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Guide Dogs of the Desert - September 2009 Newsletter
  
Guide Dogs of the Desert is Moving 

Hemet Photo
Guide Dogs of the Desert is happy to announce that it will relocate over the coming months to a beautiful 5-acre ranch in Hemet.  We have long faced numerous challenges in our current location, including wind, heat and a danger from fire. 

This new location will enable us to put all functions in closer proximity, create upgraded residential dorms, increase the number of kennels that we need to meet our mission, and greatly diminish the every day driving for our trainers to and from routes. 

In addition to the weather being cooler for our dogs in training, this new property will also give us the opportunity to train our students all year long.
Please click here for photos.

We will still have our presence in the Coachella Valley with our Guide Dog Depot in Palm Springs, and we will continue to hold events, puppy training classes, and our students will continue to use Palm Springs as part of their training. In addition we will also have adminstrative offices located in downtown Palm Springs next to the Guide Dog Depot.

We don't anticipate being in our new location until January 2010.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. 

Best regards, and thank you for your continued support,

Roccie Hill, Executive Director
 

A special thank you to everyone who worked so hard on making the Summer Fling so successful!
Guide Dog Club
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coming Soon! The 2010 Calendars. Reserve your copy today!
 
2010 Calendar 
Macy's Guide Dog Fundraiser
Macy's

 
 

Saturday, October, 17, 2009
 
When you purchase a Macy's Community Shopping Day ticket directly from Guide Dogs of the Desert, ticket proceeds will go to Guide Dogs of the Desert.
 
Purchase a $10 ticket for Macy's Community Shopping Day and enjoy a savings pass for 10 - 20% off almost everything at Macy's, a $10 off coupon for one purchase of $25 or more at selected stores, special samplings from event sponsors, and the chance to win a $500 Macy's shopping spree.
 
Please contact Kim Laidlaw at Guide Dogs of the Desert to purchase your ticket and enjoy a day of shopping! Tickets are $10 each and fully tax-deductible.
 
Trina's Tip of the Month
 
trina pup
September is back to school month, even for our four legged friends. If you have found that you have taken some time off from training with your dog, it is time to get started once again. Challenge your dog to something new each day after they have the basic commands of Sit, Down, Come, Stay, Heel and Stand. 
  • Use your Stay command to build self control. 
  • Ask your dog to sit before giving them their food.
  • Dogs by 1 yr. should have a 1 minute sit/stay and a 3 minute down/stay.
  • Dogs by 2 yr. should have a 3 minute sit/stay and a 5 minute down stay.

As your dog improves begin to work around distractions such as birds and food.

Safety Tip, never turn your dog loose to play with a metal training collar or slip collar on. These can easily become tangled in a bush or in the mouth of another dog. Because they have the ability to tighten it can easily cause harm to your pet. Your pet should only be turned loose in the yard with a nylon collar with their ID tags on.
 
Nose to Tail Animal Massage

Pet Massage

Guide Dogs of the Desert has this talented man who comes and volunteers to massage our dogs.  His name is Tom Galligan and he is a Certified Animal Massage Practitioner. Tom also volunteers for The Living Desert. Tom will be working with our next class, massaging the dogs going into class. He will also teach our clients to do massage on their animals. We highly recommend Tom in your regimen of well dog care!

Benefits of Massage to your animal:
  • Increases flexibility and range of motion.
  • Relieves muscular restrictions, tightness, stiffness and spasms.
  • Interrupts the pain cycle.
  • Helps reduce excessive scar formation in soft tissue.
  • Strengthens the immune system.
  • Transmits the psychological benefits of touch.
  • Maintains health.
  • Relieves stress.
  • Helps maintain a healthy skin and shiny coat.
  • Promotes an overall sense of wellness and relaxation.

Working Dogs such as search and rescue, assistance, therapy and police dogs are under a lot of pressure in their daily lives. Massage will help relieve the stress while soothing tired muscles after a long day on the job.

Older Dogs often suffer from problems such as arthritis, stiffness, and other joint problems. Massage is a gentle and effective way to ease muscle tension and decrease stiffness. It will also help to increase muscle tone, circulation and flexibility in less active dogs.
 
To make an appointment call:
Tom Galligan. Certified Animal Massage Practitioner. (760) 987-1690 desrtbikr@aol.com
Used Glasses Needed
 
glasses
Lions Sight Clinic is looking for "used" glasses to give to underpriviledged families. Please drop off any unneeded glasses to Guide Dogs of the Desert. We appreciate any and all donations. 
Guide Dogs of the Desert 
 would  like to thank our sponsors for their support.
  
petco
 
NaturalBalance
 
4-star
 
4-star 
Join Our Mailing List
Guide Dogs of the Desert is on Facebook. Join Facebook, talk with other GDD friends and help support us.
Upcoming Events   
  _________________________ 
 September 27
 Milauskas Eye Institute "Help a Puppy Become a Hero" Golf Tournament  
______________________
October 11
October 11 Graduation 
Please join us for a Celebration of Mobility and Independence at the Whitewater Campus

2pm - Ceremony

All service animals and service animals in training are welcome. Please no personal pets.
Visit our website for more info 
 __________________________

October 25
Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade
_____________________ 
December 12
3rd Annual Heroes Brunch
Agua Caliente Casino  Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage
 
DOG NEWS
Stray dog saves the life of a boy with Down Syndrom. 
Read more here... 

restaurant law

 Guidelines for Service Animals
restaurant
For those who are not aware of the laws pertaining to service animals, here's some information about the Federal ADA laws. 
Combined Federal Campagin
CFC Logo 
Guide Dogs of the Desert is honored to have been included in the Coachella Valley & Twenty Nine Palms Area Combined Federal Campaign. Any federal employee in this region can donate to the organization of their choice through this campaign. http://www.opm.gov/cfc/

If you are a federal employee, you can help Guide Dogs of the Desert. Donate and ask your co-workers to donate to Guide Dogs of the Desert and please ask your local CFC coordinator to request a representative from Guide Dogs of the Desert to come and make a presentation to your employee group. 
 
We would love to bring one of our dogs and talk about the difference we can all make in the lives of the blind. If you know a federal employee, please pass this information on to them.

We appreciate your help in getting the word out about this great opportunity for Guide Dogs of the Desert !
 
Ralphs Rewards
ralphs A big thank you to all who purchased groceries at Ralphs this year. A percentage of your grocery bill went to Guide Dogs of the Desert and was a huge sucess. Please take a moment to re-register for the coming season starting September 1st.  Please use Guide Dogs of the Desert NPO #84848 when you register. Re-register at this link.
 
Entertainment Books
 for Sale
entertainment book 
 
GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT CLUB FUNDRAISER
It's that time of year again when we are selling Entertainment Books to support

gddweblogo

The 2010 books will be available on August 20, 2009. Prices range from $25-$45. Prices will go up Oct. 1st. So order your book Today!
 
Enter your Guide Dogs of the Desert ID #854066 to give GDD credit. 
 
For more information please call Shirlee Ann White at
(949)-500-9965 or email mamashirlee@hotmail.com with your orders as soon as possible. Order books for other areas or states at www.entertainment.com
 
 
gddweblogo 
 
P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92282
 
Guide Dog Depot
125 Tahquitz Canyon
Palm Springs, CA
 
Campus
60740 Dillon Road
Whitewater, CA 92282

 
Phone: 760.329.6257
Fax: 760.329.2866

www.gddca.org