and highlights included discussion of the work the Coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations, CADO, as well as fine-tuning of two resolutions which were passed in ACB's general session. CADO is working with the Department of Justice to make necessary regulatory revisions to better advance the rights of service animals while also addressing several serious threats in this area, including the protection dog issue. One of the resolutions supported this work, while the other urges less stringent quarantine measures for those handlers traveling to Great Britain with their guides.

Monday afternoon, updates from guide dog schools around the country were enthusiastically received by the audience, after which a lively discussion between ACB candidates and GDUI members took place. In the evening, we all walked to the GDUI reception where we had a chance to do some real socializing with friends, new acquaintances and those ever popular guide dog instructors. This year, the convention was spread out between four hotels plus the actual convention center, so whether one chose to go by skywalk or street route, there was a lot of walking to be done in Des Moines going from place to busy place.

Tuesday afternoon, we attended the GDUI business meeting, where we discussed the work of CADO once again and encouraged the general membership to let their guide dog schools know that we needed organized representation from guide dog instructors who would stand together on our behalf. The Council of United States Guide Dog Schools has not supported us in our efforts to work with the Department of Justice, and if they will not, who will? Once again, a motion to allow absentee voting by GDUI members not in attendance at the convention was defeated, as appropriate procedures have not yet been established which would ensure adequate privacy, one vote per member and the flexibility to still be able to nominate candidates from the floor. As you are listening to this report, a plan is being formulated which will hopefully gain approval next year, allowing affiliates to vote in the future. Elections were also conducted for the seats of two GDUI board members, and the winners were: Mitch Pomerantz from California and Rox'e Homstad from Idaho.

After the business meeting followed two fascinating presentations, Differences Between Guide and Service Dog Training and then, a very moving presentation on Search and Rescue Teams. At Kansas Specialty Dog School, puppies from the same litter have the opportunity to become either a service dog or a guide dog, as this organization trains for both kinds of work. Some dogs might be suitable for either type of work, but some stereotypical categorizations are these. A dog who is wild about fetching would probably make a better service dog, and service dogs need to be larger and sturdier than guide dogs as well. We learned that search and rescue dogs take their work very seriously and exhibit high levels of stress when searching for deceased victims. Many of these special dogs had to be retired after their participation in the efforts surrounding the Oklahoma bombing tragedy. Tuesday's activities concluded with Game Night, where we confused our dogs and amused ourselves with two riotous rounds of Simon Says.

Then it was Wednesday, and time for the GDUI luncheon. The turnout was high, and the speaker fantastic. He was John Bifield, truly a luminary in the guide dog world. John has given much to the guide dog movement, and I wish I had known the privilege of training under his expertise and phenomenal wit. John's theme was a discussion of the differences between in class and domiciliary training. After lunch, we were all treated to a refreshing and inspiring offering on "stress in our dogs" by Ralph Malatesta from The Seeing Eye. Maybe you're saying to yourself, not that old subject again! But Ralph really gave it a unique spin, and I was very sorry to have to leave in the middle of it to attend to another commitment. Wednesday evening marked the conclusion of the GDUI convention with a presentation by puppy raisers from Kansas Specialty Dog School discussing of all things, puppy raising. I for one never tire of hearing those puppy anecdotes, and it doesn't seem to me that anyone else does either.

I personally enjoyed myself in Des Moines, and I believe others did as well. Then again, it is all about the dogs at GDUI conventions, so what's not to like? I plan on being in Houston next year for the GDUI Convention, and I hope to see many of you there as well.

(Reprinted from the German Shepherd list)

A wealthy man decides to go on a safari in Africa. He takes his faithful pet dog along for company. One day the dog starts chasing butterflies and before long he discovers that he is lost. Wandering about he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the obvious intention of having lunch.

The dog thinks, "Boyo, you're in deep doo doo now." (Did I mention that the dog was a German Shepherd?)... Then he notices some bones on the ground close by, and immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.

Just as the leopard is about to leap, the dog exclaims loudly, "Man, that was one delicious leopard. I wonder if there are any more around here?" Hearing this the leopard halts his attack in mid stride, as a look of terror comes over him, and slinks away into the trees.

"Whew", says the leopard. "That was close. That dog nearly had me." Meanwhile, a monkey who has been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So, off he goes. But the dog sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up. The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine."

Now the dog sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back, and thinks, "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers pretending he hasn't seen them yet. And just when they get close enough to hear, the dog says, "Where's that monkey? I sent him off half an hour ago to bring me another leopard, and he's still not back!!"