November Header

Happy Thanksgiving from Executive Director, Sarah G. Clapp

Sarah and Button
Sarah and Button
 

Autumn crispness once again prevails in the desert evening air and thoughts turn to gathering with family and friends for the upcoming holidays. Here at Guide Dogs of the Desert, our "family and friends" has increased the past two months with clients new to the school, training with their first guide dog, as well as getting reacquainted with former clients, returning to train with a new guide. Blessings abound as we watch the growth and development of the client/dog team during their stay on campus. As a client, Sally, recently shared, "having my guide has given me 20/20 vision again."

 

All of this is possible - from breeding puppies, training them for service, to the ultimate result of hosting, partnering and training clients with their guide dog - because of YOUR most generous gifts to Guide Dogs of the Desert.

 

We are most thankful for you - our dedicated supporters - who make the mission of Guide Dogs a reality . . . providing life-enhancing opportunities for independence, mobility, companionship and security, free of cost to an individual who is blind or visually impaired. Your gifts are instrumental to providing "20/20 vision" through a guide dog.

 

On behalf of the Guide Dogs of the Desert Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers, our heartfelt best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Executive Director 

UPCOMING EVENTS
to benefit
gddweblogo

SAVE THESE DATES
____________________________
A BUNCO AFTERNOON
November 3, 2013
Begins 2:00pm (promptly)
Grand Terrace Lions Facility
Grand Terrace
Call Jim for tickets (909) 215-7321
____________________________
NOVEMBER GRADUATION

November 24, 2013
Ceremony begins at 2:00pm
Guide Dogs of the Desert
_________________________
7th Annual
HEROES BRUNCH!

December 7, 2013
Omni Rancho Las Palmas
Resort and Spa
Rancho Mirage, CA
____________________
LOBSTERFEST!
December 6,7,8, 2013
11:00am - 7:00pm
Jensen's Finest Foods
Smoke Tree Commons
Palm Springs, CA
____________________
SANTA PAWS WALK
December 21, 2013
sign up at
www.racewire.com or
www.active.com
Call Molly Thorpe
for more information at
760-413-6508
____________________
Visit our website
or call 760-329-6257
for more event details
_________________________

Get your Holiday
Guide Dogs of the Desert

2014 calendars for the
Animal Lover in your Home!

2014 Calendar
Guide Dogs of the Desert
calendars are for sale.
Call 760-329-6257 to
purchase yours now!
Cost: $10.00 plus $2.25
shipping per calendar.

NaturalBalance
Thank you to Natural Balance for making our calendars possible!
______________________

VISIT OUR PHOTO GALLERY
Our Latest June Litters

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES


Volunteer Receptionists needed
at the Guide Dogs of
the Desert administration
and Wellness Center.
Hours are flexible
_______________________
Volunteers needed to  
help clean the kennels daily
from 8am-12pm
Please contact Patti Wheeler at
760-413-4442 or email her at
[email protected]
_____________________

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert would
like to thank its sponsors
for their support

NaturalBalance

petco

Milauskas Logo

lionslogo
Guide Dogs of the Desert is a Lions California Multiple District Endorsed
project and an
approved Lions Club
International project.

Stacy Jacob Photography


We would like to send a big thank you to Stacy Jacob Photography who volunteered her time and talent to take portrait photos in her studio in Rancho Mirage for our clients. The portraits are timeless and priceless. Thank you for this gift to our clients.
Help Guide Dogs of the Desert  
while you do your Holiday Shopping!
  GoodShop Logo
GoodShop is a great way to donate to Guide Dogs of the Desert

How does it work?


Choose Guide Dogs of the Desert as your Charity of Choice


Shop at over 28,000 stores, like Amazon, Expedia or Staples

GoodShop will donate a percentage of your purchases at no cost to you!

Click here to Start!
Custom Braille Ornaments


Looking for a unique gift this year? Custom Braille Ornaments might be just the thing. Order Here
 
Board of Directors
Bob Niez - Chair
Cynthia Woods - Vice Chair
Jim Klocek - Treasurer
Clark Hallren
Raymond McLean
Albert T. Milauskas, MD
Leonard Sigdestad, DVM

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

Our Staff

Management Team
Sarah Clapp
Executive Director
Trina Began
Canine Development
Curt Bergeron
Finance, Facilities and Operations
Lori Miller
Breeding and Canine Development
Bob Wendler
Canine Operations
Kim Laidlaw
Marketing, Development and Media

Adminstration
Debbie Sloss-Coyle
Database Manager
Marjorie Griffith

Part-Time Admin. Assistant
Shean Pao
Creative Manager
Linda Samulski
Student Services

Kennel
Jennifer Pinder
Kennel Manager
Kennel Technicians
Angela Coleman
Cheri Duncan
Mike McCullough

Emily Goodland
Apprentice Guide Dog
Mobility Instructor and
Orientation and Mobility Instructor

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

 

gddweblogo
P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert
Training Facility
60-735 Dillon Road,
Whitewater, CA 92282
Monday - Thursday
Administrative Office
is closed on Fridays   
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
Kennel
760-578-8877
Join Our Mailing List
GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT 
NOVEMBER GRADUATION

Grad Dog
Please join us for a celebration of mobility and independence.
November 24, 2013

Location: Guide Dogs of the Desert
60735 Dillon Road - Whitewater, CA

Ceremony begins at 2:00pm
No personal dogs please
Please join us for our 7th Annual Heroes Brunch as we honor Dusty Wings of the Desert and their decades of support to Guide Dogs of the Desert.
Join us for Heroes Brunch

Join us for our Santa Paws 5k Walk Benefiting Guide Dogs of the Desert
Santa Wreath

Registration starts at 7:30am
9:00am start - Elf Dash at 10:30am
Mizell Senior Center - 480 Sunrise Way, PS, CA 92262 (Corner of Ramon Rd. & Sunrise Way)

Entry Fee
$35 November 1st - December 20th $40 on race day
$5 Elf Dash - up to age 10

Entry fee includes: Complete Santa outfit, t-shirt, goodie bag and souvenir photo. Complimentary milk and cookies at end of race.
Special "Doggie Bag" (treats, toys & bandana) for all dogs walking. Entry fee waived for all dogs. **Dogs must be current with vaccinations and remain on leash at all times.

Sign up at www.racewire.com or www.active.com. For more information call Molly Thorpe at 760-413-6508.

Sponsored by The Whitewater Guide Dogs of the Desert Lions Club and the Palm Springs Marathon Runners

Hope to see you there!
LOBSTERFEST!
JENSEN'S FINEST FOODS

lobster
December 6, 7, 8, 2013

11:00am to 7:00pm

2465 E Palm Canyon Drive
Smoke Tree Commons

Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-325-8282


Jensen's Finest Foods, Palm Springs, will hold their annual Lobster Fest, a fun three-day event held at the store's Palm Springs Smoke Tree location. Lobster Fest hours are: 11:00am-7:00pm Friday and Saturday; Sunday 11:00am until sold out.


The event takes place outdoors, under a large tent in front of the store and offers customers the option of eating in or taking meals to go for lunch or dinner. The featured attractions are whole Maine lobsters served split, cracked and fresh off the grill.  
 

Lobster Fest benefits Guide Dogs of the Desert and event attendees have an opportunity to meet Guide Dogs of the Desert representatives and some of their puppies.
 
Tickets for Lobster Fest may be purchased in advance at the Jensen's Palm Springs location or at the event. 
Change of Career for Dogs

Guide Dogs of the Desert has a success rate of 72% for dogs that are placed as guides. The National Average is 65% and we are pleased that the breeding and training program are the conduits of our success. Like other guide dog schools, some dogs need a change in career, and we we are pleased to work with other organizations to place them in a new career.
 
We partner with:

(1) Operation Freedom Paws: Places dogs with military personnel who have PTSD and with veterans with mobility needs

(2) Custom Canines Service Dog Academy: Places dogs with children touched by autism

(3) Save a Warrior: Works with veterans returning from war to help them cope with battlefield stress
ASPCA Tip of the Month
Thanksgiving Safety for our Pets
cornucopia-flowers.jpg
Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts-but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won't be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey, a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.  


Sage Advice
 
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delicious, but it, and many other herbs, contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough 

Don't spoil your pet's holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake 

If you're baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs-that could contain salmonella bacteria, leading to food poisoning.

A Feast Fit for a Kong 

While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner- with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy-inside a Kong toy. They'll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

 

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday! 
Puppy Raiser Corner
The Houser Family

The Houser Family with Rufus


If someone had told me that I was going to be volunteering for a year of puppy raising that included destructive chewing, interrupted sleep, deep holes in the backyard, muddy paw prints, and sheets of fur on everything, I would have thought, "You must be crazy." If someone had said that the reward would be unconditional love, empathy, obedience, pride in accomplishments, and an emotional investment like no other, I'd say, "Definitely sign me up!" I have, again, and again, and again. We have been a Guide Dogs of the Desert puppy raisers five times. One dog is now a successful breeder, three are working guides, and one is in training.


In 2007, my daughter and I were searching for a community service project that would fit into her busy high school academic and athletic schedule. Many years ago, I had been inspired by the book, "The Leading Lady: Dinah's Story", by Betty White and Tom Sullivan. Though no one in our family is affected by blindness, raising a guide dog seemed to be a perfect fit for us.


I volunteer to help these puppies reach their full potential. I feel that dogs are the happiest when they have a purpose. I also have a passion for the human-animal bond and being a guide dog is the epitome of this bond. To watch my puppy and its handler work as a team is a priceless gift for me and my family.


"I can't give you my eyes, but I can give you my dog."


Blessings to everyone that is involved in making a Guide Dog!

Janet Houser

Guide Dogs of the Desert in the 2013  
GOLF CART PARADE!
 
Thank you to everyone to everyone who decorated Santa's Sun Filled Holiday float and participated in the parade. Guide Dogs of the Desert won first place in the Humor Award category.  

 



Guide Dogs of the Desert HOWL-OWEEN Party!

Dog in costume
There were some really terrific costumes this year.
Check it out here!