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Our Upcoming Events
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December 10, 2011
5th Annual Heroes Brunch
Honoring Dr. Albert T. &
Dorothy Milauskas and the
Milauskas Eye Institute
10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Agua Caliente Casino-Resort-Spa
Rancho Mirage, CA
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December 18, 2011
December Graduation
Ceremony begins at 2pm
Guide Dogs of the Desert
campus auditorium
or call 760-329-6257
for more details.
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Visit the Guide Dog Depot for your Holiday Gift Shopping!
 The Depot has some wonderful new items for holiday gift giving this year. Don't forget to stop by and pick up a gift for your favorite canine friend or person. Guide Dog Depot 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 760-327-5920 |
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Our Puppies Need Names!
Looking for that special gift this year? Giving one of our puppies a name that is special to you or someone you love is an unforgettable present. For $2,000, $3,000 or $5,000 you can sponsor and name a puppy.
Contact Kevin Towner at ktowner@gddca.org or call (760) 329-6257 |
Donate while you shop!  When you sign up at GoodSearch for your shopping coupons or puchases, you also donate to your favorite charity! Sign up now and help support Guide Dogs of the Desert. It's fun and it's free!
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 Guide Dogs of the Desert calendars make wonderful stocking stuffers! |
Guide Dogs of the Desert would like to thank our sponsors for their support
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 P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, Ca 92263
Toll Free: 888-883-0022
Phone: 760-329-6257
Fax: 760-329-2866
info@gddca.org
www.gddca.org
Guide Dogs of the Desert Training Facility
60-735 Dillon Road
Whitewater, CA 92282
Monday - Thursday
8:30am - 4:30 pm
Guide Dog Depot
Now Open!
Tuesday - Saturday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, Ca |
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Guide Dogs of the Desert Supports the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program
The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is a Department of Defense-wide effort to promote the well-being of Army Reserve and National Guard members, their families and communities, by connecting them with resources to assist and support them throughout the deployment cycle.
Guide Dogs of the Desert has "one of our own" supporting the DoD's effort. As probably the most popular member of the USAR 63D Regional Support Command's Yellow Ribbon Psychological Health Team, "change of career dog" AKA Private First Class Attie (formerly known as Peggy) is known by the 63rd's Yellow Ribbon families as "The Soldier of Love". Through the experience of (PFC) Attie's work with the Yellow Ribbon, Guide Dogs of the Desert has decided to donate some of our "change of career" dogs to be trained and matched with service members experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and with disabilities other than blindness. Pictured below is (PFC) Attie who provides both comfort and joy during counseling sessions with Army Reserve soldiers and their family members, soon after the service member returns from war.
 Through Yellow Ribbon events, service members and loved ones connect with local resources before, during, and after deployments. Reintegration during post-deployment is a critical time for members of the Guard and Reserve, as they often live far from military installations and members of their units, which can result in feeling isolated and challenged as they re-enter their civilian world. Yellow Ribbon helps unit members - along with their families - come back together, share their stories and struggles since being back from war, normalizing and destigmatizing common re-integration experiences. Commanders and leaders play a critical role in assuring that Reserve service members and their families attend Yellow Ribbon events where they can access information on health care, education/training opportunities, financial, and legal benefits. The Yellow Ribbon program also works closely and in conjunction with federal partners, including the Small Business Administration and Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs, to provide up-to-date and relevant information to the members of the all-volunteer force and their families. For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, please call: 866-504-7092 or visit www.yellowribbon.mil/index.php |
Thanksgiving Tips for our Animal Friends
Trina's Tip of the Month
November is an especially great month to get together with family and friends. Who does not love a great feast? The Thanksgiving holiday is my favorite holiday and a great time to remember all we have to be thankful for.
A lot of pet owners enjoy sharing in the festivities with their pets, but keep in mind that what is good for us can be harmful or deadly to our four-legged friends. If you like to give a little extra to your pet on Thanksgiving, then please do so out of their own food bowl instead of from the dining room table. Some great tidbits are listed below:
- fresh apple slices
- fresh carrots
- a little chicken broth over their food
Please check with your veterinarian prior to adding anything to your pets' diet, especially if they are currently undergoing medical treatment for another medical concern.
Please do not offer your pets cooked bones. Theses small bones become fragile once cooked and can splinter easily. This can cause intestinal damage or blockage.
Pay extra attention to where your pet is during the making and cleaning process. Pets are very quick to take off with something they should not have. Dogs have been known to pull an entire turkey off the counter. They are equally as clever if you throw the bones in the trash after the day is done. The clean up should be taken directly to an outside trash can and not left in the house where pets have easy access.
If you are hosting the gathering, please make sure your pet has a safe place to go. Some of our pets are sensitive to change and larger gatherings of friends and children running about.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
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Guide Dogs of the Desert is pleased to add to their Board, Lori Serfling.
Lori has an extensive background in the administration of biomedical research. Lori most recently worked in New York as an executive recruiter for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to this, she worked for the Coriell Institute for Medical Research as the Director for Business Development, and was the Director of Finance and Administration for the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute and the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center. She was appointed as a Site Review Consultant for the National Institutes of Health and consulted for other independent biomedical research institutes across the country. Lori holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from the California State University San Bernardino.
Lori has served on various boards for professional societies as well as non-profit organizations. She has been active on special projects for many community needs. Lori and her husband Aubrey, have lived in Palm Desert for the past 11 years. Please join us in welcoming Lori to the family of Guide Dogs of the Desert.
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Long Beach Puppy Raisers Flying High with Boeing
All of the Long Beach area puppy raisers have been busy the past few months with two Boeing Employee Community Fund events! Eight pups and their raisers helped raise Boeing employee awareness to Guide Dogs of the Desert's mission of providing highly trained guide dogs to our visually impaired clients. There were hands-on displays where employees could try on goggles to understand the varying degrees of visual impairment, LOTS of puppy kisses to go around, dozens of employees showing off their classic vintage vehicles and a great band (for puppy training, of course!).
A highlight for the puppy raisers were tours of the C-17 hangers where the planes are built! There was a follow up employee staff meeting with a presentation by "Flossie", now in for training. Our Guide Dogs of the Desert Development Department has been able to foster this relationship with the Boeing Employee Community Fund to further our efforts!
One of our youngest puppy raisers, Cydnee Anderson, raising "Jake", organized a booth for the Placentia Heritage Parade and Festival as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award.
Along with Jake's brothers, Abe and Baxter, and Long Beach puppy pal, Kansee; this middle school super star helped spread the word about GDD and puppy raising! Jake was also on hand as Cydnee was honored at Orange County Girl Scouts "Celebrate Leadership". Cydnee was one of 12 selected out of the 25,000 area Girl Scouts. This was a tremendous recognition for her outstanding leadership!
Petco Visits for National Guide Dog Month, the grand opening for the new Long Beach store, Unleashed, by Petco, and many speaking engagements around Long Beach for the Assi stance League and PEO chapters, have kept this small but mighty group busy! They are a great group of puppy raisers, committed to our two and four legged "family" at Guide Dogs of the Desert! If you know someone interested in volunteering to raise a puppy and Helping a Puppy Become a Hero, please contact Trina Began at tbegan@gddca.org or by calling 1-888-883-0022.
--Kari Weber, Area Coordinator Long Beach
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