Puppy Raiser Making Guide Dog Friends in Poland

Contributed by puppy raiser Dana Pardee

Dana and Guide Dog puppy Amato

At the beginning of February, I had the opportunity to represent Guide Dogs for the Blind in Poland. I have been studying in Katowice, Poland since September and since the day I landed I have been researching the use of guide dogs in Poland. I came across the name of the only guide dog school located in Poland and from that moment on, I was anxious to meet with them! So, on February 1st en route from Berlin back to the south of Poland, I stopped in Poznań and met with the director, two trainers, and a member of the board of directors of Fundacja na rzecz Osób Niewidomych Labrador-Pies Przewodnik.

Their program is very young; it was only recognized as a non-profit organization for the public advantage in 2004. They currectly have 10 puppies in training with volunteer puppy raisers (mainly located in Poznań). Puppies are purchased from breeders at around 7-8 weeks of age (after being assessed by trainers) and are placed with a family. They are then raised by that family until they are around 14-18 months of age. However, the process of raising is different then it is in the US, mainly because Poland does not have the same access laws for dogs in training. When talking with the trainers, they said this happened to be one of the most challenging aspects. People in Poland just do not have the same understanding of a “service dog” as they do in the US. Therefore, people are less willing to allow access for the dogs.

In 2003, to gain support for the program, the foundation created an initiative in which volunteers visited businesses throughout Poland to educate employers and to distribute stickers that would allow raisers to recognize the shop as being guide dog friendly. This created much more access for the puppies, but it was mainly centralized in the Poznań area. New legislation and access laws are being reviewed and written, so the foundation is eagerly awaiting their approval. These new laws have been found to benefit the puppy raisers, but more importantly the trainers who take the dogs into public for the formal guide training.

When the dogs reach their formal traning, they are taken in by the trainer and taught various routes and the key aspects of guidework. The foundation works very closely with the Slovic guide dog school Vicvikova Skola Pre Vodiacich Psov UNSS. Trainers from Slovakia routinely travel to Poland to assess dogs and assist the Polish trainers. The foundation is also a member of the International Guide Dog Federation, so they are receiving assistance from many different schools. The foundation may be small, but they are very eager to learn from the larger organizations.

What I thought was going to be a quick meet-and-greet and some quality puppy time in fact turned into a business meeting in which I fielded questions about GDB’s programs. They asked questions concerning everything I could think of; from selection of the breeders and puppies, training techniques and phases, assessment, to how the potential guide dog users are screened. Thank God I pay attention at meetings and Fun Day presentations! I did my best to represent GDB and provide useful information. The foundation may be young, but they have already suffered their fare share of hardship and are trying to learn from their mistakes. The few people who are trying to keep the foundation alive through their volunteer efforts are truly passionate about what they are trying to achieve, and it was an honor to represent GDB and provide them with any little bit of help that I could.

This meeting also made me realize just how much work has gone into GDB to make it what it is today. I read the stories of Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson and their humble beginnings, yet it almost hard to imagine all the hardship and effort that they initially faced. But being able to see a guide dog school in the initial stages, trying to gain support and build their program really made me appreciate the program that I work for. We are a community that supports and encourages each other. I think as a community it is our duty to continually educate people, whether they be from the U.S. or Poland, about guide dogs and all the potential that they provide. I would also like to say thank you to all the members of GDB, past, present, and future, who have made our program so amazing. I hope that someday the passion and commitment that GDB has maintained for 58 years will continue and spread, perhaps all the way to Poland – and beyond.

To read more about the Polish Guide Dog Foundation, follow this link (don’t worry, it’s in English): http://www.fundacja.labrador.pl/informacje,lang=en

Dog Attacks Against Guide Dogs: Working for Change in Portland

During the past couple of weeks, dog attacks on our Guide Dogs have been the subject of great concern in the city of Portland, Oregon. One of our dogs in training was attacked by a loose, aggressive dog, and in a separate incident, a working guide was attacked by two dogs that had been left tied to a sidewalk post. Here are links to news coverage of both incidents:

• Guide Dog trainers worry about attacks by street dogs (The News Tribune)
• Guide Dog attacked (KOIN-TV)

GDB takes dog attacks very seriously, as they often can end a working dog's career due to injuries, stress or fear as a result of the attack. We are happy to report that authorities in the City of Portland have been made aware of the disturbing trend, and are working with us to address the issues.

"We had a very productive meeting with city officials last week," said Oregon Director of Training Brad Hibbard. "Several agencies and departments were represented and I was very happy with the outcome. All of the attendees were engaged in the meeting and the Commander of the Central Precinct made it clear that this has become a priority for his department."

The agencies and departments that were in attendance include:

• Commander of the Central Precinct
• Deputy District Attorney
• Chief Animal Control Officer for Multnomah county
• Sergeant in charge of the Street Crimes Division
• Sergeant in charge of the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
• Portland Business Alliance (who oversees the Clean & Safe security detail in downtown)
• Lead officer for the Bike Patrol team

Some of the outcomes from the meeting include:

• A system was developed for the Police Department, Animal Control, and the District Attorney’s office to work together more effectively on this situation. There was much discussion on which laws are the most effective for the scenario when a service dog is attacked.
• It was determined that “911” will be called for emergencies; for cases of “interference” (the definition of which can be broad) we have a direct number to the bike patrol officers who are generally be able to respond within minutes.
• The Portland Business Alliance offered monies to hire an additional Animal Control officer that might be used primarily in the downtown core.

We are also beginning to make contacts with Portland agencies that work with the street kids and their dogs. We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to educate that community in an attempt to avoid creating an adversarial situation. Many thanks to GDB Board member Ruth Ann Dodson for helping us make the right contacts and supporting this initiative.

A Windy Walk

Contributed by Ernest Jones of Walla Walla, Washington.

Ernest's guide is black Lab Randy.

The wind was howling as if in a great hurry to remove the last leaf from off the trees as my guide and I set out for our morning walk. Though I really don't like walking when it is so windy one can't always wait for the perfect day before he heads out. Thus on this windy day we started down the road to find what new discoveries we might come across.

In case you have never thought of it, hearing is very important to all of us, but all the more when one can no longer depend on eyesight. Since I have relatively good hearing, I can't say how the deaf manage when out walking in adverse weather, but for me I depend on my hearing.

My guide and I walked down our narrow country lane. Not only was it very blustery but it was still dark with the sunrise about one hour away. Yet knowing the wind was to continue most of the day and also knowing the traffic would be much heavier later as those going to school and to work nearly flew down the country road, I wanted to get our walk in early.

The cows in the nearby fields were quiet and even the usual vocal birds, including the pheasants were silent; only a few barking dogs could be heard above the wind. I had to keep up a constant vigil for approaching traffic, especially those coming towards us as sometimes we must walk on the pavement instead of the shoulder of the road.

My guide acted like nothing was different than any other calm morning and was pulling hard, encouraging me to walk faster. We made a left turn onto a narrow dead end lane and walked to the end of the pavement where we paused a moment to listen to a pair of mallards playing in the gurgling stream. This stream flowing several feet below the surface of the land kept the ducks protected from the blowing wind. The early hour was with us and the road was all ours.

As we once again neared the main road I heard the approaching car and immediately grew more attentive. Reaching the intersection we paused to wait for the car to pass before crossing the road.

The section of road I was most concerned about was still ahead of us. This was a place where rain often produced massive puddles that could extend from the road's shoulder into the center of the road. Let me add here that my guide will not, if he can help it, walk through the puddles, so it is likely he will take me into the middle of the road to avoid them. Approaching where I knew puddles often existed I stopped my dog so I could listen as I checked for any nearby traffic. Hearing nothing but the wind we preceded and I gave a sigh of relief when once again I felt the gravel/dirt shoulder under my feet.

This morning I decided to change our route and we were walking in the opposite direction around the loop. At first the wind came from behind me and fairly pushed me along. But when we turned to face towards home the wind buffeted straight into me and I found myself leaning into the wind just to remain on my feet. I was concentrating completely on our safety and on getting home out of this wind and I think my guide was thinking the same when suddenly a couple dogs gave a chorus of barking only a few feet to our left. I jumped and felt my guide also jump and turn to see just where these dogs were. Fortunately they were behind a fence so could not get any closer to us but I will say they got our full attention. You need to try this sometime and enjoy the thrill one feels when he becomes fully awake.

We were also fortunate that morning for we only had to deal with 2 passing cars and both respected us, thus this morning we did not get a cold shower. Try taking a walk when your full attention is on the wind and have a car plow right through one of the many water puddles; if the wind has not awakened you the sudden deluge from the passing car will, but very likely the wind will blow dry you before you reach home.

Get out and enjoy life; have a great day.

A Grape Reminder

We all want our dogs to live happy and healthy lives, and go out of our way to love and care for them. But did you know that raisins and grapes - commonly used as treats for our furry friends - can be toxic? The following is taken from a letter written by Laurinda Morris, DVM, of the Danville Veterinary Clinic in Danville, Ohio, and is a great reminder that raisins and grapes can be deadly to your pooch.

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 year-old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1 a.m. on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7 a.m.

I had heard somewhere about raisins and grapes causing acute renal failure in dogs, but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had the owner bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give the dog IV fluids at 1-1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

He started vomiting again overnight and his renal values continued to increase. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. His urine output decreased, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure skyrocketed to 220. He was on three different anti-vomiting medications yet continued to vomit. The owners ultimately elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - a great dog, with great owners who had no idea raisins and grapes could be a toxin to dogs. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few as seven raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Good Dogs, Good Kids

This past week, a group of kids from the Novato Youth Center participated in the “Good Dog” Program at our California campus. The 4-day program provided a hands-on orientation to GDB’s best practices with regards to safe, appropriate dog handling and the foundation of a Guide Dog team. GDB hopes the “Good Dog” Program will ultimately inspire young people to join GDB in fulfilling ways, and to consider us as a resource within their community for employment, services, and empowerment. All in all, the kids had a dog-gone good time; they especially loved their time spent with the puppies! (Who wouldn't?!)

GDB Pups Melt Hearts for Valentine's Day

Sherri Paru with Rhubarb

Sightmasters, one of our puppy raising clubs in the Portland, Oregon area met over the Valentine’s Day weekend to celebrate puppy love at GDB's Downtown Volunteer and Visitors Center in Portland. The puppy raisers and their pups arrived via the MaxLine where they met up with more of the GDB family, including several people with career change dogs and retired guides. The entire group shared the day participating in a social outing throughout the downtown area. All day long, the dogs were greeted with “oohs and aaahs” wherever they went, showing that Valentine’s Day or not, folks will open their hearts when there's a wagging tail involved. There’s just something about our dogs – be they pups or older retired guides – that makes folks feel good. We're thrilled that we were able to spread some cheer and look forward to more downtown Portland outings in the future!

Sightmasters Puppy Club and friends

Chris Conrad with Rhubarb

We Only Have Eyes for You....

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Pictured are yellow Labs Culver (career change dog),

Desma (career change dog), and Dakota (retired guide).

Photo submitted by Debi Hays.

Fame Puppies Are Famous!

Feel good moment of the day: a video of the new litter of puppies born to Fame, the GDB breeder dog of Captain Chesley and Lorrie Sullenberger, was featured on today's episode of "The Bonnie Hunt Show." The litter of seven safely arrived in our kennels on January 20th. Here's the link to the segment: http://www.bonniehunt.com/blog/feel_good_moment_of_the_day_38.php

All together now: "Awww....."

Snapshots!

Here is a sampling of the photo submissions that we've received recently. You can check out all of January's photo submissions on our Flickr site, as well as those that have been uploaded to our Flickr Group Photo Pool. Keep those photos coming!

Guide Dog puppy Amena. Submitted by Wendy Harris.

Guide Dog puppy in training, yellow Lab Jackson, with his buddy, yellow Lab career change dog Foxboro. Submitted to GDB's Flickr Group Photo Pool by Btrob.

Diane Shapiro and her career change dog, black Lab Hobson.

Submitted by Megan Minkiewicz.

Missing Puppy Has Been Found!

Good news - the missing puppy, Ingeborg, has been found! Within mere hours of us posting of her disappearance, we got word that she was back with her raisers, safe and sound. We don't have many details, but she is home - and that's all that matters! Thank you everyone for your help and your kind thoughts.

Added 2.9.10, 2:30 pm: Here's a link to a news story with all the details of Ingeborg's return.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35314069

Help Us Find a Missing GDB Puppy in Loomis, CA

Please help us get the word out about a missing Guide Dog puppy named Ingeborg from Loomis, CA. The following is our all-points-bulletin media release; we're hoping you can help us with Ingeborg's safe return!

# # #

GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND NEEDS ASSITANCE IN FINDING LOST PUPPY LAST SEEN IN LOOMIS AREA

San Rafael, Calif. (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is asking for your assistance in locating a lost puppy named Ingeborg. Ingeborg, a one-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever female, is a Guide Dog puppy-in-training for the GDB puppy raising program.

Although Ingeborg is still a puppy, she looks like an adult dog. Ingeborg was last seen near Rocklin Road / Barton Road.

Ingeborg is being raised by a volunteer puppy raising family in Loomis, Calif. The puppy raiser families teach puppies, like Ingeborg, to have excellent house manners and socialize them to the world by introducing them to new people, places and experiences.

Ingeborg, like other Guide Dog puppies-in-training, stays in their puppy raising homes until they are approximately 15 – 18 months old. At that time they begin their formal guide work training at GDB and are eventually matched with blind students enrolled at the school.

Ingeborg has tattoos in both ears with her ID number. She was wearing a black collar with ID plate and a long cord leash was attached to the collar.

If you have any information about this lost puppy, please contact Celeste Butrym at 916-992-3999 or Guide Dogs for the Blind at 800-295-4050.

Oregon Campus Hosts OSU Delta Gammas

The January 30th graduation ceremony at our Oregon campus had a bevy of VIP visitors on hand for the day: the Delta Gammas from Oregon State in Corvallis. The Delta Gammas were treated to a private tour (where they met up with retired guide Hector, who was in heaven!) prior to attending the standing-room-only graduation ceremony. Earlier in the month, the OSU Delta Gammas hosted their annual fund-raising event, The Anchor Splash, and designated GDB as the recipient for a significant portion of the proceeds. We’re grateful to Delta Gammas everywhere who have chosen GDB as a recipient of their fundraising efforts, and grateful that these lovely young women spent an afternoon with us to learn more about our mission. Thank you DGs!

Newshounds!

• Pet Talk: Guide Dogs for the Blind graduates its first class of the year in an emotional ceremony (The Oregonian, January 26, 2010; photo above by Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian): First GDB class of the year graduating on the Oregon campus
• Puppy raiser becomes recipient of her good deed (San Francisco Chronicle, February 3, 2009): GDB career change-turned-hearing dog, Bounty, provides service to puppy raiser
• Brentwood woman succumbs to puppy love (Contra Costa Times, January 11, 2009): Featuring puppy raiser Renee Anderson
• Dog raised in Vancouver saving lives in Haiti (The Columbian, January 22, 2010): GDB career change-turned-search and rescue dog, Cadillac, saving lives in Haiti
• John and the Lynchburg Labrador (Lynchburg College website, Lynchburg, VA): A profile of student John Pastorius and his guide Houston).
• Guide Dogs on campus (The University of Montana website): A video feature

Breeders Digest, 11.1.09-12.31.09

Here's all of our new arrivals from October 1, 2009 through November 31, 2009. To see photos of these litters, please visit GDB's Flickr site, Littermate Photos.

Litter Announcements

Labrador Retrievers

• 12/3/09 Jay x Wallaby – 4 males, 3 females
• 12/3/09 Piedmont x Cuesta – 2 males, 7 females
• 12/5/09 Norbert x Holly – 1 male, 5 females
• 12/8/09 Kentucky x Athenia – 2 males, 3 females
• 12/11/09 Danny x Finesse – 5 males, 4 females
• 12/30/09 Jay x Glimmer – 2 male, 3 female
• 12/31/09 Tiburon x Raffle – 2 males, 3 females

Cross Litter

• 12/15/09 CCI’s Kaelen x Tulin – 4 males, 3 females

New Breeders

Labrador Retrievers

• Arizona – raised in CA
• Denisha – raised in AZ
• Nancy – raised in CA
• Laramie – raised in CA
• Zante – raised in AZ

Golden Retrievers

• Pebbles – raised in CA
• Pilar – raised in OR
• Viola – raised in CA

Angels in Foster Care

By Rebecca Hornick

Dog Placement Coordinator

It takes all kinds of folks to take on all kinds of dogs that need temporary foster homes each year. Here at GDB, our volunteers have taken in pups, breeders, training dogs, boarding guides and dogs awaiting placement - just to name a few. We are extremely fortunate to have a remarkable pool of people that make up our group of volunteer Foster Care Providers.

Most foster needs are relatively short in duration - just a few days or a few weeks at time. Some dogs pose more behavioral or physical challenges, so we try to match each dog with an ideal caretaker, while still respecting the needs of both the dog and the volunteer. But one particular need stands out in our minds and gives us reason to acknowledge and celebrate a small group of particularly brave souls: the special volunteers who provide end of life care for our terminally ill or elderly dogs.

Thankfully, the need for fostering dogs at the end of their lives is rare since most of our dogs happily live out their lives in the homes they have already known for years. But the need does come up from time to time and it is comforting to know we can provide these dogs the love and care they deserve because of the effort of these dedicated volunteers.

Understandably, most foster care volunteers are reluctant to take on this kind of potentially heartbreaking task - and who can blame them? We know how hard it is for our volunteer raisers to give up their pups after a year of life together. Similarly, we know how difficult it is to take in a dog you don’t even know and care for him/her through all the challenges that accompany age or terminal illness.

These folks have physically carried dogs outside for relieving, or in and out of vehicles; cleaned up all kinds of accidents; spent hours in the vet clinic for exams and tests; and watched daily for the eventual signs that reveal the end is near. When given the choice if they want to be with the dog when the vet has to put them to sleep, all of these amazing caretakers have chosen to be there, providing comfort and a familiar face so the dogs can be as peaceful as possible. The amazing clinic staff is always there to support the volunteer and of course, the dog, through this difficult process, making a hard task much easier.

When a young dog in training came into the clinic with some odd symptoms recently, we were all devastated to learn he had developed melanoma and his condition was terminal. It was so far along, that no medicine or cancer treatment could stop the inevitable speedy progression of his disease. The doctors felt he had just a few weeks before he would start to suffer from pain caused by the tumors. But this bubbly, silly, happy-go-lucky Labrador made it quite clear that he had a lot of joy left in him. So it was determined that he should enjoy his final days in the home of a local loving foster care provider.

It was no surprise that foster care volunteers Larry and Diane Rich stepped up to the plate and took this young boy home to enjoy the rest of his short life with them. They had fostered many dogs over the years, but two of their previous dogs were elderly and needed a place to call home before the end of their lives as well. Retired breeder German Shepherd Daily and career change German Shepherd Neon enjoyed their final days in the Rich’s home, and Larry and Diane were happy to have been there for them.

Another example of our foster care heroes is Heidi Sanders, who cared for retired guide Fallbrook (the two are pictured, above). Fallbrook outlived everyone’s expectations following a cancer diagnosis in August 2004. In her good care, he went on to live five more years and became a treasured member of her family, and a doggy super hero here at Guide Dogs.

And finally, we'd like to recognize sisters Linda and Suzanne Ryan. When they met retired guide Haley in January 2008, they said they’d be happy to help foster this elderly dog for a while, but end of life care would be too hard for them. As it turned out, Haley had other ideas and convinced them she had found her final home in their good care. She remained happily with them until she passed at the ripe old age of 15 and her longevity can certainly be attributed to their attentive, doting care (she is pictured below at her 13th birthday party).

It can be hard to think about losing a pet, especially one you have known for all of its life. But it takes an incredible person to take in an unknown elderly or infirm dog and show them the love and devotion they deserve, as if the dog had been a part of their lives all along. We are forever grateful to the kindness and selflessness these volunteers have shown our dogs at the end of their lives. The gift of their time and love deserves the highest praise and we salute them for this heroic effort.

Therapeutic Volunteering

Below is a reflection written by Michael Weinberg about his visits to the Long Beach VA Medical Center with his career change-turned-therapy dog, Ruby (GDB's Rhubarb). He visited the medical center in 2008 when he was 17; he's now 19 and a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Long Beach VA Medical Center, a link into the past of some of America's finest heroes, is now home to the memories of therapy dogs standing beside such heroes in times of need. Untouched by the affects of war, in February 2008, I embarked on a trip through time with my therapy dog, Ruby, to the center, where I met veterans of different sizes, colors, backgrounds, and from different wars. The people I visited ranged from a young man in his 30s or 40s from Desert Storm to a man in his 60s from Vietnam. They could not express more delight than a stream of tears and a warm hug for Ruby's companionship. Lit up faces flooded the room with stories of courageous battles and passionate optimism for the future in contrast to weariness. In retrospect, I can proudly say that volunteering, in particular, therapy work, makes the lives of every veteran that much more special. For the time that a veteran is with a therapy dog, they can forget about the past and focus on the brighter future with a livelier outlook on life.

Raining Guide Dogs!

Submitted by Seth Webster

At the end of a recent California campus graduation ceremony, the class supervisor mentioned the familiar saying about cats and dogs. She told everyone that students while in class at GDB weren't required to always go out into the rain, but most wouldn't have it any other way! So, it was "raining Guide Dogs," as she put it.

Employees of GDB always speak of us, students and alumni, as being inspirational... I feel the same way about them. They offer their support, knowledge, and insight so willingly. Comfort is afforded when needed, and firmness is applied when it has to be. They pour themselves into the formation of teams that are unique, and amazingly well matched. Personally, I can't imagine having gotten a more perfect dog than my Lady Bamboo.

I started volunteering as a docent on graduation saturdays not long after my own graduation. For me, it is like a recurring trip to the reflecting pool. At times the emotions are intense, but only in the best way.

So, back to this recent graduation… My para-transit ride was much earlier than usual; Bamboo and I arrived on campus just after 8:00 a.m., but our first tour was not to begin until 10:30. Upon entering the dorm to get some coffee and visit the computer room, Elizabeth, the dorm manager, spotted us and asked if we needed any help. After I told her of our situation, she took us into the dining room. We were offered some breakfast, and reintroduced to the dorm staff. It was as if we had never left room #5. The staff interrupted their own mealtime to get us set-up! Also, since it was right where the coffee is, we ended up at the same table and chair we had as students of class #684.

But wait, there's more... After finishing the meal, we were taken to a special "guest suite" called the Silver Room. On came the Saturday morning cartoons, and out of harness and off leash came Bamboo; she was free to have a sniff-fest and romp around chasing one of her favorite "treasures" - a kong tug/fetch toy.

Later, we did our tours, and ended up having family members of graduates on both of them, a pleasure. After the tours, we had a chance to meet Mr. Morgan Watkins, both a graduate and board member of GDB. Again, a pleasure. Having grown up in the south, I am often criticized for saying "Yes ma'am" (meant to express respect), but not "Yes sir." Morgan is not just a southerner, but a Texan; he and his guide, Will, are a Texas-sized team! He spat out "Yes ma'am" quite a few times with no protest - I loved it!

Well, that's about all folks. Except, in my corner of San Francisco, it's still raining Guide Dogs! I have a neighbor who is also a GDB graduate; we are both following our faithful guides to the curbs and around obstacles, even when it's raining (as it has for the last twelve days in a row!!!).

Love to all,

Seth and Bamboo

Hitting All the High Notes

A “Golden Note Award” is a community award honoring volunteers who have really made a difference; people who have hit the high notes. We are lucky to have many “golden note” volunteers around the nation, but recently one of our Oregon campus volunteers, Tammy Glen, received a Golden Note Award from the Gresham Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy and her career change ambassador dog, Toshi, speak on behalf of Guide Dogs to dozens of groups each year. In addition to being a public face, she also can be frequently seen on the Oregon campus giving tours, providing rides for people and dogs, or serving dinner to our students (her favorite volunteer job of all). She has provided a temporary home and given love to numerous foster dogs as they have awaited adoption. We are so thankful that Tammy is not an exception but just one of many volunteers who deserve this award – for this moment though we honor Tammy Glenn and give her our thanks. Congratulations!