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Summer 2002 Hello, GDUC members and other readers of Forward. I hope this message finds all of you well and your guides happy and healthy. This has been a busy season for GDUC with our spring business meeting and luncheon taking place on May 4 and Guide Dog Day at the Capitol just prior to that on May 1. We have new GDUC brochures to help spread the word about our organization, new items for sale to finance our various projects and yes, the membership voted to produce the long awaited t-shirts in time for our fall meeting. But until then, let me fill you in on some of the details that go with the above. Guide Dog Day at the Capitol was once again a highlight for me personally, as it provides an opportunity to combine political activities and those of guide dogs, both of which I enjoy, if not in that order. Terry Barrett, chosen by GDUC to receive the 2002 California Guide Dog Instructor of the Year award, was ill and therefore unable to attend. Dr. Patricia N. Olson, Director of Canine Health and Training Operations, at Guide Dogs for the Blind accepted GDUC's honor on Terry's behalf. Handler turnout was low this year, probably due to several factors, an important one being that there was no specific legislation relating to guide dogs for everyone to rally round and support. The good news is that several legislators expressed interest in exploring possibilities of strengthening existing uncontrolled dog attack and pedestrian safety legislation in the fall when this process typically occurs. During the coming months, GDUC will be considering ideas to make Guide Dog Day at the Capitol a stronger vehicle for publicly celebrating guide dogs as well as a more effective advocacy tool. We devoted some time at our May 4 morning program to initiating this process where Allan Brenner of the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind led a discussion covering a wide range of possibilities with GDUC membership present. After Guide Dog Day, it was off to Sacramento for the CCB convention and our GDUC business meeting, program and luncheon. GDUC took a table in the exhibit room where we experienced brisk sales on what turned out to be very popular refrigerator magnets representative of all the familiar guide dog breeds and other items as well. People kept asking about the t-shirts, and it will be so great when we finally do have them in the fall. Highlights of our business meeting included passage of a GDUC constitutional amendment providing for newly elected GDUC officers to assume their offices on January 1 following their election. We approved funding for delegates and alternates to national and state conventions as well as adopting expenditures for future fundraising efforts. As the result of information GDUI asked me to disseminate regarding proposed constitutional amendments to be voted on at their business meeting this summer, an intense discussion about representative affiliate voting at GDUI business meetings took place at GDUC's business meeting. One of these amendments deals with affiliate voting and how it will be carried out. It was pointed out that GDUI already has an existing amendment which provides for this, which has never been carried out. GDUC strongly adopted a motion stating that this amendment must be honored this summer, or GDUC's delegate will walk out of the meeting and GDUC will disaffiliate from GDUI. As GDUC's President and elected delegate to the GDUI convention, I was charged with this very serious responsibility, which the membership is clearly within its rights to require me to carry out. I am very pleased to report to you that after speaking with Debbie Grubb, President of GDUI, we can all rest assured that there will be official affiliate voting in Houston this summer. There is so much important work that needs to be accomplished in both state and national arenas, it is essential for GDUC and GDUI as well as all the other affiliates to find ways of supporting one another when working together will best serve guide dog teams. Our morning program featured Jeanine Worden, an attorney who travels with a guide dog and works in the Fair Housing and Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Jeanine spoke to us regarding the differences in our rights as guide dog handlers in the areas of housing, FHA, and public access through DOJ, explaining the separate complaint processes required by each. Jeanine informed us that the followup to last year's well received CADO presentation to DOJ is a soon to be announced period of Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making, which will provide all of us with an opportunity to have input on future decisions DOJ will make regarding service animals. Our thanks to Jeanine Worden for an interesting and informative presentation. I have saved the best for last. Our luncheon was a huge success with such a great turnout that the hotel had to move our event to a larger space in order to accommodate all of us and our dogs. GDUC presented its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to GDB's Thom Ainsworth, whom we all know and love. Thom, accompanied by his wife, Gloria, received a beautiful plaque, the text of which will appear elsewhere in Forward. When I first knew Thom, he was a guide dog instructor. However, in recent years, he has become an extremely effective advocate for guide dog handlers and also an excellent teacher of those skills. As it seemed like the natural thing to do, and since you can't stop him from talking anyway, we invited Thom to speak to us during our luncheon where his amazing tales and true wit were enthusiastically received. Thom has lived a life rich in humor, compassion and wisdom gained through common sense and practical experience. Those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him will miss him and remember him often, as he enjoys a blissful life of retirement in Montana. Thank you, Thom, and thank all of you for reading my summer message. Please feel free to contact me and our other officers and board members with questions or suggestions, and let me know if you can use some of our new brochures. Until next time, give your guides a major hug from Dorian and me. Sheila Styron, President |
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Minutes of the GDUC Business Meeting Present: Board members and various members of GDUC. The meeting was called to order by President, Sheila Styron at 8:30am Minutes of the fall, 2001 convention were approved as read. Treasurer's report, Ken Metz Fundraising report The GDUC table in the convention exhibit hall is selling dog breed magnets and pins, as well as some of the collar tags and pins we've been selling, and the law books. For the next convention, $500 was approved for more jewelry from Darlene Sousa and $900 was approved for GDUC t-shirts. Delegates There was some discussion about affiliate voting at the GDUI convention, and proposed changes. It was the feeling of several people at the meeting that affiliate voting is already in the GDUI constitution, and that it never was implemented. It was moved, seconded, and approved that if the affiliate delegates were not allowed to vote as affiliate delegates at the 2002 GDUI business meeting, that GDUC would withdraw from GDUI. Election of delegates Constitution and Bylaws First, the constitutional amendment that would establish the terms of officers and board members. This amendment would establish the beginning of their terms as January 1 following their election at the fall GDUC meeting. This amendment was adopted. A second amendment would provide for lifetime members of GDUC. The amendment provided for GDUC to pay annual dues to GDUI for those who weren't already lifetime members of GDUI. Since this would be a dis-incentive to becoming a lifetime member of GDUI, the amendment was tabled until the next business meeting. Guide Dog Day at the Capitol There was discussion about the best time to have guide dog day. At what part of the legislative cycle would we be most effective? Doris Fisher moved GDUC look into the date of the GDDATC and make recommendations to GDUC and the Guide Dog Board. The motion was approved. Sheila announced that the GDUC brochure is complete, and there are copies available for members to distribute. The business portion of the meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00am. Submitted by Abby Vincent, GDUC recording secretary. |
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Terry Barrett of Guide Dogs for the Blind is the Guide Dog Instructor of the Year for 2002. Following is an excerpt from an article by Jennifer Metzger of GDB entitled "A Noble Tradition: Training Working Dogs" Terry Barrett, Director of Training for Guide Dogs for the Blind, is one of the many instructors who first learned to train dogs in the military. He came to Guide Dogs in 1976 after serving in the Canine Corps of the U.S. Air Force. Barrett trained several German Shepherd Dogs for the Patrol Dog Unit at Lackland Air Force base near San Antonio, Texas. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all trained together on Lackland Air Force base in 1970. Barrett started out in the military police squadron of the Air Force. "You could continue with a career in military police personnel, or join the Canine Corps. They also had a new program they had just started called Patrol Dogs," Barrett recalls. He'd never worked with dogs before, but his love of animals drew him to the program, formerly referred to as sentry dogs. "The Air Force taught me about the importance of teamwork in ensuring success," Barrett says. "Training patrol dogs in Lackland was pretty exciting. I learned consistency and trust. It was important work, and it gave me a solid foundation in dog training." The program lasted three months and included two main instructors, a supervisor and 16 students-much like the program at Guide Dogs when he started, Barrett points out. "The Patrol Dog program was so excellent," Barrett remembers. "It really whet my appetite to stay in the 'dog world.' My interest would not have peaked if I had just been handed a dog that had already been trained, and had instead just spent so many hours in the field doing protection work. In the school, some dogs had no training at all, or were former sentry dogs and needed retraining. But to be there and watch the dogs' progress though those three months was really an amazing thing." Barrett's dog during this three-month program was a German Shepherd named "Baron." His dog went on to become a demo dog for the Army in Washington, D.C. Military dog training shared a lot of the same basics of guide dog training, such as needing to have a good rapport with the dog, instilling a good sense of obedience in the dog, and having a good understanding of who the dog is. As a young sergeant in Vietnam, Barrett endured 8-10 hours every night with his dog "Knight," doing perimeter patrol in pitch-black darkness. "I'll never have another bond like that again with a dog," he says. "It's just you and your dog walking the fence line, trusting each other. My current job with Guide Dogs is also rewarding in that I'm able to meet the people who are the recipients of my efforts." Being a Guide Dog instructor involves a lot more than just training dogs. The job cycle includes: dog training, class training (where the dogs are matched with their blind partners and learn to work as teams), graduation and follow-up visits to the graduates' home area. Then the cycle begins again with a new group of dogs. The job requires extensive people skills-tact, professionalism, humor, flexibility, and the ability to teach others. It challenges the body, the mind, and the emotions. Training guide dogs has more similarities than differences to the kind of dog training Barrett was involved in while in the Air Force. "The handlers in both instances feel the dogs are there to assist the partner and be a companion, to help us with what we're doing. There is a great deal of trust and companionship and similarities in that bond between the dog and handler." "In order to get what you want out of a dog, you really have to gain a rapport with them. If you want to get some positive, good work out of a dog, you have to work at making the relationship rewarding for both you and the dog," he says. "You only have to be here (at Guide Dogs) for a short time before you realize the most rewarding thing is to see a dog you've trained leave as part of a safe and effective guide dog team." Terry Barrett recently received the prestigious California Guide Dog Instructor of the Year Award. This award is given by the State Board of Guides Dogs for the Blind, the state regulatory board that licenses guide dog schools and instructors. Recipients are selected by Guide Dog Users of California and the award was presented at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Sacramento on May 1. The award is given to those "who have demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to blindness issues and who has truly gone beyond the call of duty in their efforts to build and support strong working teams." Terry is also an assessor for the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools for the Blind, traveling around the world to assist guide dog schools in meeting standards of excellence. |
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Guide Dog Users of California's First Time Ever Lifetime Achievement Award On May 4, during our Spring Luncheon at the San Mateo Marriott Hotel, Thom Ainsworth was the recipient of GDUC's first ever Lifetime Achievement Award. This award will not be given every year which means the person who received it this first time is very special indeed. Guide Dog Users of California honored Thom with a beautiful plaque, the text of which appears here. Guide Dog Users of California PRESENTED TO THOM AINSWORTH IN APPRECIATION OF HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GUIDE DOG FIELD AND FOR HIS DEEP PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HANDLERS AND THEIR GUIDES Following, is Thom's heartfelt letter thanking GDUC. May 8, 2002 Sheila, I just wanted to express my thanks and gratitude to all of the members of Guide Dog Users of California for giving me your first Lifetime Achievement Award. This special award has touched me deeply, and I can assure you it will be displayed in a very prominent place in my home. It was such a pleasure to see so many friends I have known over the years at the luncheon. I just wish there was time to talk with each and every one. I commend GDUC for all you have done. Your actions do not go by unnoticed, and I know the impact of your organization will better the lives of people for years to come. Take care and much love to you all! Sincerely, Thom was also honored by the "Guide Dog News' from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Here is the article (reprinted from the Spring issue of "Guide Dog News," Guide Dogs for the Blind). Kudos! Retiring Graduate Services Specialist Thom Ainsworth is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the members of Guide Dog Users of California. He is honored for his "deep level of personal commitment and his positive contributions to the quality of working life for people who use guide dogs." Thom joined Guide Dogs staff in 1967 from the U.S. Air Force where he had been a sentry dog handler. He became licensed as an instructor in 1970 and has since held the positions of director of training, chief of operations, and graduate services specialist, among others. He has gained friends for Guide Dogs through the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He will be fondly remembered by graduates for his bad jokes (and good photography), his calm and thoughtful advice, and as a strong advocate for access rights and protection from loose-dog attacks. |
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We have been informed that the booklets of "California Law Pertaining to Guide and Service Dogs" have been revised for 2002. |
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submitted by On a weekend in May the Orange County Fairgrounds hosted a splendid event. It was the 2002 Pet Expo. It was a very large event with displays, exhibits, competitions, interesting things for sale and people, people, people! I saw at least one of every kind of dog I have ever seen as well as just about as many that I had never even heard of before. The Expo wasn't limited to dogs though. There was also a Cat exhibit hall as well as what they called the Small Animal Exhibit Hall. The Cat building speaks for itself and the Small Animal Building had everything from snakes to guinea pigs, different kinds of rodents and I don't know what all else. As you can correctly infer, I was most interested in the Dog Building. Along with different breeds of dogs on display by their owners, there were show dogs and their owners competing for titles. There was a section devoted to Breed Rescue and those Organizations. Each different area had dogs there for the public to see. Far more than Greyhounds have Rescue organizations devoted to their preservation. There were tables in abundance displaying everything from food to toys, clothing to tack and all kinds of things for the people to buy for themselves as well. The most fascinating thing of all was that each of the California Guide Dog Schools had a booth. Each booth had several puppies in training on hand at all times. I didn't see any, but I'm told that from time to time the School's booths had a grad in attendance. The problem with this, as I saw it, was that the Guide Dog Story was lop-sided. The public was being well educated about the concept of Guide Dogs, but there wasn't enough education going on from the Guide Dog Handler's point of view. Every year there is a cooperative effort by the California schools, GDUC and the California Hospitality Association to improve the knowledge of all in attendance about Guide Dogs and their Handlers at the California Restaurant Association Exposition. This event has been a most successful event every year. I believe that GDUC should have a presence at this Pet Expo next year. The added information and knowledge that the public will gain in a setting of this nature would be invaluable. Not only do we have a lot to share with this population, they are a willing and interested group of people. Perhaps there are other Pet Expos around the State, I don't know. But if you ever have a chance to go to one, do. It was a lot of fun and I learned a great deal. Maybe you can even go on GDUC's behalf! |
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Courtesy Jeanine Worden Jeanine Worden posted these tips on flying in these times. The material is so timely and up-to-date we thought it would be helpful. Thank you Jeanine. Jeanine Worden here. I have flown a dozen times since September 11th, and I have some thoughts to share on flying these days. First and foremost, be patient and don't get upset if things are different now. Security people are trying to do a careful job screening and they are going to check everyone more carefully now -- including blind people and guide dogs. As Abby said, you can still have a carry on bag and one personal item such as a handbag, laptop, or briefcase. If you try to exceed that, they probably won't let you past the security check point with the extra bag. Be ready to show your government issued ID card at least 3 times -- your ID must be shown at the ticket counter, your ID and ticket or dated itinerary or e-ticket receipt must be shown at security, and your ticket and ID must be shown at least once and sometimes 2 or 3 times in the gate area. If you are going to bring scissors, knitting needles, a Swiss Army knife, razor blades, nail clippers, a cork screw or other sharp items with you, put them in your checked luggage or don't bring them. If you don't put them in checked luggage, you will have to leave them behind at the security check point if you want to get on the flight. If you have diabetes or some other condition that requires you to carry prescription medication and/or syringes, make sure your medication is in clearly marked containers (marked with the pharmacy label). The first guidelines issued on diabetic supplies said that you needed to have a doctor's letter in order to carry syringes. A more recent update does not say that. Check with your airline to see if there are still any special requirements you should follow. Security lines are sometimes long and move much more slowly than they used to -- some airports take 2 - 3 minutes to scan your carry ons. Quite a few people are selected for a hand scan with a metal detector wand and for hand searching of luggage at the security check point and at the gate. Some people are picked randomly and some people are picked because they fit a profile -- for example, they made a last minute change in their airline or flight. At some airports, security people pay much more attention to your guide dog than they used to. My dog's harness pouch has been searched, her harness has been inspected, and my dog herself has even been patted down a couple of times. (For those who have met her, my irrepressible Holly was thrilled because the nice man in a uniform was bending down to give her a hug, so she reciprocated by kissing him on the mouth, surprising him greatly.) However, don't be surprised if the security people want to tell you the best way to go through the metal detector with or without your dog. For example, at the airport in Memphis, the security guard told me I had to have my dog sit in front of the metal detector while I went through first and then have her follow separately. Now, that happens to be my normal approach to going through the metal detector, but it's not everyone's normal approach. Jeanine |
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FORWARD usually avoids giving any kind of medical advice, since that should come from your veterinarian. However this subject is the kind of thing that you have to know before the emergency happens. Lets hope no one ever has to use it. In addition to this information, check the canine First Aid page at From Sharon Braun, (FigNewtn@ix.netcom.com) Here are CPR instructions, as supplied by Dr. Wendy Wallace. CPR - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - is an attempt to supply blood flow and oxygen to the tissues of the body when normal respiration and/or heart function have failed. Time is critical as irreversible tissue damage occurs within 2-4 minutes of respiratory or circulatory arrest. Signs of cardiac arrest include unconsciousness, cessation of breathing, pale to grey-white gums, dilated pupils.
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The following article on aging should be of interest - it happens and the more that is known and understood, the better for both guide dog and handler. Changing Times Bring Good News for Graying Pet Population Boston... Five years ago, 39% of America's companion cats and dogs were considered senior or geriatric. With nutritional and medical advances, that percentage continues to rise, and more people are now sharing their homes with a beloved pet that is less mentally alert, more irritable, and facing a set of challenging health issues. But old age doesn't have to be accepted at face value. Many age-related problems are preventable, curable or at least effectively controlled. "Old age is not a true disease," said William Fortney, DVM, a veterinarian with Kansas State University. "It represents the effects of time upon the physical, mental, and internal organs. Unfortunately, uninformed owners fail to seek veterinary assistance for age-related conditions and falsely assume that their pet is just getting old and nothing can be done." When does a pet become "old"? Although the oldest dog on record was 29, the average life span of all dog breeds is around 13.5 years. Client bonding, preventive health care, environment, nutrition and disease all affect life expectancy, but genetics has the most profound influence. Small dogs and cats are considered geriatric at 11.5 years, but giant dogs breeds have reached the "twilight" period at 7.5 years. One of the common behaviors reported in older pets is a changing sleep cycle. Owners are kept awake by their pet's panting, pacing, requests to go outside, inability to get comfortable or constantly "fluffing" the bed. And because 62% of pets sleep in the owner's bed or bedroom, nighttime disturbances can be a very frustrating, in-your-face problem. "Various causes include an underlying painful condition, such as dental disease; sleeping on a hard surface; an altered biological clock; being uncomfortably cold due to poor circulation; or even a phobia of the dark," Dr. Fortney said at the 138th Annual Convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) held in Boston, July 14-18, at the Hynes Convention Center. To lull a pet back into a restful sleep pattern, he often prescribes a warm soft bed, a night light, a radio playing softly, a brief walk before bedtime, or, in some cases, drug therapy. Altered sleep cycles in dogs and cats can also be a sign of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). A progressive, age-related disease, CDS may be caused by the genetically pre-programmed death of neurons, by metabolic and neuro toxins, or by changes in various CNS neuro-transmitter levels. Clinical signs are related to impaired mental function or "senility." In cats, CDS is common after 16 years of age and is often manifested by increased vocalization, inappropriate elimination, excessive grooming, aggression, and confusion. Dogs share most of these traits. After other medical conditions or diseases are ruled out, CDS symptoms can often be managed by drug treatments, oxygen therapy, and additional exercise. Another symptom of CDS is a previously unexhibited fear or phobia. Called "panic attacks" in people, geriatric anxiety can cause trembling, salivation, pacing, vocalization, destructive behavior, eliminations, and escapism. A good example is a pet that fears loud noises, as in thunderstorms or Fourth of July fireworks. "Many owners reinforce the fears by comforting their pet," Dr. Fortney said. "Better success will be achieved by implementing a program of counter conditioning and desensitization." A desensitization program attempts to increase the threshold of abnormal behavior through distraction and positive reinforcement. The stimulatory levels are gradually increased. Certain age-related changes, such as hearing loss, cannot be prevented, but many others can be managed. Skin and coat dullness can be helped with increased grooming, less bathing, and nutritional supplements. Warm bedding and garments can benefit the hypothermic dog or cat that has a decreased basal metabolic rate. Changes in appetite can be due to many conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, a decreased sense of taste or smell, or muscle atrophy, and may be remedied by hand feeding, adding water to dry food or feeding canned food, or a program of mild exercise prior to meal time. Regular veterinary care is crucial for older pets, so that owners can become educated and common warning signs of serious chronic disease are not missed. The four most common causes of death in older dogs are cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, and epilepsy and hepatic diseases. In older cats, cancer remains the number-one fatal disease, followed by renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. Considerable research in the area of interrupting the aging process continues, both in people and their pets. "Gene splicing and other technologies, antioxidant vitamins and compounds; and hormone research may someday provide us with the 'Fountain of Youth,'" said Dr. Fortney. "In veterinary medicine, our overall goal must be to improve the quality of life, not just longevity." The AVMA is a professional organization of 66,000 veterinarians. More than 750 seminars were presented during the 138th annual convention, which is one of the largest gatherings of veterinarians in North America. |
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More and more doctors are running their practices like an assembly line. BJ walked into a doctor's office the other day, and the receptionist asked him what he had. BJ said, "Shingles." So she took down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat. Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aid came out and asked BJ what he had. BJ said, "Shingles." So she took down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told BJ to wait in the examining room. A half-hour later a nurse came in and asked BJ what he had. BJ said, "Shingles." So she gave BJ a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, told BJ to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor. An hour later the doctor came in and asked BJ what he had. BJ said, "Shingles." The doctor said, "Where?" BJ said, "Outside in the truck. Where do you want them?" |
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If you have ever visited Topanga Canyon in southern California on a Tuesday afternoon approaching sundown in late May surrounded by all the sounds and smells of the area's natural beauty, you have experienced a little piece of Heaven. Add to this, observing seven blind teenagers taking their first walk with a guide dog, and now there's magic. This was the scene when I visited GDB's facilities where staff and volunteers were familiarizing blind teens with various aspects of relating to, caring for, playing with and generally learning about guide dogs. I have participated as a volunteer in this pilot project before, however the dog/teen workout was a first for all of us, and the experience was a positive one. My guide dog, Dorian, was a furry little trooper who completed a short route seven times with seven enthusiastic young people who all appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. The teens were encouraged to hold the harness in a relaxed manner in their left hand and to just experience the feeling of the dog guiding them. When Dorian paused to alert to changes in the underfoot terrain, the novice handlers were encouraged to probe with a foot to figure out why she was stopping. Then they were coached to praise her effusively which they happily did before issuing the next "forward" command. Off they would go again, with Liz Morosco walking alongside holding the leash as a safety precaution for inexperienced handlers and me out front maintaining Dorian's confidence leading the way with the use of a cane loaned to me by one of the teens. During the course of their route, the young people experienced Dorian guiding them down a grassy hill, up and down a flight of steps, along some slightly uneven cement much like a normal sidewalk, a left and a right turn as well as the proper technique for turning around when working a guide dog. When turning around, handlers drop the harness while holding the leash, make a 180 degree turn then call the dog to their left side before retrieving the harness handle and issuing the "forward" command. One of the teens amused us when after successfully turning around, praising Dorian and issuing the "forward command, she walked off without the harness in her hand, leaving Dorian trailing behind looking bewildered. Some of the teens were more confident when executing these unfamiliar tasks than others, but all did a great job considering they had never worked a guide dog in harness before. As blind adults, we have two options for independent mobility, cane travel and partnering with guide dogs. Most blind students receive some o&m instruction in cane use while growing up which is extremely beneficial to their developing the skills so necessary to blind adults for safe, independent travel. I know of no programs, however, that introduce children to the experience of working with a guide dog. Perhaps this is an idea whose time has come, and thought should be given to the creation of opportunities for young people to experience formal interaction with trained guide dogs. I know that when I was a teenager, I already knew in my heart of hearts that I wanted to train with a guide dog the summer between high school and college. At that time, when I pictured myself whizzing independently around a large university campus in the company of a beautiful, devoted guide dog, I was doing so without the benefit of ever having met one. It would have meant so much to me personally in my teenage years to have had the opportunity of meeting and walking with a real guide dog as participants in the Los Angeles Braille Institute's after school program got the chance to try. Maybe I would have become a more proficient handler in a shorter time, much the way younger children learn foreign languages more easily than adults. Who knows? As it turned out, I did have the pleasure of attending all my classes at UCLA with Inca, my only guide dog to go for that coveted college education, and I often wonder how much more emotionally satisfying my high school years would have been with a guide dog by my side. Whether or not I could have handled the responsibility of working with and caring for a guide dog at age sixteen or even younger will never be certain. However, after my experience with the young people for whom Dorian provided an e-ticket ride that afternoon in Topanga Canyon, I am sure that some sort of visually impaired teenager/guide dog interaction is a good idea. |
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The GDUC information and discussion e-mail list is up and running. It is for news and information, to help in keeping members informed and to circulate opinions and answers to questions. The address is |
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8. The fire department has better things to do than constantly rescuing the two of you from treetops, all tangled up in the leash and surrounded by barking dogs. 7. Too high a risk of becoming disoriented while Snowball chases her own tail. 6. First bird they spot and you're a wet stain on the 3rd Avenue bus lane. 5. Involuntary 2-mile sprints after every dog encounter. 4. They weave in and out of your ankles a few times and next thing you know you're being treated for a broken jaw. 3. Sunny spot in the middle of the road? Nap time! 2. Too many injuries caused by slipping on hairballs. and the Number 1 Reason Cats Aren't Used as Guide Animals for the Blind... 1. That daily jump to the top of the refrigerator is a killer. |
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10. He was putting on a little weight so I switched him to lite beer. 9. Can you believe they charge $100 to get a dog out of the pound in this town even if it's a guide dog? 8. No, I never let strangers pet him. Not since that incident on the bus. 7. This is Fido's favorite restaurant right here. He just loves the lasagna. 6. Guide dog? What guide dog? Oh yeah, him. He's around here somewhere. 5. I've found he really prefers melted butter to water on his kibble. 4. I haven't really taken him out much lately. What's that command you use when you want him to go left? 3. My herbalist says those heart worm pills are a scam and a clove once a month works just as good. 2. Yeah, this is the same dog as the one you gave me in class. Honest. And the #1 thing you should never say during a follow up visit... 1. Man, this dog has turned out to be a real chick/hunk magnet! |
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