UPCOMING EVENTSto benefit 
___________________Colorado Guide DogMotorcycle Run Colorado Springs, CO June 8, 2013 For more information, contact As1003@yahoo.com ______________ Summer FlingSaturday, August 17, 2013 5:30 Happy Hour 6:45 Dinner Hawaiian Luau Theme $30.00 per person For more information, contact Jim Klocek 909-215-7321 ____________________ Visit our website
or call 760-329-6257
for more event detailsVISIT OUR PHOTO GALLERY  Volunteer Receptionists Needed
at the Guide Dogs of
the Desert administration
and Wellness Center. Hours are flexible We are looking for volunteers to help clean the kennels daily
from 8am-12pmPlease contact Patti Wheeler at 760-413-4442 or email her at pwheeler@gddca.org if you would like to volunteer. Our Administration
office will be closed on Friday's, starting the first week of April.  Guide Dogs of the Desert would
like to thank our sponsors
for their support
    Board of Directors
Bob Niez - Chair Cynthia Woods - Vice Chair Randy Browning, MD Secretary Jim Klocek - Treasurer Raymond McLeanAlbert T. Milauskas, MDLeonard Sigdestad, DVMHonorary Board Members
Arnold and Kit PalmerJames GarnerPeter MarshallTom SullivanDick Van PattenBetty WhiteOur Staff
Management Team
Kim LaidlawExecutive Director Trina BeganDeputy Executive Director and Director of Canine Development Curt BergeronDirector of Operations Lori MillerManager of Breeding and Canine Development Bob WendlerDirector of Canine Operations Adminstration
Mary DeanAdmissions Coordinator and Dorm Manager Linda SamulskiStudent Services & Community Outreach Debbie Sloss-CoyleData Base Manager Marjorie GriffithPart-Time
Administrative AssistantShean PaoCreative Manager Kennel
Jennifer PinderKennel Manager
Angela Coleman
Kennel Technician
Cheri DuncanKennel Technician Mike McCulloughKennel Technician
Emily GoodlandApprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Orientation & Mobility Instructor Michal Anna PadillaLicensed Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Orientation & Mobility Instructor
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Monica Crow of Inter Valley Health Plan tours
Guide Dogs of the Desert
 Inter Valley Health Plan is a supporter of Guide Dogs of the Desert. Monica Crow toured our organization, June 4, 2013 and presented us with a donation check. Inter Valley Health Plan has provided water for our graduations, did a lovely magazine article about our volunteer Jackie Johnson, and our facility and employees of Inter Valley Health Plan have come to the campus to volunteer their time. Thank you Inter Valley Health Plan for all you do to support Guide Dogs of the Desert.
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What to Do if You
Find a Stray Dog
If your own dog has ever gone missing, you know what it a relief it is to get the phone call from someone who's dialed the number on your dog's collar or see your missing pet run to you at the local animal shelter. Here are some tips if you find a stray dog.
Click here for more information |
P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Guide Dogs of the Desert
Training Facility
60-735 Dillon Road,
Whitewater, CA 92282
Monday - Thursday
Please note our administrative offices are now closed
on Fridays through
the end of the summer.
8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 760-329-6257
Fax: 760-329-2866
Toll free: 888-883-0022
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Thank you to everyone who came to our
Congratulations to our May Graduates:
Jenna and Dee, Brendan and Abe, Tom and Bella, Charles and Jedi, Ann and BeeGee, Kim and Buddy and Noemi and Weeko.
Graduations will resume in the Fall
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Palm Springs.com: SPOTLIGHT
An Interview with Kim Laidlaw of Guide Dogs of the Desert
By Kate Buckley
 Kim Laidlaw is the Executive Director of Guide Dogs of the Desert. For the blind, a guide dog means increased freedom, companionship and safety. Since 1972, Guide Dogs of the Desert has worked to connect people in need with the tools they require for success. Clients who are legally blind, come to the campus to learn how to work with a custom-trained guide dog, who can offer them safe mobility, loving companionship and the miracle of independence.
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 2013 Petco Foundation "HOPE" Gala
What a handsome group! Guide Dogs of the Desert graduate Carl Ruiz with his guide Trooper, and puppy raiser Dennis Wheeler with Taxi.
They represented us at the Petco Foundation "HOPE" Gala in San Diego this month where Lilly Tomlin was honored. The Gala is held every year to raise money and awareness for animals in need.
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Trina's June Tips for our Canine Friends
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Most Beautiful Eyes Contest
Prevent Blindness America, the nation's oldest non-profit, eye health and safety organization, is announcing the dates of the 2013 "Most Beautiful Eyes" contest. The contest allows children across the United States the chance to win a $10,000 educational scholarship from Marchon Eyewear.
From June 24 through July 31, 2013, parents of children ages zero to 17 are encouraged to enter their child in the Prevent Blindness America Most Beautiful Eyes Contest by submitting a photo to the Prevent Blindness America Facebook page at facebook.com/preventblindness. The contest is sponsored by Marchon Eyewear, Real Kids Shades (RKS), Eagle Eyes® Optics and Walters Golf.
From August 1-31, the public will be encouraged to place online votes for their choice of the child with the most beautiful eyes. Each state will have one winner (void where prohibited), who will advance to the second round of voting. All state winners will receive a free pair of RKS sunglasses and a copy of the children's book "Jacob's Eye Patch"by Beth Kobliner Shaw and Jacob Shaw.
The national winner and two family members will enjoy a weekend in Chicago to attend the Prevent Blindness America Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, where the $10,000 educational scholarship will be officially awarded.
Click here for more information on the
Most Beautiful Eyes Contest
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Smart Eze and Johnny D graduated in November, 2012
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GREETINGS FROM AUSTRIA
A Graduate Update
Johnny D and I are doing very well. We have been extremely busy with our social commitments and activities, both at home and abroad. In April, we attended a European Union Experts training workshop for the VISAL (Visually Impaired Seniors Active Learning) project in Bognor Regis, England. Procedures for entering the United Kingdom with Johnny D at first seemed very complicated. But once all the paper work had been accomplished, it proved to be a simple matter. Even at Heathrow, before getting off the plane, the entire crew of the British Airways plane and officials of Animals Reception Center at Heathrow, rallied around us in admiration to welcome Johnny D into the country. Johnny D proved to be a master of his profession as he perfectly negotiated our way from Heathrow Airport to and around the London tube and the busy Victoria Train Station where we traveled southwards by train to Bognor Regis. Two weeks later, we were off again by train, this time, to Bratislava, Slovak Republic, a neighboring country, to attend a follow-up meeting of the Steering committee for the VISAL project. We have a lot more assignments lined up for us ahead. VISAL is an European Union innovative project, which is being carried out by seven Member States, to develop guidelines for Visually Impaired Senior Active Learning (VISAL) in the European Union. Austria is one of the seven Member States. We are two experts working on behalf of Austria on the project. For more information about the VISAL project, please visit: http://www.visal-project.eu/Smart Eze and Johnny D
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Service Dog Arrives At College Graduation In Cap And Gown, Becomes A Celebrity
 A young woman and her service dog caused quite a stir over the weekend when they both showed up to her college graduation ceremony dressed in matching caps and gowns.
"This is my service dog, Hero, after we graduated with our Master's degrees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign," "Hero knows over forty commands to assist me," she said, adding that the dog had been quite the "celebrity" at the graduation ceremony. "He loves to retrieve objects for my like envelopes, pens, my crutches, etc. He also turns off the lights, opens doors, and he pulls me in my wheelchair up ramps! I couldn't have gone to college without him." Click here for more information on the story. |
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Buy Groceries and support
Guide Dogs of the Desert!
 Use your Ralphs Club membership to help Guide Dogs of the Desert! Register your Ralphs Rewards Card and select Guide Dogs of the Desert to help our guide dogs every time you buy groceries at Ralphs! Once registered, each time you swipe your Ralphs Rewards card, Ralphs will automatically donate up to 4% of your purchase to Guide Dogs of the Desert! With your help, this can be a fantastic fundraiser to help our puppies become heroes to individuals who are blind.
Even if you've already signed up previously, you must renew every year beginning on September 1st. And best of all. . .it costs you NOTHING!! Here's how. . . - Go to www.ralphsrewards.com and sign in, or create an account if you haven't done so yet.
- Once you're signed in, click "My Account," it should take you to "Account Settings."
- Scroll down and select "Community Rewards" at the bottom of the list.
- Enter "Guide Dogs of the Desert " under Find Your Organization.
Our NPO number is 84848 5. Select " Guide Dogs of the Desert " and CLICK "Save Changes." This is a wonderful and FREE way for you to support Guide Dogs of the Desert. Not only can YOU sign up, but anyone with a Ralphs Rewards card can sign up and support GDD, so please forward this information to your friends and family! If you have any problems or need further instruction, contact Patti Wheeler pwheeler@gddca.org for assistance. |
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HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER!
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