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Fall 2002 Greetings to all canine and human readers of this column. I hope this message finds you, your families and guides happy and healthy. This summer, Dorian and I traveled to New Jersey, Oregon, the State of Washington, Houston Texas and even Lake Arrowhead. Lake Arrowhead was two days of real vacation time, and we both loved being there, hiking in that fresh mountain air with squirrels galore. New Jersey was a non-guide dog related meeting, Oregon was Guide Dog Users of Oregon's famous Romp, Washington is where Dorian's puppy raiser lives and Houston was the location for the ACB and GDUI conventions. I was proud to represent GDUC along with Abby Vincent as GDUC's delegate in Houston, at GDUI's convention held in conjunction with that of ACB. Here are a few of my personal highlights beginning with some positive additions to instructor orientation activities. In an effort to assist handlers in feeling more comfortable traveling outside the hotel with their guides, we mapped out routes to anywhere and everywhere walkable surrounding the Adams Mark. As a result, more handlers felt comfortable exploring Houston, and dogs had more opportunities to get out and walk, reducing stress for both members of the team. As GDUI's affiliate liaison, I had the pleasure of seeing the affiliate meeting's attendance increase substantially from last year, and many new and worthwhile ideas were enthusiastically embraced, including the creation of a communications committee, plans to use listservs to accomplish organization business and the first ever official affiliate voting credentials process. As Chair of GDUI's public relations committee, I sent a press release to every media outlet I could locate, and my fledgling efforts in this area landed us a nice article in the Houston Chronicle. Fun highlights included a hilarious evening of Jeopardog hosted by Alex Trebark and another interesting and amusing presentation, "The Secret Language of Dogs," where our guides quirky and sometimes baffling behaviors were humorously explored. You will read more about these and other events later in the convention report Abby and I put together for Forward. Finally, I cannot move on from the convention without expressing my feelings about GDUI's thirtieth anniversary celebration luncheon which I had the honor of planning and hosting. I had the privilege of meeting and introducing Kay Gleitz, GDUI's dynamic first President back in 1972. Even to this day, Mrs. Gleitz exhibits that indomitable spirit which has proudly carried the guide dog movement along a very meaningful path to where we find ourselves today in the year, 2002. Our fall convention is coming, and our new, exciting GDUC t-shirts will be there! They feature our logo on the front and the words, "In dog we trust" along with Guide Dog Users of California on the back in a variety of colors. And one of these fabulous T-shirts can be yours for $12.00. GDUC will also be selling its popular new jewelry and refrigerator magnets a la guide dog breeds in CCB's exhibit hall Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, as well as some of our familiar lapel pins and collar tags. At its business meeting on Saturday morning, November 2, GDUC will hold elections for Vice President, Treasurer and one board position and vote on a proposed constitutional amendment which would eliminate the requirement for Board members to meet in person between business meetings of the full membership. We will also discuss GDUC's need to raise its dues, as ACB and GDUI have found it necessary to raise theirs. Jerry Arakawa has graciously agreed to chair our nominating committee. At the conclusion of our business meeting, our morning program will feature Lukas Franck from The Seeing Eye whose presentation on Wayfinding is a must see, especially if you're blind. Our luncheon program speaker will be Dr. Autumn Davidson, Director of Guide Dogs for the Blind San Rafael's veterinary clinic. Dr. Davidson is board certified in the field of internal medicine with a specialty in canine reproduction and also works with U.C. Davis's veterinary school in her field. Well, it's time for me to wrap this up and to encourage all of you to join us at the Atrium Hotel on November 2, for all our GDUC activities. Once again allow me to personally thank all of you for supporting GDUC and encourage you to consider getting more involved with our important work. |
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The Nominating committee of the Guide dog Users of California (GDUC) is seeking names of those who wish to submit their names for consideration for the following board offices: Vice-President, Treasurer, and one board position. All positions are two-year terms and the elections will be held at the CCB fall convention. If interested in submitting your name for consideration for one of the above three offices, please contact one of the members of the Nominating committee: Jerry Arakawa, Committee Chair, (310) 398-7004; E-mail: jarakawa@attbi.com; Abbey Vincent: (310) 559-8949; E-mail: avincent@ix.netcom.com; or Ann Kysor: (916) 372-9869; E-mail: ann@kysor.net |
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Toni and Ed Eames When The Seeing Eye was founded in 1929, trained dogs partnered with blind people were referred to as guide dogs. Ten years later, when Leader Dogs for the Blind was founded, guide dog was still used as the generic term. When in 1942 Guide Dogs for the Blind was established, Leader and Seeing Eye were concerned the generic term guide dog would be mistakenly associated with this California-based school. Thus, the birth of the use of the twisted term dog guide. In the intervening years, 11 more training programs have been established, with six using the term guide dog in their registered titles. Both major consumer groups, Guide Dog Users Incorporated and the National Association of Guide Dog Users, have opted for the use of guide dog. Even so, the term dog guide persists in some segments of the industry. In interacting with other disabled people, it stands out like a sore thumb to hear about hearing dogs, service dogs and then dog guides. If we don't put checks on this archaic usage, we could end up with the following: |
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GDUC's 2002 fall business meeting will take place on Saturday, November 2, at the Atrium Hotel in the city of Irvine in conjunction with the fall convention of the California Council Of The Blind, Thursday, October 31, adjourning at noon on Sunday, November 3. The phone number is 949-833-2770 or 800-854-3012, and the address is 18700 MacArthur Blvd. The Atrium is just across the street from the John Wayne Airport for those of you who might be flying in for the festivities. GDUC's business meeting is scheduled for 8:30 A.M. on Saturday morning, November 2, and with a good door prize giveaway at that time, you won't want to be late. Elections will be held for the offices of Vice President, Treasurer and one board member. We will also discuss raising dues for GDUC as a result of increases at ACB and GDUI. Our morning program scheduled for 10:30 will feature Lukas Franck of The Seeing Eye with an informative presentation on Wayfinding, a subject of interest to all blind people. GDUC's luncheon takes place at noon, and our guest speaker will be Dr. Autumn Davidson, Director of GDB's San Rafael veterinary clinic. Dr. Davidson is board certified in the field of internal medicine with a specialty in canine reproduction and also works with U.C. Davis's veterinary school . She will discuss the progress being made in identifying genetic markers for health and temperament desirable in breeding guide dogs as well as other complicated and fascinating issues in this field. So come join GDUC at The Atrium on November 2, for a great morning of informative and interesting programming. |
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Guide Dog Users of Oregon's Romp is a gathering I have been wanting to experience for many years, and I am so glad Dorian and I finally were able to manage the trip, combining it with a visit to Dorian's puppy raiser who lives on a Christmas tree farm in Gig Harbor, Washington. The Oregon Romp was held on the campus of Louis and Clark College situated in the midst of beautiful woods outside Portland, and participants stayed in the dorms taking meals in the cafeteria. I almost felt nineteen again. There were presentations from schools, a holistic vet, a representative from the fish and game department, as well as two inspired offerings by puppy raisers. These covered the topics of issues faced by raisers in the workplace and pitfalls of dishonesty or omission in puppy reports and the consequences sometimes experienced by handlers as a result. After dinner Saturday evening, we all sat on the grass outside for a very moving blessing of the animals and tributes to retired and deceased guides as well as people affiliated with our community. Later, many of us went off to hike, and my group of five had a great adventure. With no sighted walkers among our ranks and two handlers whose guides always find the way home, we trudged off through the forest for quite some distance, none of us having the least idea where we were going. We gulped in deep lungfuls of that incredible Oregon air, and with the sun at our backs, kidded about walking all the way to Idaho, only to find ourselves confronted by an unpleasant gentleman who informed us that we had found our way on to private property and must leave immediately. Well, we apologized and headed out. All the way home, we made up scary stories about our adventure, and by the time our great guide dogs brought us back to our dorm, we were hysterically high on the tall tales we had invented about our experience. After that, we "romped," that is, those who were comfortable doing so, let their dogs run wild up and down the halls of our dorm. What fur inspired fun we had, at the Oregon Romp and needless to say, I highly recommend next summer's edition to everyone. |
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The California Hotel and Lodging Association under the leadership of Jim Abrams, in conjunction with their national organization, and a few others - who put up the money - developed some videos showing how to treat people with service animals in hotels and restaurants. Work on the videos, from the original idea to completion, took several years and a lot of work by all the representatives of the various organization representing service animals. Jim had one firm requirement - "Spike" (Jim's dog) had to be in the video. He is - for a brief second, at the end. These videos were shown at a CCB meeting and later at a IAADP meeting. GREAT NEWS!!! Thee videos are now up on the GDUC web site - www.gdu-cal.org - in the Laws section (both California and Federal sections). There is a video for the hotel people and a video that is aimed at showing law enforcement how to respond to an access call. Go see them - the sound track is good too - and send all your sighted friends out to see them. We have been asked about linking to the GDUC site - so far, no one has been refused! Go ahead - if you or your organization would like to link to the site, do it! (We would like for you to let us know if you do.) |
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From: The Associated Press "Guide Dog Puppy Raising Manual" isn't a traditional elementary school textbook, but neither is Bellingham Cooperative School a traditional school. Luann, a 3-month-old German shepherd puppy curled up at Kristen Richardson's feet while five of her students sat on the floor between a bookcase and a large table to work on math problems during the last week of school this month. Twelve children in grades three through six studied in the private school's upstairs classroom in a yellow house on Mckenzie Avenue. Their teacher is a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Luann is the fourth puppy Richardson has raised, and she has brought each dog to school with her. Public school students around the county may remember her as the substitute teacher who, during the 2000-2001 school year, often arrived with a golden retriever named Gleason. When Richardson applied for the teaching position at Bellingham Cooperative last year, she came to the interview with Dune, a cross between a yellow Lab and a golden retriever. Richardson told Heidi Alford, the school's director, that she and Dune were a package deal. Dune attended school with Richardson until March, then left for the California campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind, where Dune is in the next stage of her training. The class baked bone-shaped chocolate chip cookies for Dune's farewell party. Richardson shared with her students weekly updates about Dune's progress through a 10-phase curriculum that lasts about five months and includes harness training, navigating traffic, even "intelligent disobedience" for the sake of safety. Luann arrived April 30, when she was 8 weeks old. She will live with Richardson, two other dogs, two rabbits and a cat for about a year. When the students gathered on the floor to listen to a story, Luann was part of the circle. While reading aloud, Richardson tickled Luann's neck. When Luann started to nibble on Ella's stockinged foot, Richardson pulled gently on Luann's leather leash. Guide dogs learn what is expected of them through praise for correct behavior and a single quick pop of the leash for each misbehavior. The dogs are never hurt or frightened. "Physical abuse is not an effective method of training," says the manual. "A frightened puppy is not able to think clearly or respond appropriately." Reasonable expectations, clear consequences for misbehavior, praise for success and affectionate acceptance are key parts of the puppy-raising philosophy, which Richardson said is a good fit with her teaching philosophy. "I think my students take corrections so well because they know I like them and think they're smart, so if we need to talk about something, it's OK," she said. "They're confident of my opinion of who they are." She said that in all of the schools where she's taught, her dogs have been great comforters. A photograph of Dune shows her lying on the floor with her face near the book that one child was reading and her rump supporting a book that two other students were reading. The puppies learn not to climb on furniture, because the puppy-raiser has no idea who will later have the dog and so the animal will be a welcome guest wherever a blind person visits. The puppies learn to eat only dog food, and only from their own bowls - even if food is left on the ground - so they won't beg or steal food and won't be distracted when they are working. Sometimes up to a dozen guide dog puppies visit the school late in the afternoon during weekly meetings of local puppy-raisers. They practice climbing up and down the outside staircase to the school's second floor or crossing a wooden bridge on the school's three-acre campus. The puppies practice ignoring the distractions of soccer and basketball games and the school's goats and chickens. During the meetings, Linda Knutzen, a volunteer leader for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Richardson, the local group's co-leader, give training tips to less-experienced puppy-raisers, some of whom are young people participating in a 4-H project. Some weeks the puppy handlers meet at Bellis Fair mall or stroll along Guide Meridian, so the puppies become accustomed to heavy traffic. Puppy-raisers take the dogs with them in cars and buses, trains and airplanes. They visit doctor's offices and museums, restaurants and amusement parks, grocery stores and football games. They've attended classes at Ferndale and Meridian high schools. The excursions get the puppies ready to stay relaxed and obedient in any situation with their future blind handlers. Gradually the puppies learn what is expected of them when they are wearing their green coats, which means they are working, and when the coat is off. "It's like kids," said Richardson. "Everybody figures out things at different rates." Erica Charbonneau, whose son Philip was in Richardson's class this year, said the puppies were a great addition to the classroom because the experience sent all of the right messages to the kids: volunteering, putting others' needs first, respecting animals and learning about the boundary that has to be respected when the puppy is wearing her coat. |
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GUIDE DOG USERS, INC. CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS This summer in Houston, Guide Dog Users, Inc. proudly celebrated thirty years. This 1,200 member, and growing organization has much to celebrate. GDUI's 30th anniversary luncheon featured most of GDUI's past presidents sharing their experiences and impressions, of GDUI's proud history working to improve the lives of guide dog teams. Luncheon attendees heard a taped message from President George Bush Senior who congratulated GDUI for all its work on behalf of guide dog handlers everywhere. Two important themes discussed by past presidents were GDUI's long battle to win access rights for guide dog teams to travel to Hawaii and the formation of CADO to guarantee those rights for working teams in the future by more clearly defining service animals and their training requirements at the national level in cooperation with the Department of Justice. These two accomplishments present an interesting dilemma for guide dog handlers. By fighting for our rights as disabled citizens and gaining passage of the ADA and access to Hawaii, we have opened the doors to public access so wide, that action is now required to make sure the service animal movement as a whole remains favorable to guide dog teams. CADO was established to examine and assist in redefining the processes associated with gaining public access in the broader service animal arena where our future rights as handlers must be protected. This convention demonstrated well that GDUI offers valuable services to its members, along with taking an active stand on advocacy issues relevant to our cause. For the past two years, GDUI has been featured in a quarterly program on ACB Radio, "Canine Connections," for which Jenine Stanley and her production team received a much-deserved service award. Canine Connections is an eclectic blend of issues faced by guide dog handlers infused with a healthy dose of quirky humor. Stay tuned for future programs, and you can find past installments of "Canine Connections" in the ACB Radio archives or purchase a set of tapes from the GDUI office. During the past several conventions, GDUI has maintained a suite where handlers can participate in activities from buying the many useful products GDUI sells to finding a safe haven from convention stress. Empathizers lent a friendly and non-judgmental ear to anyone having guide dog related issues they needed to sort out. Two handlers, Vicky Winslow and Carla Campbell, offered doggie massages. This service captured the attention of the Houston Chronicle, who published a very nice article about our convention. Dr. Detrick from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, offered medical advice for guides in the suite, and an animal behaviorist, Sarah Wilson, provided explanation for some of the behaviors and actions of our dogs. GDUI activities began on Sunday, June 30, at which time orientation sessions were provided by guide dog instructors for the purpose of learning the way around not only the hotel, but nearby restaurants and other Houston attractions. There was the Marble Slab, where you could enjoy the best ice cream in Houston, Godfather Pizza, and the Outback, just to name a few. That same afternoon, the affiliate roundup meeting took place, where affiliate representatives engaged in some stimulating dialogue and the final details of affiliate voting were worked out. At the GDUI Board meeting which followed, the formation of a communications committee was unanimously approved the idea having just been conceived by the affiliates. If you would like to participate in this process, the communications committee is being chaired by Nancy Trzcinski of Maine. GDUI Board meeting minutes are available to the public. The official opening of the GDUI convention took place on Monday, when president Debbie Grubb introduced herself and previewed the many exciting programs to come. In the first hour, housekeeping items were discussed, and it was noted that despite the large number of dogs using the official relief area, more people were cleaning up and helping each other out. For the third year, Margie Donovan took on the responsibility of representing guide dog relief issues on the ACB convention committee and interfacing with hotel staff to make sure the relief area was maintained. After the opening ceremonies, we embarked on a thorough and informative discussion of attacks on our guides led by Don Frisk and Dr. Craig Dietrich from GDB. Most attacks are perpetrated by loose dogs, although leashed dogs also attack from time to time. GDUI has prepared an excellent resource, "The team, the attack," for use when working with legislators available at www.gdui.org. GDB has a new flyer available on their website, www.guidedogs.com, that summarizes some basic facts and precautions surrounding this issue which is targeted to meet the needs of the general public. The guide dog movement has made progress in strengthening laws that impose penalties on irresponsible pet owners if their dogs interfere with or injure a working guide. You should always call the police or 911 and get some help for you and your dog. You also have the option to bring criminal or civil charges against irresponsible pet owners for injuries and damages. There appears to be a wide variety of response protocols to such incidents even within single metropolitan areas, and all handlers should be as prepared as possible, in case they and their dogs are ever unfortunate enough to be victimized in this way. Some suggestions were: don't assume the attack is over when the attacking dog appears to have stopped. Get help in getting to safety or getting the loose dog under control. Collect contact information for perpetrators and witnesses. Some puncture wounds will be deep, but small, making it hard to identify them. Be sure your dog receives medical attention so the infection or damage can be minimized. Always make sure the police or animal control file an official report on your incident, and insist that they do this, even if they do not want to do so. The third presentation Monday was a round table discussion on advocacy, featuring Mr. Ray Baptista from the EEOC in Houston and Jeanine Worden from the US Department of Justice. This discussion dealt chiefly with how to file a Title III ADA complaint. Title III applies to privately owned public accommodations such as restaurants and taxi companies. You can access this information on GDUC's web site, www.gdu-cal.org. We kicked off Monday evening with reports from the guide dog schools. A representative from each school told us what's new at their school. A popular trend is the remodeling of dorms so that each student can have his/her own room. Many schools reported that they are paying more attention to the special needs of students with disabilities in addition to blindness. A few schools now have community areas where the dogs can play and students can practice the "come" command. Lectures on dog attacks have been added, and most schools are now taping lectures so they can be more easily reviewed. The school reports were followed by a well-attended reception. There were tasty appetizers and drinks, as well as a beautifully decorated thirtieth anniversary cake for GDUI. Tuesday afternoon got underway with Lisa Salinger's panel on anger management. The program committee added this session in response to reports widely circulated on guide dog lists about a black labrador guide dog, Inky, who was brutally kicked to death by his very frustrated handler in Pennsylvania. The business meeting followed. For the first time ever, guide dog affiliates were empowered to cast their votes through official delegates in addition to the individual votes cast by the members present. The response was favorable, especially from the four new affiliates. Congratulations to GDUI's newly chartered affiliates, Rocky Mountain Guide Dog Users, Minnesota Guide Dog Users, Guide Dog Users of Michigan and Guide Dog Users of Kentucky. Here are GDUI's election results:
The GDUI Constitutional amendment to add organizational memberships didn't pass. The affiliate dues increase raising the amount affiliates pay GDUI per person from $5.00 to $8.00 was approved. Tuesday evening we were treated to a uproariously fun event: Jeopardog with Alex Trebark. The categories were "double dog dare", Heinz 57, doggie body parts, GDUI history, and advocacy. In "double dog dare", the dog selected to respond to the category was challenged to maintain a down-stay while the handler danced a jig Another situation was to see if someone else could get your dog to come when they called it after you had commanded it to stay, and then there was the tempting of dogs with food. Some dogs were easily led astray by these tricks. It was impossible not to have fun, and the evening was one big hair-raising howl-in with all of us barking the Jeopardy theme at the tops of our lungs. Wednesday featured GDUI's thirtieth anniversary luncheon. The food was the best ever. Our own President, Sheila Styron was the moderator, and we got to hear her thirtieth anniversary musical tribute to GDUI and guide dog teams, "Harness In Hand." Stay tune for details about a fundraiser CD for GDUI that will feature this song and others in time for the holidays. Most of GDUI's past presidents addressed the audience, Kathy Gleitz, Marlena Lieberg, Kim Charlson, M.J. Schmidt, Jenine Stanley and Debbie Grubb. Past president Phyllis Schneider was unable to attend due to poor health, and Jenine Stanley assembled some excerpts of Cherrie Handy's words originally recorded for Pawtracks from the time when she was GDUI President. There was also a prerecorded greeting and GDUI tribute from Mike Lilly, our competent attorney during the last years of the Hawaii access settlement. The luncheon was a proud commemorative moment for GDUI, and emotions ran high that afternoon in Houston. It was hard to believe that wasn't the end of the festivities. Following the luncheon celebration, we enjoyed yet another entertaining panel, presented by Sarah Wilson and Kathy Zubrycki, exploring doggie body language, stress relief, and anything else the audience wanted to know about. Unfortunately, you won't get to hear this one in Pawtracks, as there was a snafu with the sound system, derailing efforts to record this fun session. After this utterly entertaining panel, Jenine Stanley hosted another round table on grooming in the informal setting of the GDUI suite. Many unusual grooming devices were passed around and explained and several helpful grooming hints were also shared. A Sharper Image ionic bath which Abby loves was also passed around. No excuse for doggie odor anymore. Wednesday evening Michael Moran and Chelsea Morrow, graduate field reps from The Seeing Eye, hosted a panel entitled "Streetsmarts," where tips were offered and experiences exchanged on assertive personal behavior and how to confidently ward off potential human interference to safe travel for working teams. There was one final guide dog event on Thursday sponsored by ACB's special interest affiliate for the elderly blind. It was called "When are you too old to get a guide dog?" The panel was comprised of an experienced handler now in his seventies a new handler in her fifties and another woman in her fifties just about to get her first dog. It was exciting to see the number of elderly people who were seriously considering training with a guide dog. An instructor from Guiding Eyes for the Blind was there to answer the more technical and administrative questions. As for the future, look for more creative fundraising ideas, more coverage of GDUI on ACB radio, a communications committee to facilitate exchanging information throughout the year between conventions and including those without computer access, and maybe, absentee voting. Digital recordings of convention programming are available for your listening pleasure up on www.gdui.org. Special thanks goes to Ginger Bennett for all her incredible work as GDUI's 2002 convention Chair. A good time was evident in Houston celebrating GDUI's 30th anniversary, and we hope to see some more Californians in Pittsburgh, next July. |
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Hello, my name is Taylor and this is my story. I was born in Sylmar, California and I lived with my mother until I was eight weeks old. I have long red wavy hair, big ears, brown eyes and a large nose. I also have a fluffy tail of which I am very proud. For a time, I lived at a guide dog school with other puppies. Then I lived with some nice humans called Linda and Mike. We all lived in a big house and were very happy there. One day, when I was around 15 months old, my human family started acting very different. They seemed sad. "I wonder what is wrong with my family?" I thought. We got in to the car and when we stopped I realized we were at the dog school. O, Well," I thought. "We are just at the guide dog school." I thought we were going there for more puppy training. Boy! was I wrong. Before I knew what was happening, my human family drove off and left me there! "What's this?" I asked myself. They had never just gone off and left me! Soon a woman came and put me in to this building called a kennel. I had not been in this place before. It smelled kind of strange, but good, like dog. I found out that I had a kennel mate. That was comforting. "I wonder if he is here for the same reason as me," I thought, hanging my head. "Hello," I said to the other dog who was in there with me. "Did your human family drop you off and just leave you here?" I asked him. "Yes," he said, looking as sad as I felt. Later I found out that there were other dogs there who were feeling much like me. Soon another woman came by and started petting me and talking to me. "Hi there, Taylor boy," she said. I just hung my head. "My name is Judy," she said. "You will like it here. I am going to teach you to guide a blind person," she said. I just laid there and ignored her. I did not want to hear any of this. After a while Judy left me alone and I laid down to wait for what would happen next. After a while I thought that it must be almost time for dinner. I started to remember something that happened when I was still with my human family. One day I woke up and realized it was way beyond dinner time. They had forgotten to feed me! I came charging down the hall into the kitchen. There was a group of humans in the back yard and all this human food on the table. Boy, did it smell good and I was sure hungry. The people kept coming and going. Every time someone came in I expected to be fed. It just wasn't happening. I barked and someone said, "Oh, what a cute puppy." She patted me on the head and then left. Where was my dinner? When I stood on my back feet, my front paws just reached the edge of the table. There was no one around to stop me. I managed to get my teeth onto the table cloth and I pulled as hard as I could. Which really wasn't all that hard, but it was enough. All the wonderful food came crashing down on to the floor in front of me. Just as I was trying to decide what to eat first, a couple of humans came running in. "What a bad boy," one of them said to me. Then I ran and hid as fast as I could. I knew that I was in trouble now. However, someone must of remembered I had not been fed. The next thing I knew, here came a big bowl of dog food. It's terrible what a dog has to go through to get his dinner! Eventually the people at the kennel got around to feeding me. Took them long enough! I made friends with Judy and found out that other dogs like me were going to learn the same things as I was. This story is just the first part of my adventures! |
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The thrust of our legislative action will be to get the laws concerning guide - and all service dogs - improved. This will include protection of the handler also. There is no question that the issue of attacks on and interference with our guide dogs needs attention. Many handlers have had experiences in this area ranging from mild annoyance to tragic outcomes. Guide Dog Users of California is exploring ways to improve legislation in California to safeguard working teams, and it would be very helpful when presenting our case to legislators and/or media contacts to have written accounts of your personal experiences. So please feel free to call, write or e-mail Sheila Styron at 323-822-9872, 1215 N. Olive Drive #306, West Hollywood, CA 90069, or sharkent@aol.com. |
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(Editor's Note: A few of the things Capt. Kauffman suggests a person do in the following piece will require sighted assistance. Don't let the bellman get away without showing you the exits, etc.) WARNING: HOTELS COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH... Have you ever been in a hotel during a fire? It's a frightening experience, and you should start thinking about it. For instance, how would you have acted if you had been in one of these fires?
Of course, there have been hundreds more with thousands of deaths, but I think you're getting the drift. The majority of those people did not have to die. My wife has been in the airline industry close to 8 years and while accompanying her on a trip recently, I learned how ill-prepared she was for a hotel fire. It's not her fault: it's quite common. Hotels, however, have no excuse for being ill-prepared. Believe me, you cannot depend on the staff in case of a fire. History has shown some hotels won't even call the Fire Department. I have been a fire-fighter in Los Angeles for over 10 years and have seen many people die needlessly in building fires. It's sad because most could have saved themselves. What you're about to read is roughly the same "briefing" I have given my wife on hotel safety. I do not intend to "play down" the aspects of hotel fires or soft soap the language. It's critical that you remember how to react; and, if I shake you a little, maybe you will. Contrary to what you have seen on television or in the movies, fire is not likely to chase you down and burn you to death. It's the by-products of fire that will kill you. Super heated fire gases (smoke) and panic will almost always be the cause of death long before the fire arrives, if it ever does. This is very important. You must know how to avoid smoke and panic to survive a hotel fire. With this in mind, here are a few tips: SMOKE In any case, your prime objective should be to leave at the very first sign of smoke. Smoke, being warmer, will start accumulating at the ceiling and work its way down. The first thing you will notice is: THERE ARE NO "EXIT" SIGNS. I'll talk more about the exits later. Just keep in mind when you have smoke, it's too late to start looking for "EXIT" signs. Another thing about smoke you should be aware of is how irritating it is on the eyes. The problem is your eyes will only take so much irritation -- then they close. Try all you want, you won't be able to open them if there is still smoke in the area. It's one of your body's compensatory mechanisms. Last, the fresh air you want to breath is at or near the floor. Get on your hands and knees (or stomach) and STAY THERE as you make your way out. Those who don't probably won't get far. Think about this poor man's predicament for a moment: He wakes up at 0230 hrs to a smell of smoke. He puts on his trousers and runs into the hallway only to be greeted by heavy smoke. He has no idea where the exit is. He runs to the right. He's coughing and gagging; his eyes hurt. "Where is it?" "WHERE IS IT?" Panic begins to set in. About the same time he thinks maybe he is going the wrong way, his eyes close. He can't find his way back to his room (it wasn't so bad in there). His chest hurts, he desperately needs oxygen. Total panic sets in as he runs in the other direction. He is completely disorientated. He cannot hold his breath any longer. We find him at 0250. DEAD! What caused all the smoke? A small fire in a room where they store the roll-away beds. Remember, the presence of smoke does not necessarily mean the hotel is burning down. PANIC People in a state of panic are rarely able to save themselves. If you understand what's going on, what to do, where to go, and how to get there, panic will not set in. The man in the example I used would not have died if he had known what to do. For instance, had he known the exit was to the left and 4 doors down on the left, he could have gotten on his hands and knees where there was fresh air and started counting doorways. Even if he couldn't keep his eyes open, he could feel his way as he crawled, counting the doors. 1... 2... 3... BINGO! He would NOT have panicked. He would be alive today, telling of his "great hotel fire" experience. EXITS If there are two of you sharing a room, BOTH of you locate your exit. Talk it over as you walk towards it. Is it on the left or right? Do you have to turn a corner? Open the exit door. What do you see? Stairs? Or another door? (Sometimes there are 2 doors to go through, especially in newer hotels.) I'd hate to see you crawl into a broom closet thinking it was the exit! Are you passing any rooms where your friends are staying? If there were a fire, you may want to bang on their doors as you go by. Is there anything in the hallway that would be in your way -- an ice machine maybe? As you arrive back at your room, take a look once more. Get a good mental picture of what everything looks like. Do you think you could get to the exit with a blindfold on? This procedure takes less than one minute and to be effective, it must become a habit. Those of you who are too lazy or tired to do it consistently are real "riverboat gamblers." There are over 5,000 hotel fires per year. The odds are sure to catch up with you. USING THE EXIT There was a house fire in Los Angeles recently where an entire family died. It was a 3 bedroom house with a den and family room. That night, the occupants had left every door in the house open except one, and it had led to the washrooms where the family dog slept. The house, except for the washroom, was a total loss. When the fire was knocked down, firemen opened the door to find the family dog wagging his tail. Because the door was left shut, the dog and room were in fine shape. Some doors take hours to burn through. They are excellent "fire stops"; so close every door you go through. If you find smoke in the exit stairwell, you can bet people are leaving the doors open as they enter. Always take your key with you. Get into the habit of putting the key in the same place every time you stay in a hotel. Since every hotel has night stands, that's an excellent location. It's close to the bed so you can grab it when you leave without wasting time looking for it. It's important you close your door as you leave; and it's equally as important that you don't lock yourself out. You may find conditions in the hallway untenable, and want to return to your room. If you're now in the habit of checking your exit and leaving the room key on the night stand, you're pretty well prepared to leave the hotel in case of a fire, so let's "walk" through it once. Something will awake you during the night. It could be the telephone, someone banging on the door, the smell of smoke, or some other disturbance. But, whatever it is, investigate it before you go back to sleep. A popular "Inn" near LAX recently had a fire and one of the guests later said he was awakened by people screaming but went back to bed thinking it was a party. He dammed near died in bed. Let's suppose you wake up to smoke in your room. Grab your key off the night stand, roll off the bed, and head for the door on your hands and knees. Even if you could tolerate the smoke by standing, DON'T. You'll want to save your eyes and lungs for as long as possible. BEFORE you open the door, feel it with the palm of your hand. If the door or knob is quite hot, don't open it. The fire could be just outside. We'll talk about that later. With the palm of your hand still on the door (in case you need to slam it shut), slowly open the door and peek into the hallway to "assess conditions." As you make your way to the exit, stay against the wall on the side where the exit is. It is very easy to get lost or disorientated in a smoky atmosphere. If you're on the wrong side of the hallway, you might crawl right on by the exit. If you're in the middle of the hall, people who are running will trip over you. Stay on the same side as the exit, and count doors as you go. When you reach the exit and begin to descend, it is very important that you WALK down and hang onto the handrail as you go. Don't take this point lightly. The people who will be running will knock you down and you might not be able to get up. Just hang on and stay out of everyone's way. All you have to do now is leave the building, cross the street, and watch the action. When the fire is out and the smoke clears, you will be allowed to re-enter the building. If you closed your room door when you left, your belongings should be in pretty good shape. Smoke will sometimes get into the exit stairway. If it's a tall building, this smoke may not rise very high before it cools and becomes heavy. This is called "stacking." If your room is on the 20th floor, for instance, you could enter the stairway and find it clear. As you descend you could encounter smoke that has "stacked." Do not try to "run through it" -- people die that way. Turn around and walk up. Now you must really hang onto the handrail. The people running down will probably be glassy-eyed and in a panic and will knock you right out of your socks! They will run over anything in their way, including a fireman. You'll feel as though you're going upstream against the Chicago Bears, but hang on and keep heading up towards the roof. If for some reason you try one of the doors to an upper floor and find it locked, that's normal, don't worry about it. Exit stairwells are designed so that you cannot enter from the street or roof. Once inside, however, you may exit at the street or roof but cannot go from floor to floor; this is done for security purposes. When you reach the roof, prop the door with something. This is the ONLY time you should leave a door open. Any smoke in the stairwell may now vent itself to the atmosphere and you won't be locked out. Now find the windward side of the building (the wet finger method is quite reliable), have a seat and wait until they find you. Roofs have proved to be a safe secondary exit and refuge area. Stay put. Firemen will always make a thorough search of the building looking for bodies. Live ones are nice to find. YOUR ROOM Take a good look at the window in your room. Does it open? Does it have a latch, a lock? Does it slide? Now open the window (if it works) and look outside. What do you see? A sign? Ledges? How high up are you? Get a good mental picture of what's outside -- it may come in handy. It's important that you know how to OPEN your window -- and how to close it again. Should you wake up to smoke in your room and find the door is too hot to open or the hallway is completely charged with smoke, don't panic. Many people have defended themselves quite nicely in their room and so can you. One of the first things you'll want to do is open the window to vent the smoke. I hope you learned how to open it when you checked in. It could be dark and smoky in the room. Those who don't will probably throw a chair through the window. If there is smoke outside and you have no window to close, it will enter your room and you will be trapped. The broken glass from the window will cut like a surgeon's scalpel. At the Ramada Inn fire, an airline captain on a layover threw a chair through the window and cut himself seriously. Don't compound your problems. Besides, if you break out your window with a chair, you could hit a fireman on the street below. If there is fresh air outside, leave the window open, but keep an eye on it. At this point, most people would stay at the window, waving frantically, while their room continues to fill with smoke if the fire burns through. This procedure is not conducive to longevity. You must be aggressive and fight back. Here are some things you can do in any order you choose ... if the room phone works, let someone know you're in there. Flip on the bathroom vent. Fill the bath with water. (Don't get into it -- it's for fire fighting. You'd be surprised how many people try to save themselves by getting into a tub of water - that's how you cook lobsters and crabs, so you know what happens!) Wet some sheets or towels, and stuff the cracks of your door to keep out the smoke. With your ice-bucket, bail the water from the bath onto the door to keep it cool. Feel the walls -- if they are hot, bail water onto them too. You can put your mattress up against the door and block it in place with the dresser. Keep it wet -- keep everything wet. Who cares about the mess? A wet towel tied around your nose and mouth is an effective filter if your fold it in a triangle and put the corner in your mouth. If you swing a wet towel around the room, it will help clear the smoke. If there is a fire outside the window, pull down the curtains and move everything combustible away from the window. Bail water all around the window. Use your imagination and you may come up with some tricks of your own. The point is, there shouldn't be any reason to panic -- keep fighting until reinforcements arrive. It won't be long. ELEVATORS Case in point: Unsafe actions during fires have killed many people, including firemen. Several New York firemen recently used an elevator when responding to a fire up on the 20th floor. They pushed 18, but the elevator went right on by the 18th floor. The doors came open on the 20th floor to an inferno and remained open long enough to kill all the firemen. The doors then closed and the elevator returned to the lobby. Hand operated elevators are not exempt. Some elevator operators have been beaten by people fighting over the controls. If you have any idea that there might be smoke or fire in your hotel, avoid the elevator like the plague. JUMPING If you're on the first floor, you could just OPEN the window and climb out. From the second floor you could probably make it with a sprained ankle, but you must jump out far enough to clear the building. Many people hit window sills and ledges on the way down, and they go into cartwheels. If they don't land on their head and kill themselves, they're injured seriously. If you're any higher than the 3rd, the chances are you won't survive the fall. You would probably be better off fighting the fire. Nearby buildings seem closer than they really are and many have died trying to jump to a building that looked 5 feet away, but was actually 15 feet away. Panic is what causes most people to jump. There was a fire in Brazil a few years ago where 40 people jumped from windows and all 40 died. Ironically, 36 of those jumped after the fire was out. Many people have survived by staying put whilst those around them jumped to their death. If you can resist panic and think clearly, you can use your own best judgment. CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT In the New Orleans hotel fire, records show that the fire department received only one call -- from a guest in one of the rooms. The desk had been notified of fire 20 minutes earlier and had sent a security guard to investigate. His body was later found on the 12th floor about 10 feet from the elevator. Should you want to report a fire or smell of smoke, ask the hotel operator for an outside line for a local call. Call the fire department and tell them your room number in case you need to be rescued. You need not feel embarrassed: that's what we're here for. We would much rather come to a small fire or smoking electrical motor that you smelled than be called 20 minutes later after 6 people have died. Don't let hotel "policy" intimidate you into doing otherwise. The hotel may be a little upset with you -- but really, who gives a damn? The fire department will be glad you called: you may have saved many lives. Besides, it's a great way for us to meet people! Well, the rest is up to you. Only you can condition yourself to react in a hotel emergency. You can be well prepared by developing the habits we've talked about. |
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1. When your spouse's shocked voice shouts from the shop, "Honey, come quick, I've had a terrible accident!", you show up breathless with a mop and scent neutralizer. 2. You wake panicked in the middle of the night when you sense you suddenly have room to move your body around the bed. 3. You can't sleep unless you hear lots of heavy breathing in your bedroom. 4.The emergency number on your speed dialer is for the dog's veterinarian. 5. When someone taps you on the shoulder, you tell them firmly, "Off!", then "Down!". 6. When tempers flare among your family members, you pull out the long forefinger, pointedly raise your voice and shout "Go to your crates, now!" 7 When someone asks what's for dinner you automatically reply, "Kibbles and Bits". 8. When you are walking a ring around the local park and someone points at you and your dog, you raise both arms over your head, whoop and go looking for a ribbon. 9. When shopping, your best friend asks you what you think of that snappy suit in the window, and you scowl and mutter, "Useless, it is the same color as my dog and it has no pockets." 10. When your neighbor points to her crawling infant and asks you what you think of her new baby, you study it for a minute and reply, "Well, a little short on coat and long in the hock, but that kid has a great topline!" 11. Dog cookies are starting to look good. |
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Those are the incredible top-line results from the first-ever canine lifetime diet restriction study comparing health, life span and the effect of body condition on both. The Purina Life Span Study, initiated in 1987 and completed in 2001, compared 48 Labrador retriever dogs from seven litters. The dogs were paired within their litters according to gender and body weight and randomly assigned to either a control or lean-fed group. The control group was allowed to eat an unlimited, or free choice amount of food during 15-minute daily feedings. Dogs in the restricted, or "lean-fed" group were fed 75 percent of the amount eaten by their paired littermates. Both groups received nutritionally complete and balanced diets for the entire period of the study - only the quantity provided was different. The results were published in the May 1, 2002 (Vol. 220, No.9) issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in the article entitled "Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs." Gail Smith, VMD, PhD, study collaborator and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine states, "Purina invested 14 years in a scientific study that has already produced useful clinical information. And with continued analysis, it promises to add to the body of scientific literature for years to come." Grace Long, DVM, MS |
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Here in the United States, we use the English system of weights and measures. We use it even though the English have converted to the Metric system, like much of the rest of the world. Here are some conversion factors to help my fellow Americans. Useful English System conversions/units:
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Shall GDUC amend its Constitution to change the restriction on the Board of Directors to hold at least two (2) of its four (4) annual meetings in person and allow the Board of Directors to hold any or all of the Board meetings telephonically? Article VI, Meetings; Now reads: The proposed amendment would read: |
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They are here! Or rather, they will be at GDUC's table in the exhibit hall Friday and Saturday November 1 and 2, at CCB's fall convention at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine. GDUC's fun new T-shirts are a 50 50 blend and come in four earthtone shades, pebble, sand, stonewashed blue and stonewashed green in sizes ranging from medium to triple-x. Where you would place your hand over your heart for the pledge of allegiance and in forest green, is GDUC's logo, a pawprint with the letters, GDUC, written inside each little piggy. The back of the shirts say: "In Dog We Trust," in a large font in a style similar to the one printed on currency. Below, in smaller type, the shirts say, Guide Dog Users of California. My apologies go to the few of you with long hair who wanted shirts with all the artwork in front, and GDUC's thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to the success of this fundraiser, particularly Dan and Ann Kysor. And don't forget the jewelry that Abby and Sheila have been rounding up - it will be at the booth at the convention too. The new revision of our popular Law Books that have the California laws about guide - and service - dogs, and access matters is out. The new revision is available in Braille, Large Print, small print and in text format on a floppy disc. They will be at the convention booth. Last but not least, we still have some of the Guardian Angel tags and lapel pins. Come see. |
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This spring GDUC honored Terry Barrett as our California Guide Dog Instructor of the Year. Below, please find and enjoy reading his heartfelt thanks which he asked me to share with everyone. Sheila Styron Dear Sheila, This is a note to let you know what an honor it was to receive the award as instructor of the year. I was extremely disappointed that I was not able to make it to the ceremony due to the sickness I had at the time but I understand Patty did a great job in receiving the award. I also wanted you and the guide dog users to know that this award, which the State Board and the guide dog users group has so thoughtfully put into place, has a huge impact on the people that work in the guide dog field. I received phone calls from past recipients, including those from other schools, offering their congratulations. There was a reception at our campus, which all staff participated in, to honor my receiving this award. It was not a reception about me, however, but about a group of people getting together to share in the pride of the job we do. In presenting an award like this it shows what a great partnership we truly have between guide dog users and guide dog schools. When people ask what I do for a living it's always a question I answer with pride. I enjoy so much the people I work with and for and this award just adds to my reasons why. Thanks again Sheila for continuing to make this award available to those of us in this field and please convey my thanks to the guide dog users. Yours Truly; |
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CADO, the coalition of Assistance Dog Organizations, will hold its next meeting on January 10, 2003, as part of IAADP's conference. IAADP, the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners holds its annual conference in San Antonio with that of ADI, Assistance Dogs International. CADO continues to communicate with the Department of Justice on matters pertaining to strengthening and protecting the rights of guide dogs, and has the assurance from this office that an Advance Announcement of Proposed Rule Making will be forthcoming on our behalf. This AAPRM period will be our opportunity as handlers to state our opinions and suggestions on a number of issues including who does and does not deserve public access, the rights and responsibilities of businesses and public facilities and protection dogs. Planning for next years CADO meeting will soon get underway. So please feel free to with ideas. |
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On Saturday, August 24th, my husband, Jim, and I participated in a guide dog awareness program at the California Restaurant and Food Convention at the Mascone center in San Francisco. We were there to promote in an upbeat fashion acceptance of guide dogs into dining establishments. Although it is the law that guide dogs be accepted into restaurants, our approach was to promote understanding. With my guide dog Freida at my side, and Jim's eagle eyes on the attendee badges, there was very little "down time". We approached or were approached by many individuals during the afternoon. Freida's sweet demeanor (or paws crossed while we chatted) drew attention wherever we walked. Jim says she didn't even glance at a few food samples that had somehow ended up on the floor in front of some tasting booths. Freida was her usual great ambassador for guide dogs. In four hours we covered all of the huge facilitates at Moscone! We were always warmly accepted into a conversation and the attendees got to see how well behaved a guide dog can be around so much food and so many people. We enjoyed particularly interesting conversations with representatives from the Yosemite National Park concessions and some future restaurateurs who were students at the California Culinary Academy. The experience was a very gratifying one - one we would happily do again. |
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The anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 has passed. It has been over a year now, and things are still in an uproar. A good thing that has come out of the tragedy is the recognition that guide dogs can and do respond well and take care of their person. The two dogs that came out of the towers are not the only dogs involved - there were several that were in other buildings that had to take their person out and did, in spite of the smoke and devastation and uproar. It gives a strong light on what dogs can and will do for their person - not just guide dogs, but the search and rescue dogs too. Dogs have ben closely associated with humans for a long time, and we are still learning about what they can do. Maybe someday we can be worthy of them. |
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Ms Daviann L. Mitchell has been appointed to the State Board of Guide Dogs for the blind by Governor Davis. Ms Mitchell has been a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles and is active in many organizations, including several dealing with dogs. Her appointment fills the last vacancy on the State Board. Harry Thomas, the Executive Officer, promises a brief biographical sketch for each member which will be published here in the next issue. |
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There were actually some letters to the editor this time as a result of the appeal in the last issue. One of the letters you saw above - the story from Sharon. There is another that was too long for this issue - we hope to get it in next time. Keep them coming - you may get your name in the newsletter! |
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There have been several topics discussed - sometimes violently - on the e-mail lists. These topics were important, with effects on all guide dog users. While discussion on the e-mail list doesn't result directly in action, it does give an overall impression of how people feel about a particular issue. But, this can be a false impression since not everybody is on an e-mail list - even though there are a lot of them. As noted, not everyone has e-mail and the messages posted there are sometimes written quickly and without too much thought. This newsletter is a good vehicle for stating pros and cons on a subject. All the members get the newsletter, and can respond - in print, e-mail, tape message or phone call. If we have a stated subject, and the readers send in their comments, representative letters can be posted here in the next issue. A measure of the opinions held can be made - and good comments and suggestions, from anybody who cares to respond, will get heard. SO: The first subject will be: Should guide dogs - and all service dogs - be tagged or certified? The standard comment about this question has been that no one knows how to do it, so it shouldn't be done. This time, the method isn't the point-assume it can be done somehow, and assume that it is legal, that the ADA does not forbid tagging or certification. The question is, would it be a good idea to have tagging/certification? Keep your letters brief - but be sure to put in all your thoughts on the subject. Send them to Dave Foster, Editor, 220 Capri, Santa Ana, CA 92703. Or e-mail to mjwaters@surfree.com This is an opportunity for you that don't use e-mail to have your voices heard. |
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