Fall Workshops

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Dixie Land Guide Dog Users has scheduled a series of very helpful and extremely interesting workshops to be held on Friday, November 12,2004, at the Holiday Inn West in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

Our first event will begin at 9am so be sure to register and do come early! You won’t want to miss one moment of any of the 6 interesting workshops scheduled that day. We are hosting a very nice LUNCHEON , featuring a special guest speaker, Stephen Clarke!

Stephen is the director of South Eastern Guide Dog School’s Prison Impact Program, right here in Ridgeland, South Carolina. He and his handlers were recently featured on the Animal Planet’s documentary television series, “CELL DOGS”, about incarcerated puppy raisers and how their new charges changed so many lives.

Mike Moran, from Seeing Eye Guide Dog School, will host a couple of workshops on STREET SMARTS, dealing with pedestrian safety, and ATTITUDES, VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS, featuring various attitudes towards the blind. Mike will also do a brief overview of how Seeing Eye was started and its 75 year history.

But that’s not all, by a long shot! We’re planning some fun exercises too, involving our “hound’s sight”, and we even have a session devoted on the “T” touch, a special kind of doggie therapy developed by Dr. Tellington.

Helen Arnold, representing South Eastern Guide Dog School, will give us all some helpful hints on “When and How to Retire Your Guide”. I’m sure you will all agree, this is a subject none of us ever want to think about; but one we all must experience in life. Recently I have heard of at least 2 cases right here in South Carolina that were unfortunate, to say the least. However, because of DixieLand and GDUI at least one had a very happy ending! If nothing else, just to hear the story of “LADY RILEY” would be reason enough to attend this one.

Jane Sheehan, Secretary of GDUI, has graciously agreed to attend and tell us of some of their recent national accomplishments. Patsy Jones, Dixieland’s Treasurer, will talk with us about some of our state victories, like “Layla’s Law.”

We’ve invested a lot of planning into this venture and think we’re offering some great topics that will serve to benefit each of us. We’re going to have door prizes and gifts and a great time for all! November 12th is only 9 months away, so please make your plans to join us there. Registration forms will be sent out as soon as they are printed.

ANMED ANNOUNCES ITS NEW POLICY ON GUIDE DOGS/SERVICE ANIMALS

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“In keeping with its mission to meet the needs of those it serves, ANMED,HEALTH recently implemented a new policy to ensure that patients and visitors who rely on service animals have access to ANMED’s services.”

The above is a quote from a INSIDE ANMED, a newsletter published by Anderson Memorial Hospital, announcing its new policy referencing the use of guide dogs/service animals in their facility.

That upstate hospital denied me access in to see my brother, who was a patient there last March. Their reason was that they had no policy referencing the use of service animals! At first, I was furious they had violated my civil rights. Immediately I filed a written complaint with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services. I also made several phone calls and sent lots of emails to various state senators, advising them of ANMED’S obvious disregard of the law. Within a couple of weeks, and after some investigating, I’m sure, the CEO and various other administrators from ANMED finally realized the seriousness of the situation and set out to rectify their wrongdoing.

I put them in touch with Kevin Chin, the Advocate for GDUI, who worked with them relentlessly to write a new policy for ANMED. Last November ANMED’S general council called to invite me to their luncheon, where they were unveiling their new policy. “By all means,” he said, “feel free to bring your service animal if you’d like.”

Zack and I did attend that luncheon. We felt very welcomed and the various department heads asked a lot of pertinent questions relating to guide teams and our specific needs both as patients and visitors in a hospital setting. I am quite sure we left them a little wiser; a little more receptive to service animals; and with a very positive feeling towards the blind community. Last week I was told the trainers of Ivy Creek Guide Dog School, in Abbeville, South Carolina, are now treated like royalty when they bring their pups into ANMED for training. That is what I call a real success story and I thank the administrators for being so willing to cooperate so fully with my requests.

IVY CREEK-SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION SPECIALIZING IN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

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Last week we were invited for a tour of Ivy Creek Guide Dog School in Abbeville, South Carolina. I’d only recently even heard of its existence and was eager to check it out. Jim, Director of Training, Karen, his assistant and two puppy raisers, Judie and Julie met us at our car. As we began our visit to the puppy play room, Jim explained how Ivy Creek was established by Harry and Barbara Scharling, who have generously funded the guide dog school. As we toured the landscaped, manicured grounds; spotless kennels and extremely inviting guest quarters, Jim told how the Scharlings chose only very special Labs from one specific kennel in North Carolina. These pups are subjected to stringent physical tests; xrays of both hips and elbows; and various temperament tests before they are even introduced to the Scharlings.

As we walked, I could feel a special regard and a real sense of respect for the visually impaired in Jim’s voice. I couldn’t help but remember my 26 days not so long ago; yet seemingly a lifetime ago, at South Eastern, as we approached the planters strategically positioned to guide our way. Jim received some of his training at South Eastern and adopted some of their techniques in his program.

Before leaving, we got the privilege and pleasure of actually meeting Barbara Scharling, a delightful lady whose slight size is more than compensated for by the depth and breadth of her heart! I do believe I could actually see a halo extended from her head and wings from her shoulders. Her love, respect, care and generosity offer us, the blind, a new sense of dignity and independence. Through their insight, Jim and Karen’s training and the love and devotion of their puppy raisers, I am quite confident any one who is fortunate enough to become a student at Ivy Creek will feel extraordinarily special.

ZACK’S TALES

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Hello, everyone;

My name is Zack and I am a 3 year old yellow Lab from Florida, professionally trained at South Eastern Guide Dog School. I am very, very smart and quite handsome. My mom loved me from that very first day we met. When she called, “Zack, come!”, I ran straight up to her, jumped in her arms and gave her the biggest, sloppiest kiss I’d ever given anyone. Even though I broke her glasses and knocked out her earring, she still loved me and kept kissing on me and stroking my head.

I had to teach my mom a lot of things. Boy! What a dunce! At first she couldn’t even walk without stepping on my paws. Once she got the hang of it, though, I began taking her everywhere. My mom constantly talks to me. Sometimes, when we’re in the mall or at Walmart’s, it’s quite embarrassing. My natural good looks and excelling guiding skills demand enough public attention, without her constantly telling me what a good boy I am! They hear her and just stand in my way! Don’t they know her eyes are broken and she can’t see them there? They just make more work for me! Oh, well! I guess that’s just the price I have to pay for being such a great guide.

At home, my favorite thing, other than sleeping on my mom’s shoulder, is to play KONG! I play just as hard as I work and what fun I have jumping, chasing and catching my kong! I could stay outside for hours playing with my kong!

After a busy day of work and play my mom takes Riley and me out for our final “business trip” of the day. She wipes us down with those smelly baby wipes, “from our nose to our rose to our toes,” she says, before putting on our nightshirts. Then we hop in the bed! I start out at her feet, but always during the night, I inch my way up to her shoulder, just in case she gets cold.

I’ve already met a lot of you guys. Speedo, Fitz, Grover and Tux are my buds. Ruth, Luna, Jace and Maggie are my heart throbs. I get to hang out a lot with Ruthie and Luna, but I’m really looking forward to meeting each and every one of you all at our fall fling in Myrtle Beach. See ya’ there!

Zack

PAWS FOR CONCERN

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Since this is a brand new newsletter, here is where I figured you all might want to voice your personal opinion on a special topic. What’s bothering you? Do you have any questions or concerns regarding you or your guide? Just forward your letters to me and I will include them in the next newsletter. I’d like to publish a newsletter every other month while I serve as your president. Dixie Land is your organization and you should know what’s happening among fellow guide teams. Email me at : RETIRED51837@MSN.COM

or write me at: DIXIELAND GUIDE DOG USERS

802 CASTLE AVENUE

CHARLESTON, S.C. 29407

NEW OFFICERS

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New officers were elected at our November, 2003, meeting in Columbia, South Carolina. Carmella Broome, who served so diligently as our previous president, announced she needed to step down because of time constraints and personal involvements. We were saddened to bid Carmella farewell. She served us dutifully, respectfully and positively and are all grateful for her term in that office. Thank you, Carmella, for a job well done.

The few members attending that meeting elected the following to represent them in 2004:

Audrey Gunter, Charleston, S.C., President; Karen Bays Petty, Charleston, S.C., Vice President; Billy Mack, Columbia, S.C., Secretary; and Patsy Jones, Columbia, S.C., Treasurer.

NEW DIXIE LANDERS

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Dixie Land Guide Dog Users is proud to welcome 2 new members to its family. Nancy Levi and her guide, Luna, live in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Judie Neal, a puppy raiser from Ivy Creek, lives in Anderson. We are happy to include these wonderful ladies as part of our flock and look forward to November, when everyone can meet.

As a little reminder, if you haven’t already sent them, Dixie Land dues were due in January. Remember, as a paid member, you automatically become a member of Guide Dog Users, Inc., and the American Council of the Blind. So be sure to send your $10 dues check to Patsy Jones.