A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.
President: Sarah Calhoun
Editor: Andrea Giudice
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)
A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972
Toll-Free: 866.799.8436
From the President:
Dear GDUI family and friends!
From our house to your house, Lakota and I want to wish you, your furry four legged faithful pups, family and friends a very enjoyable, happy and healthy holiday! Whether you visit in person or by a telephone call, reaching out and connecting with others is the best gift of all.
This year has been quite a difficult year dealing with COVID-19. We have had to stay home, limit our travel, unable to congregate with others, which not only has put a strain on us, but our guide dogs as well.
We have been challenged like no other time in our life, but it has not stopped our creativity, inspirations and opportunity as we developed new ways to interact with our guide dogs, keeping their minds and spirit in tip top shape.
GDUI offers several avenues to interact with fellow guide dog handlers and supporters through our chat lists, website, “Paws, News You Can Use” newsletter and upcoming community calls!
We are planning several community calls through our Zoom platform offering a time to share your thoughts, tips and tricks related to guide dogs, schools and more! GDUI will have guest speakers from various areas within the guide dog community!
If you have any suggestions for a community call or would like to submit an article for Paws, please let us know by sending an email to:
president@guidedogusersinc.org
Or
We would love to hear from you!
As this year comes to an end and we ready ourselves to welcome 2021, my wish and hope for you, our GDUI family and friends throughout the world, is to regain our sense of security, normal living, ability to interact with others face to face, travel, good health and Peace for all.
We wish everyone a bright and healthy holiday season and New Year!
Sarah Calhoun & Lakota
GDUI President
Article: Canine COVID-19 humor
The Puzzle
By Enzo (about the author: Enzo is a 68 pound German Shepherd dog from The Seeing Eye Inc.)
Humans are such a puzzle.
They do many things confusing.
My lady wears a muzzle.
It is not at all amusing.
Each time we go out the door,
Does she fear she might bite someone?
She never wore one before.
We walk, but we don’t have much fun.
Other folks wear muzzles, too.
Perhaps they know showing their teeth,
Is quite a rude thing to do.
Muzzles might hide smiles beneath
Article: WHEN A GUIDE DOG CAN’T LEAD
By: Deb Trevin
I am congenitally, totally blind. When I was five, I went to the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville. Along with the usual subjects, we learned skills such as traveling with a cane, writing braille and alternative methods for accomplishing daily tasks. Although I was a competent cane traveler, I felt insecure and unnatural using the cane.
At age 20, I went to The Seeing Eye facility in Morristown, NJ and was introduced to Darla. She was an 18-month old black lab who seemed more mature than I.
The first time I picked up the harness and said, “Darla, Forward,” I felt like I was flying! This must be what it’s like to travel when you can see where you are going. I entered a magical world of mutual trust and interdependence as I learned to walk by Darla’s side, following her subtle movements as she guided me around obstacles.
The seasons of my life were marked by the succession of my dogs. Darla was with me when I got my first job; Coquette as I began Bible College and Twyla when I graduated. Rita was with me when I learned of my husband’s illness, through his death and into my journey to Seminary.
With one year of seminary remaining, I learned that dear, gentle Rita had lung cancer. In spite of the diagnosis, she worked until the day before her death. We only had seven years together. How could this be the end?
On a cold January day in 2013, I opened my heart to Suzy, a petite black lab/golden mix with enough spunk, curiosity, and vitality for two dogs her size. She bounced into my life and has been a speed walker ever since.
To challenge her intelligence, I must provide lots of play and games. Because she is so eager, play often means that I hide and she must stay sitting until she hears, “Suzy, come.” She races to “find” me and gets a piece of kibble as a reward.
I am a Presbyterian Pastoral Candidate. When we greet people following a church service, Suzy takes this quite seriously. She leans forward so that she can be the first to welcome her friends. Her eagerness multiplies as she sees people whose cars we have ridden in as this could mean an adventure.
This time of social isolation has been stressful for my social butterfly. She knows my schedule—which night is choir practice, which afternoon means we attend our writers’ group, Sunday mornings when we leave home early for take-out breakfast followed by praise band and choir practice before church begins.
Suzy knows the sound of the truck which picks us up on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. She jumps onto the back seat and vigorously licks the faces of the couple in the front seat.
No doubt, she is wondering what has changed the way we do things. Now, when we go for a walk, Suzy doesn’t understand why people back away from her when she gets close to them on the sidewalk. The directive that we should stay six feet apart means nothing to her. The few times we have gone into a grocery store, she ignores the arrows on the floor which are meaningless to her, and which I can’t see. We have one friend who still comes over every two weeks or so to read mail. Suzy proudly greets her at the door with her favorite bone as if to ask, “Did you come over to play with me? Bet you can’t get my bone.”
I’d been planning to attend two significant conferences this summer, just as we did last summer. As I learned that one had been changed to a virtual event and the other cancelled for the year, I thought of how Suzy thrives in an environment where there is always something to do and people to see.
Dog guides are intended to help those who are blind to be more active and involved with the community around us. Social distancing and sheltering in place are contrary to their nature and training.
It is my responsibility to find ways to keep Suzy alert and ready to work. This sometimes means extra obedience practice, extra walks, more play, and extra cuddle time so that she stays secure and optimistic.
I stay worry-free and focused on the time when COVID-19 will be behind us, knowing that Suzy depends entirely on me for her sense of well-being and contentment.
So far, I’ve managed to keep her from engaging in regressive bad doggy behavior, such as chewing things that don’t belong to her and stealing food. This indicates that she is not overly stressed and that I’m keeping her occupied at a time when there is little guide work for her to do.
During this time of uncertainty when Suzy can’t work to her full potential, I wonder what she is feeling. This has me recall her biggest emotional upset. She was significantly distressed when we moved from Kentucky to Delaware. With several people coming and going, stacks of boxes reaching over my head with narrow aisles between them, Suzy couldn’t find a place of her own. It took me a few days to shift our belongings so that I could set up her “house.” Suzy calmed noticeably when she could surround herself with her favorite blanket and toys.
Even though my guide dog has the stress of not being able to lead me during this time of COVID-19 regulations, at least she is able to get a good night’s sleep. I smile as I hear my girl breathing deeply on the foot of my bed.
Sincerely,
Sarah Calhoun, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
Andrea Giudice, Editor
Paws for GDUI News You Can Use
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