April 2013 newsletter Header
UPCOMING EVENTS
to benefit
gddweblogo

FREE CONE DAY!
Tuesday, April 9
Ben & Jerry's at the River
12-8pm
________________

Desert Dog Run
Saturday, April 6
Guide Dogs of the Desert
________________

April Graduation

Sunday April 14th
Ceremony begins at 2pm
________________

A Bunco Afternoon

April 21, 2013
Event begins 2pm Promptly
Grand Terrace Lions Facility
__________________

May Graduation
May 19, 2013
2pm
Guide Dogs of the Desert
______________

Colorado Guide Dog
Poker Run
Colorado Springs, CO
June 8, 2013

Visit our website
or call 760-329-6257
for more event details


VISIT OUR PHOTO GALLERY
July Labrador Pups

Volunteer Receptionists Needed at the Guide Dogs of the Desert Wellness Center. Monday and Wednesday between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Hours are flexible.
On Sundays we could use a hand in cleaning kennels.
If you can assist with all or part of these days and times, please call Patti Wheeler at
760-413-4442 or email at [email protected]

Our Administration
office will be closed on Friday's, starting the first week of April.


 Volunteer Puppy Raisers needed

Our 2013 calendars are still available for purchase!
Get one now for only $5.00!
Call us and order yours today.
760-329-6257
2013 Calendar

Guide Dogs of the Desert would like to thank our sponsors for their support
NaturalBalance
petco
Milauskas Logo
lionslogo

Board of Directors
Bob Niez - Chair
Cynthia Woods - Vice Chair
Randy Browning, MD Secretary
Jim Klocek - Treasurer

Board Members
Raymond McLean
Albert T. Milauskas, MD
Leonard Sigdestad, DVM

Honorary Board Members
Arnold and Kit Palmer
James Garner
Peter Marshall
Dick Van Patten
Tom Sullivan
Betty White

Our Staff

Management Team
Kim Laidlaw
Executive Director
Trina Began
Deputy Executive Director
and Director of
Canine Development
Curt Bergeron
Director of Operations
Bob Wendler
Director of Canine Operations

Adminstration
Mary Dean
Admissions Coordinator
and Dorm Manager
Linda Samulski
Student Services &
Community Outreach
Debbie Sloss-Coyle
Data Base Manager
Marjorie Griffith
Part-Time
Administrative Assistant

Shean Pao
Creative Manager

Kennel
Jennifer Pinder
Kennel Manager
Angela Coleman
Kennel Technician
Cheri Duncan

Kennel Technician
Mike McCullough
Kennel Technician

Emily Goodland

Apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Orientation & Mobility Instructor
Michal Anna Padilla
Licensed Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Orientation & Mobility Instructor

Lori Miller
Manager of Canine Development
Join Our Mailing List
gddweblogo
P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert
Training Facility
60-735 Dillon Road,
Whitewater, CA 92282
Monday - Friday:
8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 760-329-6257  
Fax: 760-329-2866
Toll free: 888-883-0022
www.gddca.org

Wellness Center
760-329-1282
FREE CONE DAY AT BEN & JERRY'S!!
Tuesday, April 9, at The River

Ben & Jerry's Icecream

I scream, you scream we all scream for ice cream. Join Ben & Jerry's for their Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April, 9th, from noon to 8pm. All gratuities from the day will benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert.

The Celebrity Scooper's this
year will be:

12-1pm - Anthony Alvarez, Gloria Rodriquez, & Manny
               "The Movie Guy", KMIR6
1-2pm -   Dan McGrath, EZ103.1
2-3pm -   Clarence Barnes, Crush 103.9
3-4pm -   Mitch Lewis, 95.9 The Oasis, Gary D., KJJZ 102.3
4-5pm -   T.L.C., "The Big 106", Dave Acosta, 99.5, Jeff Michaels
                @ KPLM, KJJZ, OASIS
5-6pm -   Scott Hines, Mayor of Rancho Mirage     
6-7pm -   Francoise Rhodes, KESQ3, Money Radio 1200,
               Julie Buehler, KXPS 1010

Puppies and representatives from Guide Dogs of the Desert will be present, as well as "Woody", the official mascot for Ben & Jerry's, and Guide Dogs of the Desert's own Ben & Jerry will be there.
Desert Dog Run Lets Ride Header
Troy P. Dunne Memorial Desert Dog Run
Motorcycle Poker Ride

Saturday, April 6, 2013

dog run

Our Five Hand Poker ride will start with a celebrity roll out at 10am, go up Hwy 74, through Idyllwild, ending at The American Legion in Palm Springs. We'll have live music and BBQ for purchase by Lowbelly BBQ.

There will be a $100.00 cash prize for the highest poker hand, a 50/50 raffle drawing, raffle prizes, and terrific vendors.

LETS RIDE!!!

Registration on the day of the event begins at 9am at Guide Dogs of the Desert. Staggered roll out begins at 10am.

Cost:
$30.00 registration fee for main riders
$15.00 registration fee for passengers


Guide Dogs of the Desert Thanks
Verizon FiOS SoCal and Marketing Werks


On March 28 some terrific volunteers visited Guide Dogs of the Desert to help with our Puppy Development project. Many things were accomplished!

Thank you for selecting us as your "Influence Change" community project!  Everyone worked hard and made big strides in getting things completed! Additionally, a big thanks go to Bo and Abe and Buddy for giving test drives under blindfold. - Thanks also to Sammee, our star puppy - named by Betty White, and all our dedicated staff for being as committed as you are to our organization.

Verizon also presented us with a $5,000.00 check! Thank you so much!
View more photos here.

Verizon and Marketing Werks Volunteers

The squeaky wheel gets the signal
By David Heldreth: Reporter Big Bear Grizzly

Photo of new sidewalk signal
Crossing Big Bear Boulevard is a little safer for Abraham and Maria Sanchez of Big Bear City, with the help of a few friends. Abraham and Maria are graduates of Guide Dogs of the Desert in Whitewater, CA.
   
The Sanchezes routinely walk from their home to the Community Market on Big Bear Boulevard near the intersection of Greenway Drive and Big Bear Boulevard. The walk normally wouldn't present a problem, but Abraham and Maria are both blind and rely on their guide dogs Luigi and Sally.

Abraham said he has been hit by a couple of cars at the crossing in the past. He said his wife has more trouble with the intersection than him.

Wanda Larkin, an employee at Community Market, said she finally had enough after several years of seeing the Sanchez's dangerous trips. She ended up speaking to H. Owen Miller of Big Bear City.

Miller reached Kiet Ly at Caltrans District 8 Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ly determined that the intersection wasn't ADA certified, and any intersection that is not up to ADA code can be upgraded through the California ADA program. The program includes funds for curb, audio signals and other improvements.

Caltrans made changes to the gutters and sidewalks to allow for better handicap access to the street. The final step was the wiring of an audio signal that beeps and speaks to people at the crosswalk. The audio signal went live Feb. 4.

"The new audio signal doesn't just let you know when to go, it also changes when emergency vehicles are coming. It gives me more of an idea when the light first changes and is ending," Abraham said

Ly and Caltrans spokeswomen Joy Sepulveda said that if there are any other intersections people wish to have evaluated they can contact Caltrans at 909-383-4631 or visit www.caltrans8info and submit a comment under the contact tab. Abraham and Miller said they hope to see a similar signal placed on Big Bear Boulevard at the Interlaken Shopping Center signal.
Trina's April Tips for our Canine Friends
Photo of snakes

 

 
Snake Bite Safety and Prevention Tips 

If you frequently hike or otherwise enjoy the great outdoors with your pet, please take care to prevent painful encounters with snakes. Bites occur most often in between March and October when snakes are most active. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), a snake bite is always considered an emergency-a venomous snake bite can be fatal if not treated immediately, and even a bite from a nonvenomous snake can be dangerous for your pets.

Avoid chance encounters with snakes:
    *    Keep your yard tidy by clearing away undergrowth, toys    

          and tools that make great hiding places for snakes.

    *    Keep walkways clear of brush, flowers and shrubs.

    *    Clean up any spilled food, fruit or bird seed, which can  

          attract rodents-and therefore snakes-to your yard.
    *    When walking your pet, keep him on a leash.
    *    Steer your pet clear of long grasses, bushes and rocks.
    *    Snakes can strike across a distance equal to about half  

          their body length. If you see a snake, go a different route. 

    *    Familiarize yourself with snakes who are common in your    

         area. In the event of a bite, identifying the type of snake may          help with your pet's treatment. 


Recognize snake bite symptoms:
    *    Local or general swelling
    *    Bleeding
    *    Intense pain
    *    Low blood pressure
    *    Dead tissue around the wound
    *    Shortness of breath
    *    Weakness
    *    Renal failure

What to do if you think your pet's been bitten:
    *    Remember to stay calm.
    *    Keep your pet calm, too, by limiting his activity.
    *    If your pet was bitten on the neck, remove his collar.
    *    If possible, keep the location of the bite below heart level.
    *    Seek veterinary care for your pet immediately.
    *    Treatment options such as cold packs, ice, tourniquets,  

         alcohol, bleeding the wound and trying to suck out venom   

         should not be attempted in place of getting your pet to the  

         vet-they may just waste precious time.
    *    Always keep your personal safety in mind and do not try to           catch or kill a snake yourself. 

    *    Even if you think a snake is dead, never handle him. Some  

         dead snakes are capable of inflicting a bite by muscle  

         contractions.  

God Made a Dog
...and then God made a dog....
GREAT VIDEO FOR ALL YOU DOG LOVERS!


Photo of Black Lab Puppy
March 15 was

 
Did we mention we need puppy raisers?
Sammee Photo
If you'd like to be a puppy raiser, please call
Trina Began at 760.329.6257 or
email her at [email protected].