by Ginger Soucy
Come and enjoy southern hospitality with Guide Dog Users, Inc. at this year’s ACB national convention! All programs for GDUI will take place at the Galt House beginning Sunday, July 2, and concluding Wednesday, July 5. The Galt House, Kentucky’s largest hotel, is located on the banks of the Ohio River at 140 N. Fourth St. in Louisville.
Weather
Louisville in July tends to be very hot and humid; average temperatures are the mid-80s to 90s. If your dogs are not used to hot, humid weather, they may require more frequent watering. For some dogs, the asphalt may present a challenge as it absorbs the heat. If your dog is not used to walking on hot sidewalks, you may want to restrict your outdoor walking to early morning or mid-evening hours when it is cooler.
Water
Louisville has drinking water suitable for human and dog consumption. Dogs with sensitive systems may do better drinking bottled water, which may be available in the GDUI suite. For most dogs, drinking Louisville tap water should not present any difficulties.
Food
Feeders Supply of Louisville will be delivering food twice during convention week. To place an order, call (502) 583-3867. Credit card orders may be placed from June 25 to July1 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time. When placing a dog food order, be sure to ask for Tracy Duncan or Pam Longwell and state that you are with the American Council of the Blind. They will need you to provide the specific brand, main ingredient and size, e.g. Iams, lamb and rice, eight pounds. Feeders carries eight major brands of food, including Science Diet, Nature's Recipe, Iams, Eukanuba, Eagle, Nutro, Pro Pac, and Pro Plan. Credit card orders are preferred; however, you can pay cash on delivery. Out-of-town checks will not be accepted. Dog food will be delivered to the GDUI suite on Sunday, July 2 at noon and Wednesday, July 5 at noon. Unclaimed food will be returned to the store.
Emergency care
Emergency veterinary care is available through Dr. Richard Rabek at the Crescent Hill Animal Hospital located at 2265 Frankfort Ave. in Louisville; phone (502) 893-0063. An initial $32 emergency office visit fee will be charged upon arrival. Should additional medical procedures be necessary, an estimate of the total cost will be provided prior to treatment. A deposit is required prior to treatment, and the full balance will be required prior to discharging the animal. The Animal Emergency Facility does accept checks and credit cards. Please be aware that it is imperative to have your dog on flea protection. Also, Dr. Rabek cautions handlers to watch out for potential problems with hot spots and/or allergies, especially with golden retrievers.
Canine Stress Relief Area
Guiding Eyes for the Blind along with several other schools hopes to sponsor a fenced area where a guide dog can shed harness and leash, play a little ball, kong, tug of war, or just relax and sniff around for a few minutes. The schools plan to make the area available to all guide dogs at the convention, and will provide supervision on a scheduled basis. Be sure to check with the GDUI suite for location, hours of use, and rules for enjoyment.
The Tellington Touch
A T-touch workshop as well as private sessions will be offered at this year’s convention. T-touch therapy may be especially helpful with dogs experiencing stress, fear of loud noises (including thunderstorms and fireworks), arthritis, hip dysplasia, lack of self-confidence, and/or grief. Kentucky’s T-touch practitioner, Stephanie Schaefer, will be conducting a two-hour workshop on Sunday, July 2. She will also be available for private sessions throughout the week. To schedule a private session, or to learn more about her work, call Stephanie at (502) 634-9536 or e-mail stephanie@win.net.
What about barking dogs?
Barking dogs should never be left alone to disturb hotel guests while their owners enjoy a stress-free evening without harness in hand. The Galt House will address the owners of dogs who bark excessively as they would address other hotel guests that are a nuisance. The hotel has a “three strikes and you’re out” policy. You will be contacted by hotel security and warned twice; upon the third contact, you will be escorted off the premises.
Dog Relief Area
The designated relief area for the west tower of the Galt House will be located on the third floor. The east tower’s relief area will be located off the main lobby in the south parking garage. Directions for the relief areas will be available at the ACB registration desk. GDUI and the Galt House will be testing a new relief area prototype design by GDUI member Kent Stanley. Historically, relief area surfaces other than concrete have presented some difficulties when handlers attempt to pick up solid waste. The new design uses burlap as a covering over the mulch. This covering creates a smooth surface which facilitates the complete removal of solid dog waste.
GDUI would like to encourage each of you to have your dogs participate in using the new prototype. Your help in filling out a brief survey, designed to determine the effectiveness of the test surface, will be greatly appreciated. We are happy to report that, despite the inclement weather in February, the new design was met with positive results at the ACB mid-year presidents’ meeting.
Clean-Up
The hotel plans to provide pick-up bags, but be sure to bring plenty of your own just in case. Cleaning up after your dog is a MUST! Assistance will be available to train individuals in cleaning up if need be. It is our responsibility to assure a well-kept relief area. As stated in the ADA, hotels are required to reasonably accommodate us by providing a guide dog relief area; however, they have no obligation to maintain it. You may designate a tip for the guide dog relief fund on the pre-registration form. However, this contribution is merely a tip for hotel staff who have assisted in maintaining the relief area — i.e., it is not payment for someone else to clean up after your dog.
Other Concerns
If you use ice buckets as dog-food containers, the hotel will have to dispose of the buckets, because the plastic absorbs oil from the dog food. If you use hotel towels to play tug of war, the hotel will probably have to replace the towels because of tears from the dog’s teeth. Bathing your dog in a hotel bathtub and leaving dog hair to clog the drain can cause plumbing problems and potential property damage. Indoor dog accidents which are left for someone else to clean up while a handler walks away cause extensive damage to the carpet as the mess gets trailed through the halls by other conventioneers. All of the above circumstances will be considered property damage by the hotel and appropriate fees will be assessed to your room to replace damaged property.
If your dog has an accident indoors and you need assistance in cleaning it up, you should stay near it while asking someone to find help for you. This will not result in damage assessments or fees; this is responsible dog handling. Indoor accidents are only considered damage when they are left to be tracked all over the halls and absorbed by the carpet. A $10 fee will be assessed to the rooms of those individuals who are seen leaving the site of an accident without assuring that it is taken care of.
In your preparations to attend the ACB national convention, be sure to pack plenty of plastic clean-up bags, dog toys, extra treats, and handy wipes for handling indoor accidents. Happy trails; see you in Louisville!