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May 2014 - Executive Director Message
 | | Sarah Clapp |
While the desert "social season" is slowing down, there is still a lot of activity at Guide Dogs of the Desert. A new group of clients started their 28-day training on-campus at the end of April so mark your calendars for Sunday, May 25 Graduation at 2:00 PM! Your continued, generous support has made it possible to place custom trained guide dogs with these clients, enabling them renewed independence and safe mobility.
Thank you!!!
As we honor Mom's during the month of May, please join us as we launch the Tribute to Hana Online Campaign May 1, providing a 10-day window to make online gifts, in memory of Hana - one of our breeder dogs who recently passed away. Hana produced some beautiful puppies during her breeding career - puppies that went on to be successful guide dogs. Ruth and Jack Carey, Hana's breeder "family," identified an anonymous lead donor to kick off the 10 day Tribute to Hana Campaign with a $1,000 challenge gift. Tribute to Hana will benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert's breeding program. Check it out via the link on the website. Thank you, Ruth and Jack Carey.
And speaking of Mother's Day, if you're looking for a fun way to kick-off Mother's Day weekend, Friday, May 9,
Terry and Neil Barker are hosting the inaugural Pinot for Paws Wine and Art Reception at their lovely home in Rancho Mirage. This late afternoon soiree, chaired by Debbie Davis, will feature wines donated by Solano's Restaurant in La Quinta. Two of our recent litters of puppies have created some fabulous "art" which can be acquired during the Live Auction at the reception. Tickets are $75.00 per person and can be purchased by
calling (760) 329-6257. All proceeds benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert.
To complete the month, Alison and Al "Obby" Agins are hosting an Appreciation Reception in the enchanting gardens at their home in Corona on May 31. Thank you, Alison and Obby, for honoring our puppy raisers, Ambassadors and Guide Dogs Volunteers.
And to all who have been "Mom" in some capacity - biological or otherwise, we extend our heartfelt
best wishes for a Happy Mother's Day.
Sarah Clapp
Executive Director |
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Our Proud Moms!
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Wanda's pups were born April 4th
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Harmony's pups were born April 12th
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Chloe's pups were born April 4th
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New Board Member for Guide Dogs of the Desert
 | | Phil Dombrowski |
Guide Dogs of the Desert is pleased to welcome Philip A. Dombrowski as its newest Board Member.
"I really am very excited to be on the Board to help wherever I can. My intent is to work closely with the administration and the entire Board to help the organization achieve its goals, helping as many people as possible, in its uniquely profound way. I am humbled to have been selected."
Phil received his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science and Arts. His Master of Business Administration degree was awarded from University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
His career highlights are rooted in sales with Xerox Corporation prior to product management and sales with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Phil then went on to the healthcare division of Johnson & Johnson Products as Director, Professional Marketing and Sales.
Phil then joined Physicians World Communications Group and remained with them for over 17 years, rising to Division President of Professional Postgraduate Services and Health Economics Research. Mr. Dombrowski remained with the Group when it sold to Thomson Physicians World (US) as Sr. Executive Vice President. He also served as the first Executive Director of The Transplantation Society, an international medical society in organ transplantation.
His most recent professional appointment has been as President and CEO of the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower Medical Center. Since 2005 he has strategically focused and financially stabilized the organization, and expanded its reputation internationally. Phil plans to retire from the Annenberg Center this year.
Mr. Dombrowski has served on the Board of Trustees, Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, New Jersey), and served as secretary on the Finance Committee of St. Mary's Church. He is active in Sacred Heart Church, Palm Desert, as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister.
Married to Mary Ann, Phil enjoys snow skiing, snow shoeing, swimming, hiking, baking and traveling.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Receptionists: Wellness
Center/Kennel
Monday - FridayHours are flexible!!
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Volunteers needed to
help clean the kennels
daily from 8am-12pm
Please contact Jennifer at
760-329-7366 or email her at
jpinder@gddca.org
_____________________ Guide Dogs of the Desert would
like to thank its sponsors
for their support
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Guide Dogs of the Desert is a Lions California Multiple District Endorsed
project and an
approved Lions Club
International project.
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Photos for Guide Dogs of the Desert 2015 Calendar
Once again we encourage you to send in your photos for consideration in the 2015 Guide Dogs of the Desert Calendar!
Don't wait. We will begin working on it soon.
Please send your high-resolution photos of puppies in training. Be sure to keep the focus on the eye's of the puppies to produce the sharpest image. Set your camera at the highest resolution it can go. Images need to be large to print high quality. Please send them to Shean at spao@gddca.org.
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Puppy Raiser Corner
Do you have a great little story about your puppy-in-training? Did he or she do something just too cute for words? Write it down and e-mail it to Shean Pao at spao@gddca.org. It might be selected for a future edition of the newsletter. Please include a photo as well. |
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Guide Dogs of the Desert
Sponsorship Opportunities
Would you like to know about our sponsorship opportunities? Please Click Here for more information! |
Guide Dogs of the Desert
Partners with Custom
Canines Service Dog Academy
 For PTS, autism and medical alert training and placement.
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Board of Directors
Bob Niez - Chair
Cynthia Woods - Vice Chair
Jim Klocek - Treasurer
Patricia Craine
Phil Dombrowski
Clark Hallren
Raymond McLean
Albert T. Milauskas, MD
Sha Newman
Leonard Sigdestad, DVM
Honorary Board Members
James Garner
Peter Marshall
Kit and Arnold Palmer
Dick Van Patten
Tom Sullivan
Betty White
Our Staff
Management Team
Sarah Clapp
Executive Director
Trina Began
Canine Development
Curt Bergeron
Finance, Facilities & Operations
Lori Miller
Breeding & Canine Development
Bob Wendler
Administration
Debbie Sloss-Coyle
Database Manager
Marjorie Griffith
Part-Time Admin. Assistant
Shean Pao
Creative Manager
Linda Samulski
Student Services
Jennifer Pinder
Kennel Manager
Angela Coleman
Cheri Duncan
Mike McCullough
Jacob Mosby
Licensed Guide Dog Mobility Instructors & Orientation
& Mobility Instructors
Emily Goodland
Michal Anna Padilla
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You are invited to join us for a
fun filled evening at Pinot for Paws.
Friday, May 9, 2014
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
At the Home of
Terry and Neil Barker
4 Terra Vista Court, Rancho Mirage, CA
Meet the current graduating class and their Guide Dogs,
enjoy a variety of wines and participate in a
live auction of "Puppy Art" and more!
Tickets: $75.00 per person
Attire: Desert Casual
Please call and reserve your ticket by May 5th, 2014
760-329-6257
To benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert
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6th Annual Beaumont Lions Club & Calimesa Breakfast Lions Club Golf Tournament
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Check in: 7:00 am
Shotgun Start: 8:00 am SHARP
Calimesa Country Club  1300 3rd Street,
Calimesa, CA 92320
(909) 795-2488
$80.00 per player
BBQ, Refreshments and drawings at 12:00
For more information contact: Rob Manning at 909-446-0041 or robrme@msn.com
Benefiting Guide Dogs of the Desert and
California Lions Friends In Sight
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April 2014 Graduation
Congratulations to Rosa and Pucci, Adam and Valor, Chris and Rocky.
We are pleased to recognize career change teams: Richard and Captain, Falcon and the Wisconsin National Guard, Martina and King, Thomas and Albert T, and Jonah and Keikei!!
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MAY GRADUATION
At Guide Dogs of the Desert
 Please join us for our May Graduation
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Ceremony begins at 2:00 pm
Guide Dogs of the Desert Auditorium
Campus tours available at 1:00 pm Service dogs and puppies-in-training welcome. No personal pets please.
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Hana
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On March 21, 2014, Guide Dogs of the Desert lost a legendary dog from its program. Hana, a black Labrador Retriever, female, was puppy raised by Jack and Ruth Carey. When she was designated as a breeder dog, the Carey's became her Breeder Keepers until she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Hana was born November 4, 1999.
She was bred twice and she produced thirteen puppies for Guide Dogs of the Desert. Some of her puppies became guides and service dogs. One puppy followed in her footsteps and became a breeder who produced some more guides and service dogs. One her puppies, Trinket, at nearly eleven years old, continues to serve her partner, Don, as a faithful guide.
Hana was featured on Animal Planet's, "That's My Baby" show when she gave birth to her first litter of puppies. She was also featured in a nationally published article about service dogs and puppy raising. She received an award in "Bark Magazine's" "Forever Young" contest. As a result of Animal Planet's filming, Hana was able to raise more than $3000.00 for Guide Dogs of the Desert, by putting on a "Puppy Petting Party" that became part of Animal Planet's show.
Besides giving birth to those puppies, she remained with the Carey's for all those years, serving as a mentor and role model for the many puppies that followed her example of how to behave and conduct themselves as future guides and service dogs. She was a true "Pack Leader" for many puppies.
After the Carey's advised their friends and fellow Puppy Raisers of Hana's passing, many asked if there was a way to memorialize Hana for all that she meant to Guide Dogs of the Desert's program and to keep her legend alive.
Guide Dogs of the Desert, along with the Carey's, have set up a Hana's Breeding Program Fund. All proceeds from donations in memory of Hana will go directly to the puppy breeding and development program to help Guide Dogs of the Desert continue producing quality and healthy dogs for service to the blind and disabled community. Through this fund, Hana will continue in her legacy to raise much needed funds for Guide Dogs of the Desert.
If you would like to contribute to this fund, please indicate "Hana Fund" on your check or:
If you prefer to donate by phone please call 760-329-6257. Here is a wonderful 30 minute video you can watch, created by Animal Planet, called "That's my Baby" about the Carey's and their first birthing with Hana. View Video Here. Here is an article about Ruth and Hana in RDH magazine. Thank you for helping keep Hana's legacy alive and for supporting Guide Dogs of the Desert as they strive to serve the vision impaired and disabled at no charge to them for the services they receive.
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Donor Spotlight
Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation
It's all about family and passionate commitment to provide opportunities for people in need to succeed. Beginning with Mary Stuart Rogers, followed by sons Jim and then John - President of the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation - so much has been made possible through their consistent, significant support.
"My mother believed in helping people help themselves," John shares. "Guide Dogs is just one example of people disabled wanting the fullness of life. There are many options when someone loses their sight, but those who want to continue on their journey will work to make that happen. She was also a dog lover. As long as I can remember, we had dogs.
"We (Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation) continue to support organizations such as Guide Dogs of the Desert because you care about helping others. My mother also had a mentor who helped her form her foundation and make her dreams of helping the less fortunate come true. She felt it necessary to share her gifts she was fortunate in having. It was easy for us to follow those dreams. However, if she knew how many buildings had her name on them, she would not be happy. She was a private person.
"I think it heartwarming when we attend a graduation and we see the joy of the recipient when they receive their dog and also to realize the effort and hard work beginning with the puppy raiser that went into producing a dog so well trained.
"What we have is God given. We had nothing when we came into this world and we'll have nothing when we leave. While we are here we have the responsibility to share all of our treasures. Guide Dogs of the Desert is that organization dedicated to helping others. Besides, how can you not love the face of one of those puppies."
Thank you, Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, for encouraging the expansion of programs and services that provide the fullness of life to be experienced by individuals who are blind, with their custom trained guide dogs.
For more information about how you can be recognized as a member of The Maynard Society, please contact Sarah Clapp, Executive Director, at sclapp@gddca.org or 760-329-6257
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Guide Dogs of the Desert visit Safford Lions
Eastern Arizona Courier
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Contributed Photo/Safford
Lions Club
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SAFFORD - Volunteers with Guide Dogs of the Desert recently visited the Safford Lions Club, bringing with them four well-behaved service dogs. Lori Murphy, the Arizona area leader for the Palm Springs, Calif.-based organization, assisted by Susan Steele, explained the five stages of the guide dog program, whose mission is to improve the lives of the blind by creating opportunities for life-changing independence, and to conduct community outreach and education programs.
The program breeds its own dogs, which are raised by volunteer "puppy raisers," who keep them in their homes until they are a little more than a year old, exposing them to everyday sights and sounds. They then receive formal guide dog training in California and are placed with sight-impaired people, who spend a month on the campus with their new "best friends."
Murphy explained that Guide Dogs of the Desert has served the community for 42 years. It receives no government funding, and the services it provides to the blind are free of charge. The dogs bred for this program are typically Labrador retrievers, standard poodles and German shepherds.
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Trina's May Tips
11 Top Travel Basics
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
Traveling with your pet can be fun and rewarding - especially when you're prepared.
In addition to the pet travel "basics" (safely restraining your pet, allowing adequate time for "potty breaks," bringing comforting items from home, and so on), several additional simple practices can help make every trip easier and more pleasant for both you and your pet.
1) Schedule a veterinarian visit to ensure overall health and current vaccinations. Ask for a health certificate and vaccination records, especially if you're traveling out of state.
2) Make sure your pet's identification tags are up-to-date and legible. Also, be sure his rabies tag and vaccination are current.
3) Include your destination address and/or phone number on your pet's tags and cage/crate (if applicable).
4) Remember to pack water to prevent dehydration. To help ensure convenient feedings, bring along a collapsible food bowl.
5) Pack all medications and supplements to avoid missed doses.
6) Pack a first aid kit to ensure readiness in the event of an injury or medical emergency.
7) Exercise your pet prior to departure. A tired pet is typically much more amenable to travel. Also, bring a lead or harness to allow exercise during "pit stops."
8) Feed your pet at least four hours prior to departure to prevent car sickness. If the trip is long, feed a smaller amount than normal at least two hours before you leave.
9) Trim toenails to prevent snags and injury, especially if your pet will travel in a cage or crate.
10) Cover your car seats to keep them clean and free of hair shed on your trip.
11) Know your travel rules and restrictions, especially if you will travel on an airplane. |
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From the Eyes of Selah
 Hi, I am Selah. Until the middle of August, I was on track to enter family business after finishing my training at Guide Dogs of the Desert. That special harness has been the uniform worn by my parents, their brothers and sisters,... and generations of my yellow Laborador retriever ancestors.
Then one fateful day I was pulled out of class into the office. The staff was around the table. My files were on the table. There, in my permanent record, I saw the words "Selah has the potential, but does not work to her ability. Her natural exuberance and unbridled enthusiasm make her unsuitable for her chosen field."
And just like that, I was out. Management put me in the "career change" group---with the the failures who continue to go to obedience classes, but everyone KNOWS they've washed out of the program. My brothers and sisters stopped speaking to me in the halls. My parents tried to be supportive, but it was awkward. They were helpless in the face of this humiliation. They had no clue how to handle the situation.
I couldn't pass a food bowl without eating. I gained weight. I drank too much. I was miserable.
Finally, a bright spot on the horizon----I got word that I was going to Operation Freedom Paws to see if I could be retrained as a service dog. Mary picked me up and took me to her house. She told me I'd make a great mobility assistance dog, that my ability to "think outside the crate", which made me a reject as a guide dog, could be an asset in this field!
On the afternoon of Thursday August 22nd, I was brought to Jeff and Gwen's house. They were crying, and I didn't know why----I just knew I had to help. So I jumped in their laps and wiggled up on their heads and did everything I could to make them laugh. Later I found out that Jeff was devastated because his beloved service dog Lobo had died that day. Mary gave me a temp assignment to foster Jeff and Gwen, and orders to cheer them up.
For the first time in my life, I was finally able to give free reign to my inner jester. I put 5 stuffies in my mouth, all at one time, and then tried to bark. I leaped into the pool and swam. I flung my fat, wiggly butt on the couch and smothered Jeff and Gwen with kisses. I made friends with the cats. I liked these people. I was seriously auditioning for a full time gig.
By the time we all went to Las Vegas for the golf tournament fundraiser on September 9th, I could tell I was making progress. Jeff made a video of me doing zoomies around their (donated) hotel suite in response to the motorboat sound he was making. They were laughing hysterically. My plan was succeeding---and I was losing some of that "depression weight" LOL!
I knew I had the job when Jeff asked Mary if he had to give me back, and she said it was his choice.
The first time he introduced me as his "new service dog" I thought I'd bust the Velcro right off my vest. If Mom and Dad could only see me now---"Selah the guide dog washout" is on her way to becoming "Selah the stellar service dog"!!! |
 P.O. Box 1692Palm 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
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