The Guideway Volume 61 No. 2 Out of Africa and Into Her Heart There is a graphic of the map of Africa next to the title of the story. For most of us, what we know about Africa is what we’ve learned from other sources. For Guide Dog Foundation graduate Joni Owen, the Africa she knows is what she’s observed first hand: Owen lived in Kenya for several months helping to program satellites for cellular communications. Owen was a culinary arts and computer science major in school, planning to be a professional chef, when, in 2004, as a result of toxic optic neuritis, she suffered sudden onset blindness. But this active 26-year-old wasn’t about to let her vision loss stop her from living her life. “I always knew I would get a guide dog,” she says, “because I couldn’t go the speed I wanted to go with a cane.” She got her guide, a Labrador/Poodle cross she calls Jelly, in 2005. “She keeps up with me,” Owen laughs. “She’s hyper.” After she lost her sight, Owen decided that it would be difficult working in a professional kitchen, so she went back to school for her master’s degree in computer science. The urban training Guide Dog Foundation guide dogs undergo was very important because she knew she would be taking mass transit and working in a busy downtown area; she never thought she’d make use of her guide’s rural training. But shortly after she received her master’s, she interviewed with AT&T and was offered a job to work in Kenya programming satellites. A Different World Although she was in “complete shock” when she got to the East African nation, Owen enthuses, “Kenya was crazy and fantastic, everything you’d think Kenya could be.” Jelly loved it too. “There were only three cars [in Kwakamba, the town she lived in] and no traffic,” Owen recalls. But with goats and cows all around, “I had to call the Foundation to learn how to deal with goat distractions,” she laughs. Jelly eventually became friends with a neighborhood goat. Owen and her co-workers rented a house on a local farm, where they had electricity for just eight hours a day and had to make do with only three liters of water each for everything – drinking, washing, bathing. Luckily, because of Jelly, Owen got additional water. To get to their “office” – a shack with no walls and a tin ceiling – the employees had to walk quite a distance, and because of the heat, they could only put in five or six hours before heading home. The heat didn’t bother Jelly, though, who learned shortcuts on paths that were “just wide enough,” for the two of them. Having the dog in Kenya was a challenge. “People were terrified,” Owen says, “because in Kenya, dogs are not pets.” There are no access laws similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act, so there were many occasions when Owen could not bring her guide when they went sightseeing or shopping. Reaching Out to Blind Students Volunteer work was part of their responsibilities while in Kenya, and in the afternoons, Owen volunteered at a local school where she learned there were 14 blind students integrated with the regular class. “I got to introduce Braille and taught them how to get around on their own using canes,” she says. Two girls in particular became her shadows. They were totally blind, she recalls, and “I fell in love with them.” Their parents opened their home to Owen because they wanted a good role model for their daughters, to show that being blind didn’t mean being limited. Owen became so close to the girls’ parents that she promised that should anything happen to them, she would take care of the girls. New Responsibilities Kenya is a relatively stable country in East Africa, but even so, Owen and her co-workers still needed to go everywhere with “askari” – armed guards – because of the general political unrest in the region. “We always had guards,” she recalls. Unfortunately, the family from whom they were renting their house was threatened, and then their belongings were stolen, so the next day, Owen and Jelly and her remaining colleagues left the country for home. Owen had already planned to maintain her connection to Kenya by sending supplies back to the blind school, but shortly after she returned to Chicago, she learned that the two little girls to whom she had grown so attached had been orphaned after their parents were killed in a fire. The girls have come to live with her, and Owen is taking on new responsibilities as a single mother. She is tutoring them in English, and they are starting orientation and mobility training; they have already learned the Braille alphabet. She is lucky, Owen reflects, that she has a great support system. Her father lives nearby, and volunteers from her church have already stepped in to help. Although the Kenyan courts formalized Owen’s adoption of the girls pretty quickly, she had to wait for the paperwork to wend its way through the U.S. legal system. In July, what she had been waiting for happened: the adoption was finalized. Owen is on leave and has transferred to another position in her company that will cut down on her traveling. Even when she does have to travel, she plans to take her new daughters with her. “I want them to realize their full potential.” With Joni Owen as their mother, they’re off to a good start. Photos: (1) On the cover of The Guideway, Joni Owen and a group of African school children. The caption reads: Joni Owen (back to camera) addresses a group of school children in Kwakamba, Kenya. (2) Jo with Jelly her guide dog. Photos courtesy Joni Owen The graphic at the end of the story is the flag of Kenya. Description of the flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center. A Message from our CEO Americans set a record last year in donations to charitable causes. In fact, the U.S. leads the rest of the world when it comes to philanthropy. But not only do Americans donate their money, they also donate their time to the causes they believe in. With the demands on people’s schedules these days, we here at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind are blessed that over 600 people nationwide give freely of their time and energy to our mission, seeking only the joy that comes from helping people with disabilities. Every year we hold Recognition Day at the Foundation’s Smithtown campus. This is a day when volunteers can get together to meet others who share their passion for our cause; a day that lets us honor these wonderful people. It is truly amazing how many of our volunteers contribute in so many different areas: puppy walkers who go on speaking engagements; kennel workers who socialize with students; office volunteers who are puppy walkers. And every year, there are our Exceptional Volunteers – those people who are inspirations to us all for their dedication to the Foundation and the people we serve: The puppy walker who, over 18 years, has raised 29 pups – 19 of which have become working dogs! The graduate who helped create the Trekker GPS training program, has taught most of the classes, and troubleshoots hardware and software issues. The member of the speakers bureau who began volunteering in the kennel, puppy nursery, taxi team, and consumer services, and is now a frequently requested speaker for the United Way’s annual federated appeal. The student residence volunteer who helps out on the weekends when class is in session to take students shopping, go for a walk on the beach, out to a restaurant, see Long Island’s sights, or attend a cultural event. In this edition of The Guideway, you’ll meet some more very special people: Joni Owen, a recent Foundation graduate whose trip to Africa enriched her more than she dreamed; Jerry Kramer and Irwin Stovroff, two Florida veterans who have enlisted to raise money for America’s VetDogs; and a group of university students in Texas whose college interests go beyond the usual: they’re also dedicated puppy walkers. I hope you find them as inspirational as I do. Wells B. Jones, CAE, CFRE Chief Executive Officer Combined Federal Campaign & Workplace Giving Through workplace giving and payroll deductions, it’s easier than ever to help the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind provide guide dogs and capable canines at no charge to people who are blind or visually impaired or who have other disabilities. Federal government employees can sign up through the Combined Federal Campaign, the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, which raises millions of dollars each year. There are also similar campaigns for state and local government employees, and many corporations offer matching gift or other workplace giving programs. When you choose payroll deduction to support the Foundation’s efforts, you simply specify the amount you want to give and your payroll department takes care of the rest, giving you a tax receipt for your records. For corporate workers, if your employer gives matching funds, the Foundation receives an added donation thanks to your participation. Combined Federal Campaign All federal government employees, civilian and military, can use the Combined Federal Campaign to make direct contributions. Many state and local governments and United Way donors list the Guide Dog Foundation in their campaigns. To find the Guide Dog Foundation in your campaign brochure, refer to “Guide Dog Foundation.” If there is no index, check: Campaign: Combined Federal Campaign Federation: Human Service Charities of America Number: 11157 Campaign: State and Local Government Employees Federation: Neighbor to Nation or Unaffiliated Agencies Number: Varies Campaign: United Way or Corporate Federation: Neighbor to Nation, Human Service Charities of America, or Unaffiliated Agencies Number: Varies If we are not listed, please designate the organization as: Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc., 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787 If you are uncertain how to name the Guide Dog Foundation as your preference for your donation, or if you’d like to establish a workplace giving campaign in your office, please call the Guide Dog Foundation’s Development Office at 1-866-282-8045. Deep in the Heart of Texas, Puppies Grow Big and Strong Everything’s bigger in Texas. From the Austin Capitol building (15 feet higher than the U.S. Capitol building) to the world’s largest equestrian bronze statue (over 39 feet high) in El Paso, Texans think and act big. Even the hearts are bigger in Texas: The state has one of the largest concentrations of puppy walkers outside the New York area. Donna Wright is the local area coordinator for the Dallas-Fort Worth region and oversees close to 20 puppy walkers. She and husband David are on their fifth puppy for the Guide Dog Foundation, but Callie is actually their eleventh puppy; they’ve been raising pups for 12 years. This devoted group of people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area includes some very special college students who have committed to playing a crucial role in helping a person who is blind or visually impaired live an independent life. According to Lindsey Amos, one of the puppy walkers at the University of North Texas in Denton, there would be no puppy walkers at the college without Donna and David. “The Wrights have become my second parents away from home,” she says in an e-mail. “They are the most caring people you will ever meet.” Lindsey attributes the success of the UNT puppy walking group to the devotion of the Wrights, but Donna makes it clear that Lacy Mosier, UNT’s first puppy walker, and Lindsey have made the Denton group what it is. There are currently eight puppy walkers at the school, although up to 30 students have applied. With Donna’s guidance, Lacy and Lindsey became the group leaders for UNT, interviewing prospective puppy walkers, making home visits, getting parents’ permission, testing their fellow students’ commitment. “I have relied on Lindsey and Lacy,” says Donna. “The kids are required to attend meetings so that David and I can get a feel of how they will fit into the group, and together with Lindsey and Lacy, we make the decision to accept them or not.” Lacy was in high school when she first got interested in raising a Guide Dog Foundation puppy. Donna says, “We approved Lacy to join our (then very small) group when she was a senior. After graduation, she became a freshman at UNT in Denton and is the originator of the college girls’ involvement with the Foundation.” Lindsey met Lacy the first week of the semester. “I saw her with Newton [Lacy’s first puppy] and chased her down the hall, asking a million questions,” Lindsey recalls. “I must have been so annoying.” Inspired by the freshman’s example, sophomore Lindsey applied to be a puppy walker. “For the rest of the week, I sat in class with my phone in my lap waiting for GDF.” And then she got the call and was on her way to becoming a Foundation puppy walker. While Texas access laws allow guide dogs in training full entry to public buildings (including dormitories), the UNT puppy walkers did get permission from the director of housing. Otherwise, the campus is very dog-friendly, so the student puppy walkers don’t have to get permission to take them on campus or to class. “I just let the teacher know the first day that I have a future guide dog puppy,” Lindsey says, in case the dog makes any noise while sleeping. The UNT puppy walkers are part of the Dallas-Forth Worth area, and they all get together once a month for obedience class under the supervision of Donna Wright, but in addition, the UNT group meets monthly for outings of their own, picking places that will teach the pups how to act in different environments. Until recently, all the UNT puppy walkers have been women, but that has changed with the addition of Kyle Duffee, a senior and the group’s first male puppy walker. Why did he get involved? Kyle says in an e-mail, “I love dogs, but I’ve been dog-deprived for a while. Participating in the puppy walker program gives me the opportunity to fill that void.” His biggest motivation, however, is more personal. “I have a friend who was diagnosed with glaucoma and has partial vision loss in one eye. Doctors have said that he will be completely blind by the time he is 30. Doing something that will eventually benefit him and many others means a lot.” As for being the first male in the group, Kyle says, “It’s great. I don’t know why other guys haven’t jumped on this bandwagon.” His friends support him and adds that his parents “love what I’m doing and what Hi-Tech [his puppy] will eventually become.” Lindsey graduated this past May and her fourth pup, Ceil, walked across the stage with her. She plans to continue puppy walking and being the UNT group leader even as she begins grad school and working. “Being a puppy walker is one of the most important aspects of my life,” she says. “Having the responsibility to help a puppy become someone’s eyes is an amazing feeling. I don’t know where I would be if I had not gotten the chance to become part of this life-altering experience.” Photo: A group shot of all the University of North Texas puppy walkers. The caption reads: Standing left to right: Kristin Flowers& Gabriella; HiTech; Richard; Lindsey Amos & Ceil; Lacy Mosier; Jessica Harp & Kessie; Julie Lenhart & Midnight. Squatting left to right: Kyle Duffee; Megan Green; Chris Story. Not shown: Jessie Rue. Photo by Donna Wright Puppy Sponsorship A wonderful way to pay tribute to or memorialize a loved one is through a puppy sponsorship. A sponsorship not only helps the Guide Dog Foundation by providing critical funds but also allows you to name a puppy that can potentially go on to provide enhanced mobility and independence for a person who is blind or visually impaired or who has other disabilities. It costs the Foundation over $30,000 to bred, raise, train, and place a guide or service dog. Your sponsorship of $6,000 goes a long way to help offset the cost of an assistance dog that will provide enhanced mobility and independence to a person with disabilities. Many sponsors name dogs in honor of a loved one who has passed away, to celebrate a new birth, remember a close friend, or special time in their lives. In many instances, service organizations or businesses pool their resources to sponsor a dog. Each year close to 300 dogs are whelped by the Foundation. We have been very fortunate to have most of these puppies sponsored by generous donors, but a select number of sponsorships remain available. You will get a photo of the pup you sponsor, and during the sponsorship period, the Foundation will keep you apprised of your dog’s progress through periodic updates. There are many wonderful careers that await your sponsored dog: a guide dog for someone who is blind or visually impaired, a balance dog for someone who is missing a limb; a therapy dog to visit a nursing home or hospital. If your sponsored dog graduates from the guide dog program you will be an honored guest at our “Celebration Sunday” graduation ceremony held at our campus in Smithtown, New York. Please consider a sponsorship to help us continue to give the gift of freedom and self-reliance to our consumers. Kathy Genovese, the Foundation’s director of development, can help answer any questions you have about dog sponsorship. Please call her at 1-866-282-8045. You can also visit us at www.guidedog.org for more information. Looking Out for the Next Generation Forged in times of America’s greatest needs, the men and women who have served our country share a bond that goes beyond blood. For Jerry Kramer and Irwin Stovroff, two Florida neighbors and veterans, this bond has spurred them to action: They started the Boca West VetDogs Fund to provide guide and service dogs for the newest veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In six months, the Fund has raised more than $450,000. Irwin Stovroff is a veteran of World War II. As a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator, he flew on raids over Germany. Originally, a crew was supposed to fly 25 missions and then rotate out; as the war continued, the number of missions increased. In 1944, on what was to be the crew’s 35th – and last – sortie, the plane was shot down. Parachuting close to Nazi lines, the survivors were quickly captured. Stovroff had the presence of mind to ditch the dog tags that would identify him as Jewish. In a “truth is stranger than fiction” twist, his first interrogator apparently grew up in the United States and knew of Stovroff’s family. This man labeled Stovroff’s file with a question mark when it came to religion and probably helped save his life. The prison camp was liberated by the Russians in 1945, and Stovroff returned home to the States. A long-standing oversight was corrected in 2001 when he was finally awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during the war. It was not until 10 years ago, when he was 75, that Stovroff decided to get involved in veterans affairs. He now serves as a volunteer national service officer with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), counseling other former prisoners of war. He’s proud that he’s helped over 400 veterans get 100 percent of all the benefits they’re entitled to. It was while he was volunteering that Stovroff learned that the U.S. government does not supply assistance dogs for disabled veterans and that private schools like the Guide Dog Foundation provide these vital services. He was so inspired that he made an appeal in his Boca West community newsletter. When his initial effort did not generate much interest, Stovroff says, “I knew I couldn’t do it alone.” He approached his neighbor Jerry Kramer for help. Together, the two men met with John Getz, chief of the Blind Rehabilitation Service at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and a guide dog user himself, to discuss assistance dog programs. Kramer left convinced about the need for funding for these programs. Jerry Kramer served in the Army from 1947 to 1948 on occupation duty in Japan and then in the Army Reserves. In 1950, he was called to serve in Korea. As an infantry platoon sergeant in the 1st Calvary Division, 8th Regiment, Kramer saw action on the west coast of the country. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor in battle and a Purple Heart after being wounded near Chokki-ri, just north of Seoul. Kramer says he has an affinity and empathy for today’s soldiers. “I know what it’s like to be wounded.” After learning from Stovroff about the plight of returning Middle East veterans and how guide and service dogs could help make them the transition back into civilian life, Kramer says, “I was compelled to get involved and make a difference.” After the two men brainstormed on how best to get the word out, Kramer, at his own expense, funded a mailing that was sent to their Boca West neighbors. These first few steps proved successful, and since then, the two men have expanded their fundraising efforts beyond their immediate community. For Stovroff, “This is a golden opportunity to help veterans coming back now. This is probably the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done.” Kramer, who previously had not been involved in veterans affairs, now says it’s his mission to help the newest returning veterans get every chance they need to live again with dignity and self-reliance. “It’s why I get up in the morning,” he says, and his passion for this undertaking is obvious. “I have to do this for the kids,” he insists. “It’s imperative.” Photo: Jerry Kramer and Irwin Stovroff standing together. The caption reads: Jerry Kramer (left) and Irwin Stovroff (right) have joined together to raise money for America's VetDogs. Photo courtesy Jerry Kramer. Dog Treats Photos The Guide Dog Foundation unveiled Russ, the bronze life-sized statue of the guide dog of the late Wyoming State Senator John Ostlund, a gift from the senator’s widow Mary. When Senator Ostlund passed away, he was buried with the ashes of Russ (who had died just the month before) and his harness. Russ stands at the ready, waiting for his handler’s command to go “Forward.” Photo: Outgoing Foundation chair Heidi Vandewinckel and her guide dog; Wells Jones, CEO; David Marriott, chair, Board of Benefactors, and long-time guide dog users and Foundation supporters Sy and Millie Lederman and the guide dog they share. Photo by William Krol * Recognition Day Every year, the Guide Dog Foundation recognizes the generosity and hard work of the Lions Clubs and volunteers who play very important roles in helping the Foundation fulfill its mission. For the first time this year, Recognition Day honored both groups at a joint event. Our wonderful volunteers and generous supporters got a chance to meet and understand how vital they are to the Foundation and to each other. Two photos: (1) Volunteers and their families waiting for the ceremony to honor the Foundation’s Exceptional Volunteers for 2007. (2) Members from the North Babylon Lions Club enjoying lunch. Photos by Christopher Appoldt * In May, the Guide Dog Foundation hosted the annual meeting of the Board of Directors for Assistance Dogs International, a coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide guide and service dogs to people with disabilities. ADI members work cooperatively to educate the public, establish standards and guidelines for assistance dog training, and campaign for equal access laws. The Guide Dog Foundation is proud to be a member of ADI. Photo: Posed around the statue of Russ are Richard Lord, Assistance Dogs Australia; Darlene Sullivan, Canine Partners for Life; Nancy Fierer, Susquehanna Service Dogs ; Wells Jones, Guide Dog Foundation; Janet van Keulen, Hulphond Nederlands; Peter Gorbing, Dogs for the Disabled; Robin Dickson, Dogs for the Deaf; Linda Jennings, Loving Paws Assistance Dogs; Chris Fowler, National Service Dog Training Center; Chris Diefenthaler, Assistance Dogs of America; Corey Hudson, Canine Companions for Independence; and Jim Kutsch, The Seeing Eye, Inc. Photo by William Krol * Cocktail Reception The Guide Dog Foundation’s Board of Benefactors held a cocktail reception in May to thank the Foundation’s major supporters and to spread the word to new friends about the Foundation’s vital mission. Jack Radgowski, founder and CEO of Central Semiconductor Corp., hosted the gathering at Modzele, his magnificent home overlooking Stony Brook Harbor on Long Island, New York, and generously underwrote the entire cost of the function. A philanthropist, Radgowski serves on numerous boards and has just joined the Foundation’s Board of Benefactors. Photos: (1) Jack Radgowski and Kathy Geneovese, director of development, take a moment to smile for the camera. (2) Wells Jones, Foundation CEO (right), poses with Board of Benefactors members Cary Schiff (left), a real-estate attorney based in Chicago, and David Marriot (center), senior vice president of global sales for Marriott Corp. in Washington, DC, and chair of the Board of Benefactors. Photos by William Krol * Wes and Hedwig Pettinger of Texas so believe in the mission of the Guide Dog Foundation that they are puppy walkers...and puppy sponsors. The Pettingers visited the Foundation to drop off their latest pup for guide dog training. The Pettingers have recently developed a line of Vidalia onion salad dressings called “HiTech’s Original” and plan for all the proceeds from the sale of the salad dressings to go to the Foundation. Wes has also joined the Foundation’s Board of Benefactors. Photo: Wes and Hedwig Pettinger posing in front of their house with Guide Dog Foundation puppies Dusty and Lady. Photo courtesy of Wes & Hedwig Pettinger * 15th Annual Golf Outing Photos: (1) Joe Link, the national outreach coordinator for VetDogs and guide dog user, poses with Art Marvin, chair of the golf outing committee, on the putting green at the Port Jefferson Country Club. (2) Two rows of golfers in their golf carts, ready to hit the links. The caption reads: And they’re off! This year, the event raised over $35,000 to support the Foundation’s mission. Photos by William Krol * Over 500 of America’s disabled heroes attended the 21st National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Aspen, Colorado. For veterans who used assistance dogs but didn’t want to leave them alone all day, VetDogs offered kenneling services. With Janice Simonin, the Guide Dog Foundation’s assistant kennel supervisor, keeping a watchful eye, the vets could fully enjoy the days’ activities knowing their guide or service dogs were in good hands. Word got around, so Janice always had a full house. Photo: Janice and one of her charges for the day. Standing beside her is Joe Link, VetDogs national outreach coordinator and his guide dog. Photo by Jeff Bressler * Dallas, Texas-based puppy walker Shari Nederhoff, takes her dogs to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport to greet the troops as they return from overseas. Shari says she got involved with the North Texas Commission’s Rest and Recuperation Project two years ago as part of her home schooling group’s community service project. Since then, she and her family have committed to going every month. “The atmosphere at the airport terminal is one of pure jubilation,” she says. “Many of the soldiers get down on their knees and just love on the puppies,” and smiles light up the soldiers’ tired face when they realize a pup is there to greet them. Photo: Callie (a future guide dog) and Dusty get a hug from a soldier rotating home for leave. Photo by Shari Nederoff * Cardinal Health Enlists to Raise Money for VetDogs Mark Rosenbaum, president of Integrated Provider Solutions at Cardinal Health, presents Jeff Bressler, executive vice president of America's VetDogs, with a check for $59,145 at the closing session of Cardinal Health’s annual sales meeting. Over the four-day meeting, about 3,000 Cardinal Health employees -- most from sales and marketing -- donated the funds to VetDogs. Rosenbaum pledged to bring the total to $60,000. With a match from the Cardinal Health Foundation, VetDogs received $120,000 in support of its programs to provide guide and service dogs to America's disabled veterans. Cardinal Health is a leading provider of healthcare products and services to hospitals, physician offices, and pharmacies. End of Dog Treats photos Obedience is the cornerstone of a well-behaved guide dog One of the most important traits of a guide dog is obedience. Obedience training refers to the basic set of commands that should be known by any well-behaved dog. Sit, down, up-sit, stay, heel, halt, and come are basic commands taught by the puppy walker and should be reliable in any environment. The reasons that we do obedience exercises are remembered by a simple acronym. The purpose of obedience exercises is to establish the handler’s dominance as “top dog” in the pack and to promote acceptable behavior in specific circumstances, for example, “down and under” a restaurant table. In the photo, the handler (not shown) has control over the dog. The dog is under the seat, away from possible harm by passing customers, and the handler knows that the dog will stay quietly in this position, not scavenging the crumbs from nearby tables. The handler is comfortably relaxed and can enjoy his meal knowing that their dog will not disturb other patrons. The dog must perform basic obedience commands to complete its role as a guide dog. C - Control: The dog should be in control at all times in all environments. R - Respect: The dog should respect the handler and be willing to follow their commands. A - Amenable, agreeable: Consistent use of the same commands used throughout training, from puppy walker to trainer to guiding team. B - Basis of all dog training: Without basic obedience, it is impossible to teach complicated guide work. S - Socially acceptable: An unruly dog will not be accepted into the public domain. Story by Valerie Cramer & Nicole Poliseno, Guide Dog Foundation Trainers Recent Graduates Patricia Applegate-Loetz Guide Dog: Deca Ohio   Greg Beard Capable Canine: Hannah Georgia   Wayne Bristol Guide Dog: Polly B Florida VetDogs graduate   John Carson Guide Dog: Sweet Pea Florida VetDogs graduate   Stephen Cassell Guide Dog: Ned North Carolina   Wilson Charles Guide Dog: Sam Pennsylvania   Dennis Cline Capable Canine: Cindy Maryland VetDogs Graduate  Guy Cornils Guide Dog: Sammy Minnesota   Craig Dunlop Guide Dog: Sarge Florida   Cheryl Echevarria Guide Dog: Maxx New York   Darla Elsen Guide Dog: Traveler Pennsylvania   Walter Reed Army Medical Center Capable Canine: Sparks Washington, DC VetDogs Graduate   Deborah Gibson Guide Dog: Isaac Alabama   Tina Glowczak Guide Dog: Buddy Indiana   Christopher Gray Capable Canine: Thomas Maryland VetDogs Graduate   Lui Greco Guide Dog: Eddie New Brunswick, Canada James Helm Guide Dog: Meg Florida   Jeff Kisecker Guide Dog: Chief South Dakota   Jennie Lake Guide Dog: Mattye New York   Anthony Larson Capable Canine: Tomme Minnesota VetDogs Graduate   Kim Law Guide Dog: Effy Florida   Alphonso McFadden Guide Dog: Misty New York   Amy Miller Capable Canine: Sandy New York   David Minton Guide Dog: Sophia North Carolina   Jessica Morales-Smith Guide Dog: Leo Tennessee   William Murphy Guide Dog: Bucky Georgia   Sterling Glen of Great Neck Capable Canine: Gracie New York   Sherry Patrick Guide Dog: Friend North Carolina   Joseph Perrell Guide Dog: Jay Virginia VetDogs Graduate   Nino Pesce Guide Dog: Artie Pennsylvania   Roy Pickett Guide Dog: Mickey South Carolina VetDogs Graduate   Adam Pobursky Guide Dog: Trigger Wisconsin   Jose Ramos Capable Canine: Stryker Virginia VetDogs Graduate  Belita Real Guide Dog: Belle New York   Pat Schmidt Guide Dog: Gary North Dakota   Shep Shell Guide Dog: Page Manitoba, Canada Dickson Singleton Guide Dog: Jane Baby New Jersey   Linda Slade Guide Dog: Margo New York   Hank Stalhut Guide Dog: Ozzie New York   Jinnerfer Strother Guide Dog: Maggie Ohio   Patty Vohs Guide Dog: Penny Georgia   Peg Watts-Cartwright Guide Dog: Manly Pennsylvania   Jeffrey Wheatley Guide Dog: James Kentucky   Tyrone White Guide Dog: Maximus New York   Juanita Woodcox Guide Dog: Chevy Georgia   James “Eddie” Wright Capable Canine: Valor Texas  VetDogs graduate Events: 18th Annual Second Sight® Bike-A-Thon Sunday, September 16, 2007 to benefit the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. and America’s VetDogs – The Veteran’s K-9 Corps, Smithtown, New York On the back cover, in a graphic shaped like a dog house, with two dog bowls and a bone in front… Do you want to see what goes on at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind? Call us at 1-866-282-8045 or 631-930-9050 to make a reservation for a tour of our 8-acre Smithtown, New York campus. You’ll learn about the Foundation’s history, get to see the training areas, the puppy nursery, and maybe even a puppy or two. The Guideway®, the official newsletter of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.® William Krol, editor. It is available in print, on audio, and on our Web site. We welcome letters, articles or photographs, but reserve the right to refuse any material. The Foundation’s postal address is 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787-2976. Phone: 631.930.9000 or 1.800.548.4337. Web site: www.guidedog.org.