The Paw Tracks Magazine
A quarterly publication of Guide Dog users, Inc., (GDUI)
Advocating for guide dog teams since 1972
President – penny Reeder
Editor – Will Burley
Audio Recording by Deb Lewis
Paw Tracks is available for Word document and MP3 download for members at https://guidedogusersinc.org/pawtracks or by phone at (773) 572-6301 and entering option 1. The passcode is 1971.
Holiday Edition
Volume 46 – November 2018 – Issue 04
Table of Contents
President’s Message: A Season for Giving Thanks. 2
THE EASTER BUNNY CAME AFTER ALL. 9
A Guide Dog Holiday Tradition! 13
Help GDUI Support the ACB 2018 Holiday Auction. 14
Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets. 15
Paw Tracks Article Submissions. 18
Executive Board of Directors. 19
Contacting Board and Committee chairs. 19
From the Editor’s Kennel
By: Will Burley
Welcome to the holiday edition of your Paw Tracks magazine!
As the calendar year hastens towards its conclusion, this is a time that many of us enjoy family and friends, wonderful music, boisterous laughter and sips of warm cider as we nestle in our favorite cozy place thinking about the adventures that we had with our present and past guides.
With the normal hustle and bustle of life, it can be extremely easy to forget all the good that has happened in our lives – sometimes through painful experiences. It’s my hope that this edition of Paw Tracks will not only inform you as to what’s going on in your organization through Penny Reeder’s President’s Message, the Membership Renewal article by Dixie Sanderson or the call for volunteers to assist in planning next year’s convention, but that it will also be a source of information as you navigate your journey proudly towards 2019.
Before you move further along in this issue, I wanted to share my personal thoughts on this season of thanks.
Recently, I made the decision to retire my first guide, Gypsy. Being that this was my first experience performing this sacrifice, I tried to spend as much time with her as possible. I’m not a very emotive person but on the day my journey’s partner and I returned to the school and I released the handle for the last time – I thought I had made a mistake in coming to training without giving myself enough time to process what it would be like to not have this dog standing on my left side. Even though I knew I was making the correct decision in letting Gypsy retire and enjoy a healthy goalden age, I wondered if I could love this yet to be named new dog as much. I felt as though I would be cheating on Gypsy. Silly, I know…
The staff were great and they took extra care when I finally met my new guide, Holly – or as I love to call her, Holly berry. Holly pranced into the room, walked to my feet and promptly rolled over and said through a Vulcan mind-meld, “Okay, rub my belly…) I found this to be so hilarious, it eased my feelings of guilt and showed that this dog definitely had a different personality than Gypsy.
You may be asking, “Will, why the heck did you just write about this?” Well, I’m glad you did. Through the simple yet profound gesture of thinking of one of God’s creatures and their well-being, I was able to have the act of love retaught to me.
In life, we make new friends, gain new co-workers, lose family and have a host of endless changes – and yet we take another step ahead into our future. Even though life is not static, the people and things we loved before are not less important just because we are experiencing new things. They only add to the richness of life by helping us learn how to love even better than before.
So, dear reader, as you experience this time of year, just know that whether it’s been a stellar one or one not so great – do what you do daily with your guide – pick up that harness, straighten your back, hold your head high and say, “Forward…we’ve got a world to explore…”
President’s Message: A Season for Giving Thanks
By: Penny Reeder
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is the perfect time to be thinking about gratitude and remembering all of the people in GDUI whom I want to thank for making ours an effective organization that responds to our members’ needs and advocates so successfully for the civil rights protections that we count on.
First, I want to thank those long-time members of GDUI who worked so hard to make it possible for us to visit beautiful Hawaii with our guide dogs! Hawaii is the paradise you have always imagined it to be, and if you can go – with your guide dog in the lead! – I highly recommend the trip!) Carl and I, with Seeing Eye Dog, Willow, in the lead, just returned home after spending a glorious week on Maui – with a stop-over for a night in Honolulu where we met an authorized vet at the airport so that Willow could be cleared for work anywhere in the islands. During the whole trip, I was very well aware that our trip wouldn’t have been possible had GDUI not taken the state to court and argued successfully to keep guide dogs out of quarantine! Thank you all of you who worked so hard to make this happen!
Thank you to Sheila Styron and the GDUI board at the time for assuring that every member of GDUI can vote, independently and accessibly, in every GDUI election! I am pretty sure that GDUI was the very first blindness organization to make this happen! I know we were the first ACB affiliate to offer universally accessible private voting to our members – and we are still one of only a few ACB affiliates who are supporting democracy in this way.
Thank you to Jane Sheehan, who was the first person in ACB to tell me about GDUI, introduce me to PawTracks, and spend all kinds of time offering advice and support when I was deciding whether or not a guide dog would be the right mobility choice for me! I know that Jane provided this kind of supportive outreach for many of us in GDUI – and she kept the GDUI office efficiently humming for more than two decades! Jane still serves on our Membership Committee, and we appreciate her reliable willingness to stay involved and help!
I want to thank the members of our current board! Each makes a unique and indispensable contribution to what we accomplish in GDUI! Can you imagine calling us for one reason or another and finding Sarah Calhoun absent on the other end of the toll-free phoneline? What a dreary day that would be! Sarah handles everything for us –She keeps records, helps us schedule what needs to be done and reminds us when we forget; she helps guide dog users purchase our products and join or renew their memberships; she’s an empathetic friend for people experiencing difficult situations with their dogs, or needing emergency assistance because of a disaster, or just wanting to ask a question about how a dog can become a guide for a person who is blind. Sarah handles it all with friendship and grace, and if she can’t answer your question, she’ll know just whom you should call!
Lynn Merrill pays all our bills, and Maria – and Dixie and Sarah and others who work on our Budget and Finance Committee – make sure we have the funds to pay them!
Dixie Sanderson and Maria Kristic keep our web site and our lists humming! So does our web master, Steve Zelaya! And, Dixie handles all of our membership activities and paperwork – and that would be an intimidatingly daunting task for me, for sure. I’m so grateful to Dixie for making everything related to membership happen so smoothly.
Brianna Murray and Minh Ha enliven our social networking and outreach, and Will Burley and Deb Lewis help with that too!
And, speaking of our recently-elected Second Vice President, is there anything that Deb Lewis can’t do? Or isn’t willing to help us with? She and Peter Altschul stepped up right away to take on the responsibilities of our Publications Committee, Deb is bringing our GDUI Juno Report back online, probably as soon as November, and she and Peter are enthusiastic about beginning the preliminary research for our GDUI History Project!
When you think of advocacy and GDUI, just whose name comes to mind? Charlie Crawford, of course! If there’s a legislative issue that requires our attention, we can rest assured that Charlie will be on top of it! If there’s a member who experiences a denial of service because of their guide dog, Charlie is the person who can help resolve the problem. If you wish you could learn more about how to advocate for your civil rights effectively and productively, join the Advocacy Committee that Charlie chairs. There’s not a better advocacy mentor in the disability community!
Do you need advice about just about any guide dog-related situation or problem? Then, we can all highly recommend that you get in touch with our recently retired First Vice President, Deanna Noriega! Deanna recently celebrated 50 years as a guide dog user, and if she can’t answer your questions, then she will know where to send you for help! We so appreciated Deanna’s willingness to serve on our board. We could – and still can – always count on her for thoughtful contributions to any discussion!
If you were lucky enough to attend our 2018 GDUI convention, you already know what a treasure our Andrea Giudice is! She’s fun! She’s creative! She’s undaunted! And, we are so lucky to have her planning our 2019 GDUI convention in Rochester!
If your connection to GDUI national begins with your local GDUI affiliate, be grateful for all of the hard work Pauline Lamontagne does to facilitate communication among our GDUI affiliates and to help solve any problems that crop up at the local level. And, speaking of GDUI affiliates, we can hardly wait to thank Audrey Gunter and everyone in Dixiland Guide Dog Users in person, for Top Dog, which is right around the corner – as well as everything else you do for us! It’s almost here! Carl and I, and Willow, can hardly wait for the 18th of January, 2019, when Top Dog will be here again!
Lina Coral is providing an interface between GDUI and all of the schools, and, knowing how busy she is coping with her first year of grad. School, we are grateful. Speaking of guide dog schools, what would we do without them? And, especially at our GDUI conventions, where their trainers go way above and beyond the call of duty to help us in so many ways and through so many complicated way-finding and picking-up-poop situations! Thank you!
There’s such a long list of people who have helped us with all kinds of issues and goals: Nolan Crabb, who took on the assignment of rejuvenating PawTracks; Dan Kaiser, who had the initial brilliant idea of creating the GDUI Juno Report – and picked up the ball and ran with it! Vickie Curley, who served on our board from the very beginning, until just this past May – and who promises to return to our board when her life settles down enough to make that a possibility! Pat Hill, who stepped into a board vacancy and served so effectively on our board – and she’s still involved, working hard on our Advocacy Committee. Jenine Stanley and Becky Davidson are always available for consultation and advice, as is Sheila Styron, who helped us write last summer’s GDUI Resolution concerning air travel and our access to it – and which ACB adopted unanimously.
Speaking of ACB, Tony Stephens is always available to offer advice, provide explanations, or just to make sure that when guide dogs are the topic under discussion, GDUI is included! Kim Charlson and Pat Sheehan are two additional ACB members we can count on for support and involvement – as is Jeff Bishop, who served as our first ACB Board liaison.
There are those tried and true members, like Lillian Scaife, who dedicated so much time and energy to our first several GDUI conventions. Our Louisville Ladies, Jane and Connie, who were joined last summer by Kitty – What would we ever do without them? Bob Acosta has always been ready to step up to help with virtually anything we need, and wow, what a great fund-raiser!
I know that there’s danger in attempting to do just what I am doing – remembering how many people there are to thank and appreciate! I hope I haven’t left out any one of you whose help and support I have been fortunate to count on over these last several years. Since I’m writing this as Will’s publication deadline looms, however, I know that it’s entirely possible that I could be leaving out some of your names or failing to mention several of the important things you do for us –So many people in GDUI wear multiple hats and work on diverse projects simultaneously!
As Thanksgiving nears, I want all of the people to whom GDUI owes so much to realize how much you are appreciated, and every single member, too! So many of you are here for us whenever we ask you to join a committee, write a letter, contact a legislator, tell your friends about who we are and what we do. Each of you who is a member of GDUI deserves our thanks and our sincere appreciation! Thank you, all, and happy Thanksgiving! When you are enjoying your turkey and gravy, or nibbling on that last piece of pie (That’s my standard – and favorite – breakfast on the morning after Thanksgiving!), I hope you’ll remember just how much we appreciate all of you, and how important your contributions are to the success of Guide Dog Users, Inc.!
2019 Membership Renewal
Submitted by: Membership Committee
Dear GDUI Member,
We are writing to thank you for your continued support of GDUI and to let you know that the time has arrived once again for you to renew your GDUI membership. We truly appreciate your involvement in GDUI and your gifts of time and money.
Because of your support, GDUI has achieved a number of important goals in recent months:
- Early this year, several airlines had seemingly had more than enough of various out-of-control animals boarding their planes with owners who did not know how to manage their pets, and to address resulting safety implications for passengers and crew members, they proposed new policies which would have restricted our right to fly, unencumbered, with our guide dogs. Proposed policy changes would have required additional paperwork and advance notice of our intention to fly, among other restrictions. GDUI’s responses to these restrictive policies were immediate, and widely disseminated to the U. S. Department of Transportation as well as the airlines who had proposed making changes, and the airlines rescinded all of the specific burdensome requirements which they had planned to impose on guide dog users.
- When the U. S. Department of Transportation released an Announced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) for the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA), GDUI responded with recommendations for regulations which will, if adopted, assure our civil right to fly with our guide dogs, while keeping us and our dogs safer and allowing us to be treated with the same kind of dignity that passengers who are not disabled can routinely expect. We provided guidance for our members who also submitted written comments on the ANPRM, and GDUI will be following up during coming months when the Department unveils revised regulations for the ACAA.
- GDUI continues to work with our affiliates and individuals, as well as with the U. S. Department of Transportation, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other federal, state and local governmental entities, to support legislation and regulations to deal effectively and fairly with people whose untrained pets or emotional support animals can interfere with our safety and that of our dogs. We are committed to helping our members to develop self-advocacy skills via interactions with our Advocacy Committee and GDUI empathizers, and educating pet owners and other members of the public about the hazards that untrained or ill-behaved pets, masquerading as service animals, can pose to our legitimate guide dogs and the safety of our guide dog teams.
- In July, our “Handbook for Prospective Guide Dog Users became available for purchase and downloading. The handbook provides guidance to help people who are blind or visually impaired decide whether or not a guide dog will be likely to provide a good match for their lifestyle and mobility needs. The publication, which is a comprehensive update of an earlier GDUI manual called “Making Impressions,” includes useful information on current guide dog schools and training programs, application processes, modern training practices, and realistic expectations for new guide dog users. The book has been well received, and we are gratified to learn that our Handbook has been approved for publication in alternate formats by the National Library Service (NLS) during 2019.
- The editor of our quarterly magazine, PawTracks, is excited about expanding topics and organizational coverage, and we are pleased to have converted from the outdated audiocassette format to downloadable audio files which members can access from our web site or an interactive telephonic file retrieval system. Our monthly GDUI Juno Report will be coming online again with plans for making the live stream more interactive and ACB Radio’s expanded assistance in making the audience for our archived GDUI Juno Report podcasts even wider.
- GDUI’s social media presence continues to evolve and expand, and our new Friends of Guide Dog Users Facebook Group is growing and fostering lively discussions among graduates from virtually every guide dog training program and owners of many breeds.
- Our Advocacy and Legislative Committee continues to evaluate the likely impact that proposed legislation on local, state and national levels could have on our hard won civil rights, while fostering a nurturing environment where guide dog users can seek personalized help for resolving denial of service situations and other kinds of discrimination.
- We continued to work hard to restore and preserve the traditional democratic values that have guided GDUI since its beginning, including keeping our members informed about issues that are important to guide dog users and involving our members as much as possible in all board-level decision making. During elections in May of 2018, our members once again utilized a universally accessible online and telephonic voting system to elect two new board members. Members are welcomed guests at every GDUI Board meeting, and there’s always an opportunity for members to voice their opinions and offer suggestions. As a board, and at all levels of our organization, we continue to be committed to the rule of law and the principles of democracy.
- With 2019 fast approaching, it is once again time to renew your membership in Guide Dog Users, Inc. Your 2019 membership will help us expand benefits for guide dog users, including:Improving our member outreach by updating brochures and other publications;
- Embarking on a project to learn about and remember our history in order to acknowledge the many contributions of GDUI’s founding members, to assure that their achievements are recognized and appreciated, and that the principles which have guided GDUI since the 1970s continue to guide us on, into the future.
- Presenting educational seminars, and holding a spectacular convention next summer in Rochester, NY;
- Strengthening relationships with GDUI affiliates in ways that will be mutually beneficial to our individual affiliates and to the national organization as well.
A membership in GDUI costs just $25.00 per person per year, and includes an annual subscription to PawTracks, our quarterly magazine. The magazine is available in the following formats: As a downloadable MP3 audio file, in . MSWord formats via e-mail, and by telephone, by dialing (773) 572-6301 and pressing Option 1 and entering the passcode 1971 for the latest issue of 2018.
All memberships begin on January 1 and extend through December 31, 2019.
Please take a few moments to complete the included renewal application and return it to us, along with your check made payable to GDUI. For your convenience, if you’re receiving this as a paper mailing, we include a self-addressed envelope which you may use to return your application and payment. If you prefer, dues or stand-alone PawTracks subscriptions may be paid online by going to https://guidedogusersinc.org/join/, or by credit card by calling 1-866-799-8436.
If you plan to join GDUI in 2019 through one of our affiliates, you need not send us any money directly, since part of your payment to that affiliate will be sent to GDUI on your behalf. However, we would appreciate your completing the included membership application, so that we will have all of your up-to-date information. For a current list of GDUI’s state affiliates, visit this link: https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/affiliates-of-gdui/, or if you prefer, call us, and we will send a printed list, or provide contact information by phone..
GDUI must supply the national office of the American Council of the Blind with a list of our current members by March 15, 2019. Therefore, in order for your name to be included on that list, as well as for you to be eligible to vote in GDUI’s next election held in May, please return your membership application to us, along with the appropriate payment, before March 1, 2019.
GDUI is a rapidly growing and vital organization dedicated to serving the needs of guide dog users. We thank you for your continued support and promise to continue supporting all of you with information and empathy, advocating for the civil rights of all guide dog users, and educating the general public regarding our guide dogs and the many ways they enhance the quality of our lives.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments at 1-866-799-8436.
Sincerely,
Penny Reeder, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
Sarah Calhoun, Secretary
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
A Call to Action
By: Peter Altschul, MS
“Good afternoon, fellow service dogs and human slaves,” rumbled Ace, the president of Service Dogs of America from a sumptuous dog house surrounded by big trees and a large lake. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to hear me speak.”
“Just keep it short,” grumbled black Lab Guide dog Heath from a house he shared with Hunter, a multicolored standard poodle.
“Lots of food to steal.”
“As we enter the constellation of end-of-year human holidays,”
Ace continued, “our Snoop Dogs have reported an outbreak of human anxiety over their recent election. Furthermore, we are well aware of the political catfights that take place when human families get together.”
“Cats!” snorted Hunter as he leapt onto a kingsized bed to snuggle next to Heath. “Annoying. Fun to chase.”
“We have some advice to give you humans,” Ace said “based on our recent election troubles. “Much of this advice comes from my lovely wife Tanya and the leadership of the Shaggy Dog Partnership.”
“That’s us!” Hunter said, springing onto the hardwood floor with a clatter. “We’re famous!”
Heath yawned from the bed. “Chill, dude. And hurry up!” he barked at the TV screen. “There’s a pecan pie on the counter.”
-“Ignore the advice of left-wing and right-wing columnists, as much of it is self-serving poop,” Ace continued.
“Secondly, remember that the purpose of this human season is to thank Dog for His blessings and to celebrate the birth of His son-“
“Sexist cur!” yelped Tanya
Ace sighed. “Yes, dear; may I continue?”
Tanya nuzzled him affectionately.
“And to all you human pack leaders … the ones hosting these get-togethers,” Ace purred, “don’t start these right wing-left wing conversations unless you are confident that the fur won’t fly.”
“Wings are quite tasty,” Heath observed, slithering off of the bed and slouching into the kitchen. “And those rolls look awesome.”
“But if these political conversations do take place,” Ace said, “keep cool. Don’t go where you don’t feel comfortable. Don’t expect to change anyone’s mind, even though you think you won the debate.”
“Now he’s going to parrot our advice,” Hunter whined.
“Just hurry up; I’m hungry!” Heath barked at the TV.
“As Heath and Hunter always remind us,” Ace continued, “these conversations between the wings go best if stories are told instead of debating facts. Look for common ground. And try to end on a positive howl.”
“And a little gravy always helps,” Heath added.
“And now a special message to all you service dogs,” Ace barked.
Startled, Heath and Hunter turned towards the TV.
“If the humans surrounding you start yowling like cats about those wings, take some creative action.”
“Horray!” howled Heath and Hunter, dashing together throughout the house.
“Let’s chase those human cats up a tree?” Hunter suggested.
“Just give them some catnip,” Heath said.
“Nonviolent creative action,” Tanya’s voice yelped from the TV.
Heath and Hunter stood still, panting.
“Just do what you can to stop the yowling,” Tanya continued.
“Proceed calmly to the noise. Wag your tail energetically. Put your head in someone’s lap. Glare. Beg for food. Roll over.
Bark as if someone’s at the door-“
Hunter clicked off the TV.
“We’re good at creative action,” Heath said, and they hurried into the kitchen, surrounded by smells of artichoke soup, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, fresh rolls, salad, green beans with bacon, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie.
But all the visible surfaces were empty.
“Thwarted again!” Hunter said, tossing his head. “But we’ve learned patience.”
Editor’s Note: You can read more by Peter Altschul by visiting his website.
THE EASTER BUNNY CAME AFTER ALL
By: PATTY L. FLETCHER
I have been asked over the years what my favorite Easter memory is. While I have many, and most of them are centered round my daughter and her growing up years the one I write of today happened while I was at The Seeing Eye training for my first dog guide.
Now let me tell you spending a holiday away from home is hard for me and that year was no exception. I was missing my grandchildren, my pets, and my then Fiancé, Donnie. We had no trips scheduled. It was of course Easter Sunday morning and the instructors were busy taking people to church, running errands and getting ready for a great Easter lunch.
I was in my room and was simply so home sick I could do nothing but lie curled in my bed and cry. As I lie there feeling miserable and trying to think of something I could do to help myself feel better, I heard a soft knocking at my door. Not wishing to have anyone see me crying like a child away from home for the first time. I tried to ignore the one knocking in hopes they would simply think me out or asleep. That, however was not to be. Instead of going away whoever was knocking grew more persistent adding voice to their knock. I heard my instructor Drew’s voice from the other side of the door.
“Hey, I know you’re in there. Open up in the name of The Seeing Eye.”
I had to laugh despite myself. Throwing off the covers I’d been wrapped in I went to the door, trying to rub away the tears as I did so.
When I opened the door, Drew seemed to hop in to the room.
“OK Young Lady! Enough lying about like you’ve nothing to do! I have errands to run, and you need an extra trip to make sure you know all you need to know before I send you home with this big dog.”
I started to protest, we didn’t normally do trips on Sundays. but that would’ve only been a half truth. Drew and I had done several Sunday trips for just the reason he’d given. So, rather than argue with him, and risk a twenty-minute lecture while trapped in the van, I put on my shoes, washed my face, and harnessed up my pup. Soon we were riding down the road with the windows open and music blasting, and I had to admit I felt better.
As it turned out Drew had some errands to run for students at the school, one of them being his own. Devin, the other first timer in our little group, was going to play a trick on Sue another instructor. The two of them had been going back and forth playing tricks on each other all through class. I knew some of the details but had decided to refrain from helping.
Once in the store my home sickness returned. As we walked through the aisles picking up the items on Drew’s list. I could literally smell the chocolate bunnies as we passed them. Something must’ve shown on my face because Drew asked me.
“What’s the sad face about? I thought we left that on the side of the road.”
I sighed.
“Sounds stupid I know, but I always get an Easter bunny and I didn’t this year. I thought for sure Donnie would’ve sent me one, but he didn’t even call today.”
“AWW Well, maybe the mail is just behind. Who knows? A package might come tomorrow.”
He began to talk to me about other things, but my sadness remained. When we stopped by the flowers later in another store on our route, so he could pick out gifts for his wife Peggy, and his mother I was envious of the obvious love he had for both. It showed in the way he went about choosing their flowers. Once all our errands were done we headed back to the school.
“Thanks Drew.” I said. “I appreciate your taking me with you today. I needed to get out.”
“It was my pleasure. I couldn’t have you moping about all day on Easter. That’s no way to get the Easter Bunny to visit.”
“I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny anymore.” I said, giving another sigh.
“Don’t believe in the Easter Bunny?”
I had to laugh. The way he said it made it sound like I’d said Campbell didn’t exist.
“Nope. Not anymore.” I couldn’t help it. The feelings of sadness just wouldn’t let go.
“Now listen here! Young Lady! The Easter Bunny most assuredly does exist. He is like Santa, in every single one of us. So, you just dry your eyes and get rid of that pouty face, else he is gonna hop right on by you.”
I smiled. “Um? Drew? The Easter Bunny would’ve already come if he were going to. He’s supposed to come on Easter Eve. You know? Like Santa comes on Christmas Eve.”
Drew just laughed and for a few minutes neither of us spoke.
Later that day as we settled in to our places round the tables set up for lunch I found a miniature Easter basket sitting by my plate. The server standing there explained that John Keane had played Easter Bunny and had made the baskets. I cannot tell you how that warmed my heart. Lots of people had spoken of Mr. Keane as being a man who was strict. Some even used the word militant, and while he could be that way at times I’d found him to be kind and caring. This act of kindness only strengthened my belief.
When Drew came round to say happy Easter to all of his students, and to let us know he was leaving for the day I said, “Look, baskets!”
He reached out and pulled a strand of my hair.
“See, the Easter Bunny.”
“No, Mr. Keane.” I said, while eating jelly beans.
“Hey! Save that candy for after lunch, you’re gonna spoil your appetite.” He tried to move my basket away from me, but I held fast.
“Leave! It! Gibbon!” I said reproachfully, and he laughed again.
“So, you still don’t believe in the Easter Bunny huh?”
“Nope, but I do believe in kind people.”
“OK, good enough. Have a good day and behave yourself. The Easter Bunny might still be watching.” I sighed and began to work on the shrimp Cocktail the server had just placed in front of me. “Classy appetizers.” I said round a mouth full of shrimp.
“Save room, there is steak too.”
“O! I don’t eat steak in public.”
“Why?”
“Because I do a crappy job of cutting meat.”
“How do you like your steak?”
“Medium rare, but…”
He was gone before I could say anymore, and when he returned he said,
“They’re cooking your steak and will bring it to you cut. You can’t not have some, it’ll be awesome, now have a good day, ok?”
I tried to give him my best smile, but despite all the happiness round me, and great things being done for me that darn sadness was still creeping round. He gave my hair one last tug wished us all a happy day and was gone. As soon as his presence was gone from the room my sadness deepened, but I worked hard not to show it.
Back in my room after lunch I closed the door, and after letting Campbell out of his harness and loving on him a bit, I went to my bed to lie down. There on my pillow was a miniature chocolate Easter Bunny. I sat down on my bed and cried. Not with sadness though, with joy. The Easter Bunny had come after all.
Editor’s note: Patty Fletcher is an author of two books. You can read more at her website, Campbell’s World.
Planning for Rochester!
By: Andrea Leigh Giudice, Program Committee Chair
I hope this issue of Paw tracks finds you well, prepared for the holidays and striding along with a loose leash and a firm grip on the harness handle.
I would like to take this opportunity to say again what I told the board earlier this year, “Thanks to everyone for your support of me as the 2018 Convention Coordinator. This was my first time coordinating a national convention and I sure did learn heaps!! I had a superb team and they made me look very good! Any short comings or problems were all on me!”
Now it is time to start planning for GDUI 2019. The 2019 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention will be held in Rochester, New York from Friday, July 5 through Friday, July 12. GDUI programming will be from Sunday, July 7 to Wednesday, July 10. It is exciting to have the 2019 convention darn near in my own neighborhood and hope this draws lots of attendees from the east coast.
I am seeking motivated and creative people to join me in planning the best GDUI convention yet. Whether you have lots of time to give, ideas to share, or items to donate; please contact me by Calling me at 860-573-2198 or sending an e-mail to dawgmawm@gmail.com.
Here is some general hotel information. I have been working with the ACB conference chair to insure that anyone registering as a GDUI member, or as being partnered with a guide dog, be given preference for rooms in the Rochester Riverside Hotel. Of course lodging is a free choice matter so check out the hotel information below and make your reservations early so as to get the hotel you want! I also suggest subscribing to the convention e-mail list. It has lots of great information.
Hotel Information:
Make sure to mention you are with the American Council of the Blind 2019; rooms must be booked by June 7, 2019 to guarantee the convention rate.
There are guide dog relief areas at each hotel. If your dog prefers grass, the Riverside has a large grassy area just outside the front door.
Although we will be using two hotels and the convention center, walking will not be an issue since the spaces are compact, with no historical stairways. The two hotels are across the street from each other. For safe and easy crossing, there is an audible pedestrian signal at the corner. You can also go between hotels via a walkway through the convention center where general sessions and exhibits will be held. Other activities will be held in both hotels.
First hotel: The Rochester Riverside Hotel.
(585) 546-6400
Rochester Riverside Hotel – American Council of the Blind Convention 2019 page.
Room rates are $89 per night (single or double occupancy, with an additional $10 per person for up to four people). This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 14%.
The Riverside has a grab-and-go counter, and their restaurant is Rocburger, featuring build your own burgers, wings and decadent milkshakes!
Second hotel: The Hyatt Regency Rochester
800-233-1234
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/hyatt-regency-rochester/roche?corp_id=G-ACBL
Room rates are $89 per night (single or double occupancy, with an additional $10 per person for up to four people). This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 14%.
At the Hyatt you will find Starbucks, Morton’s The Steakhouse (fine dining), and the Hyatt’s restaurant The Street Craft Kitchen and Bar, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Once again this year, the conference and convention announce list will be filled with information! To subscribe to the list, send a blank email to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2018 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe.
For ACB convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059 or via email, janet.dickelman@gmail.com
I know Anders and I are already getting all jazzed for GDUI 2019 and we hope you and your guides are too!
A Guide Dog Holiday Tradition!
By: Penny Reeder
GDUI e-mail discussion lists have buzzed over the years with recipes and recommendations for tempting treats! When it came time for my first guide dog, Glory, to celebrate her third birthday, I looked through my accumulated files of homemade biscuit recipes, gathered the ingredients, struggled to roll out the far-too-stiff dough, and presented them to her – along with a toy or two – to show her just how much I loved her!
Glory loved the toys. She sniffed the first biscuit inquisitively … — and left it near her food bowl, while looking longingly toward the counter where the box of Scooby-Doo dog treats (with all of those chemically labeled ingredients and that artificial food coloring I had been so determined to eliminate from her comestibles sat!
I think hers was a lesson I needed to learn! Like many more she taught me during the relatively short working life we shared together! (Patience being a very important attitude that she taught me to cultivate!)
Not every guide dog works out in exactly the way we believed they would! Not every foray into natural or food coloring-free cooking will be greeted in the way we anticipated! But, there is so much to love about every dog that shares our lives with us, and I will always be grateful to Fidelco Guide Dog Glory – and to her trainers who worked so hard with us to make the relationship work – and to her wonderful puppy raisers, who loved her as much as our family did, and who gave her a long and happy life with their family after Glory and I parted ways and she returned to Connecticut.
Here’s a recipe for a doggie treat that will make any canine happy during any celebration you choose to celebrate together! (And, I know of guide dog users who enjoy eating these frozen treats just as much as the dogs for whom they retrieve them from their freezers!)
Home—Made Frostee Paws
Ingredients:
32 fluid ounces vanilla yogurt
1 banana, ripe, mashed or 1 (5 ounce) jar baby food
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
Makes 13 servings, 13 doggie desserts
Preparation Time: 3 hours
Preparation:
- Blend all ingredients together and freeze in 3-ounce paper cups. Or, pour into ice trays. Freeze for approximately 3 hours.
- Microwave just a few seconds before serving. (Optional)
Enjoy! Make every day a celebration with your guide dog!
Help GDUI Support the ACB 2018 Holiday Auction
By: Maria Hansen
Are you a fan of The Juno Report and ACB Radio? Then help Guide Dog Users, Inc. make the 2018 ACB Radio Holiday Auction a huge success. With enthusiastic and spirited bidding on our donation to this event.
This year, GDUI has assembled a holiday gift bundle that your dog will love.
We start with Genie Dog Wipes and a Gripsoft, Soft Slicker Brush for Sensitive Skin by JW Pet so that your pampered pup will look fabulous.
Then the fun begins! The Empire Dog Toy Bin by Harry Barkerhas many different dogs printed around the sturdy blue canvas and is filled with the following goodies:
Challenge your dog with an interactive dog puzzle. The Triple Treater Totter by Outward Hound is a treat dispensing toy.
The Kong Genius Toy is a large, hard rubber bottle and you can hide treats on the side or bottom of the toy.
An Elk Antler (size medium)- (Rudolph and the other reindeer need their antlers for navigation and stabilization so requested that we include elk antlers instead of deer.)
The Funzies Zebra by Outback Jack and the Simply Fido Lamb are softer, squeaky toys.
Finally, there is a large (23” by 36”) self-warning, thermal dog bed by PetTherapeutics. This bed keeps your dog toasty warm by reflecting back its own body heat.
The seventh annual ACB Radio Holiday Auction will be broadcast live on Sunday, December 2, from 7:00 PM to midnight Eastern Time (4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific), or until all items are sold. Mark your calendar and tune in on Sunday, December 2, between 7:00 PM and midnight Eastern at http://acbradio.org, on the ACB Link iPhone and Android app, on TuneIn Radio on your mobile phone or Alexa device, or by calling 605.475.8130 from any telephone. e phone or Alexa device, or by calling 605-475-8130 from any telephone.
Thank you for your generous support of ACB Radio and The Juno Report!
Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets
By: The Animal Medical Center
Reprented with permission
The winter holidays should be a joyous time for people and pets alike. In the midst of your revelries and big family dinners, don’t let your home become
a hazardous place for your dog or cat. Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pets safe this holiday season:
- Fatty Foods Aren’t Good for Sparky Either Who can resist gravy on roast beef or a cup of egg nog? Spills on the kitchen floor or overturned glasses
and gravy boats are what your dog is wishing for this year. Lapping up these high fat treats puts him at risk for severe gastrointestinal upset. Delicious,
but oily potato pancakes will do the same.
- Other Holiday Foods on the Naughty List Chocolate contains a caffeine-like substance which is toxic in animals, known to cause hyperactivity, seizures
and heart arrhythmias (dry cocoa powder is the most dangerous). Onions can cause anemia in dogs and cats. Raisins are often found in many holiday baked
goods and for an unknown reason, raisins and their hydrated relative, grapes, can cause kidney failure in dogs.
- Trash Cans Become Holiday Buffets for Pets Don’t forget about the trash can in your kitchen as you whiz about making final preparations for guests –
it can become a dangerous buffet for your pet. If eaten, the string used to tie the meat and the discarded bones can lodge themselves in the digestive
tract and require a surgical procedure to remove. Bones lodged in the esophagus can be fatal if it is severely damaged.
- Raise Your Glasses! Not to propose a toast, but do ask guests not to set glasses down on the floor or on a low coffee table where pets get easy access
to those sweet, tasty, alcoholic holiday drinks. Pets will keep slurping and can become intoxicated and ill quickly.
- Wrapping Risks The festive bows, twine, paper and tags of the holiday season can wrap your pet up in a heap of trouble if they’re ingested. Cats and
puppies love to play with puffy bows and balled up wrapping, and may in fact swallow them. All animals will be tempted to eat through the pretty packaging
surrounding gifts of food, so make sure to put them out of pets’ reach. The ingested wrapping can get stuck in the intestine and cause a blockage as well as damage the intestinal wall.
- Christmas Tree Safety 101 The water in your Christmas tree stand is mighty inviting to a thirsty pet. Keep it covered so they can’t lap up water that
has been tainted by pinesap and tree preservatives. Anchor your tree well and display it in a secure location to prevent pets from knocking it over. String
the lights tightly and put the all dangling cords behind furniture to limit your pet’s interest in playing with, and possibly chewing on them. Severe electrical
burns and electrocution can result. Cats especially have been known to nibble on the tree branches and sample the tinsel, both of which can be dangerous
to their digestive tracts. Lastly, choose your ornaments carefully. Glass ornaments that shatter easily if knocked off the tree leave shards for your pet
to step on and ingest. The best bet is to not let animals into the room where the tree is standing without human supervision.
- Let There Be Light (as long as your pets can’t get near it!) Candles and lamps are a part of many holiday celebrations like Hanukah, Christmas, Divali
and Kwanzaa. Your Menorah or Kinara should be in a place that is inaccessible to your pets and should not burn unattended. Your cat can easily light itself
on fire by brushing its tail up against a burning candle or start a house fire by tipping it over.
- Mistle-no’s Colorful houseplants abound at holiday time but many are poisonous if nibbled on by your pets. Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and Cyclamen’s
tuberous roots are toxic to pets and lilies and amaryllis will cause kidney failure if eaten by your cat. It is best to be safe and not have these plants
in your home if you share it with a pet.
- Break out Star With so many holiday guests coming and going, it is easy for pets to get agitated or escape out the door. Be sure your pets are crated
or leashed when you expect guests to prevent them from running away. And with all of the new voices, music and loud noises holiday festivities often bring,
even the calmest pet can get spooked. Keeping pets in a closed room will help minimize the anxiety.
- Not a Good Surprise Present Remember that a pet of any type does not make a good gift. No matter how much your neighbor or family member covets your
beloved Fido or Whiskers, other families need to be prepared for the time and financial commitment a pet requires. A pet should never be a surprise gift
anytime of the year. If your pet has ingested any foods or materials that may be toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately or call Animal Poison Control
at (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day. The Animal Medical Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency, routine and specialty care: (212) 838-8100.
Avoiding Winter Hazards
By: Maria Hansen, 1st Vice President
Here are some tips to keep your guide safe and comfortable in winter weather:
Rock salt and some ice melts contain chloride which is irritating to dog paws and stomachs if they lick the salt off their feet. This is particularly troublesome for city dogs walked on salt-treated sidewalks. The salt dries and cracks the paw pads.
Once your dog comes inside, wash the feet to remove any chemical residue.
Protect your dog’s pads with paw wax such as Mushers Secret. These products help protect the pads against snow and ice. Paw wax also helps to prevent iceball formation if applied between your dog’s toes. Paw wax often contains lanolin which helps to keep the pads soft and moist.
Boots can afford added protection. My dog wears PAWZ which look like balloons and come in packages of 12 boots. Don’t leave the boots on indoors as moisture will accumulate in the boot as your dog sweats from his paws and this environment could promote infection.
If you have your own sidewalks and driveway, consider pet friendly ice melt products (salt and chloride free) or use sand or kitty litter to provide traction on slippery areas.
Don’t allow your dog to drink from puddles. Puddles may contain dissolved ice melt, which will give your dog an upset stomach and diarrhea. Even worse, if the puddle contains antifreeze, a couple of sips of antifreeze laced water can be lethal. Automotive anti-freeze contains ethylene glycol which is a potent toxin to the kidneys. If you think your dog drank even a small amount of antifreeze, go immediately to the closest animal ER and have him checked out.
The combination of salt, water and stray voltage from poorly insulated wiring on light posts or street and sidewalk electric boxes can pose a shock hazard. Here in New York City, stray voltage on wet streets has even resulted in human and canine fatalities. Report any possible sources of stray voltage to the police or electric company. If your dog is zapped by stray voltage (they usually cry in pain or collapse while walking near a light post or electric box on a wet or slushy day), get them to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
One of my previous guides, Beau, was zapped twice. The first time it happened, I had no idea what was going on because I was wearing rubber boots. He was screaming and thrashing on the ground. I tried to help him up and he kept falling over. We were standing on a metal grating and a passerby told me that it was electricity.
The second time it happened, we were crossing the street on a rainy day. As soon as we stepped off the curb into a big puddle, he screamed and, this time, I knew immediately what it was.
I know a few other handlers whose guides have been the victims of stray voltage.
On very cold days, my guide wears a coat. If there is a weather advisory against humans staying out for too long, I also limit my dog’s exposure outdoors.
Space heaters and heat lamps can start fires and result in injury. Heat lamps can cause a serious thermal burn and should never be directly aimed at a pet.
If your home or apartment is a bit chilly, let your dog cuddle up in a self-warming bed. These beds reflect back the dog’s own body heat and eliminate concern about chewing on electric cords.
Paw Tracks Article Submissions
Would you like to submit an article for upcoming editions of the Paw Tracks magazine?
GDUI members would love to hear from you! Share your personal story, local guide dog news, affiliate work or anything that would be of interest to fellow guide dog handlers. Make your submissions, with a Word attachment, to editor@guidedogusersinc.org today!
Executive Board of Directors
President
Penny Reeder
Email: president@guidedogusersinc.org
1st Vice President
Maria Hansen
Email: vp1@guidedogusersinc.org
2nd Vice President
Deb Lewis
Email: vp2@guidedogusersinc.org
Secretary
Sarah Calhoun
Email: secretary@guidedogusersinc.org
Treasurer
Lynn Merill
Email: treasurer@guidedogusersinc.org
Contacting Board and Committee chairs
It’s easy to contact your Board of Directors and Committee chairs! Visit https://guidedogusersinc.org/contact to send an email today.
Download Word Document Link: 2018 PawTracks Holiday Edition
Download MP3 Link: 2018 PawTracks Holiday Edition