Tuesday, June 29, 2010

News: VetCentric and Guide Dogs for the Blind Team Up to Provide Discounted Prescriptions and Added Convenience to Program Graduates

VetCentric, the leader in vet-sponsored home delivery of FDA and EPA-approved medications for pets, has entered into an agreement with Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) to provide their graduates (guide dog users) with special discount pricing for their pet medications.

Glen Burnie, MD (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 29, 2010 -- VetCentric, the leader in vet-sponsored home delivery of FDA and EPA-approved medications for pets, has entered into an agreement with Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) to provide their graduates (guide dog users) with special discount pricing for their pet medications.
To take advantage of VetCentric’s special prescription discount plan, GDB graduates simply need to register online at guidedogs.com, print the custom form and bring it to their local veterinary clinic.Read More

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Book Review: Blog Roll Updates

I know Blogs are not books, but I figure those of you interested in the Book  Review tag are looking for things to read and it keeps the tag list for being so huge as to be no longer useful.

Please Welcome to the Blog Roll:
After Gadget- Blog by an owner trainer working to raise Gadget's Successor.I,for one, wish her only good  luck.
Alfie's World- Alfie is a hopeful candidate for Guide Dogs of Texas and a Labradoodle (soooo cute!).Enjoy following his adventures with the family working to raise him in the hope he will someday be a dog guide!
Exceptional Dogs..for Exceptional People- Follow the adventures of Konrad a now six month old Canine Companions for Independence puppy.

The following blogs have been eliminate from the roll for lack of activity to make room for more active blogs that will be of interest and use to you my readers:
If you are reading own any of these blogs and start blogging again let me know, I would be happy to put you back on the roll.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Are You Prepared? Take Your Dog to Work Day

From Shiloh, Summit Assistance Dog
June 25,2010 is National Take You Dog to Work Day,which began more than a decade ago as an effort to celebrate all that dogs give to us,their human companions while putting the spotlight on all those dogs waiting to find their human. Having your dog with you for the day at the office can a wonderful thing if you and your are prepared... after all, still must work done.  I have been working with a dog at my feet 12 years now,and while it is great there is much preparation require for it to an enjoyable experience.

Tips to a Ensure Everyone (Dog and Human) Enjoy Take your Dog to Work Day:
  1. Bath and Groom your dog a day or two before the event. This will ensure they will not offend others with doggy smells,will be less likely to accidentally scratch people while shaking paws, and will be less likely to leave fur piles behind.
  2. Find out if their is anyone in your office who afraid or allergic to dogs and give them their space.
  3. Bring a Bed, Blanket, or Crate for you dog that was also recently cleaned to help your dog know it's space.
  4. Bring a baby gate to keep your dog in your office/Cubicle when you have to leave for a bit.
  5. Exercise your dog well before bringing them to the office. After all, a tired dog is a happy and well behaved dog.
  6. Follow these Introducing Your Dog to New People and Dogs Tips
  7. Ensure Your dog is solid all the following Basic Behaviors: Come, Sit, Down, Stay, Quiet, Wait, Off, Leave it, Loose Leash Walking, House Broken,and knows which toys are theirs (you don't want to find your printer cord chewed coming back from a meeting). If you dog doesn't have these down yet maybe you should keep working on it to be ready for next year's Take You Dog to Work Day. First impressions are lasting ones and we all want our dogs to make the best one they can.
  8. If Your Dog is working though any of the following problems you may want to reconsider taking them to work with you is likely to be too much for them (and quite probably you): Separation Anxiety, Fear Periods, Specific Fears (i.e cars,specific types of people, new places, new dogs, etc.), Generalized Fearfulness, Aggressiveness, Barking, Territoriality, Resource Gaurding.
  9. No Flexible Length Leashes in the office! Six foot straight lead at the longest. The locks on flexible leashes can pop loose and it is much more polite to have your dog on a leash that is a constant length so everyone knows just how much room your dog has. If you have a very powerful and or exuberant dog you may even want to consider shorter leash lengths for your dog such as four or two feet to ensure they don't they better of you through shear momentum, and help other to feel that you are truly in control of your dog.
  10. Make Sure You Collar and Leash are in good condition.
  11. Bring quiet, non-smelly toys and treats to entertain your dog. A bored dog may just go looking for ways to entertain themselves some of which you may not like, not to mention other people.
  12. Bring Supplies to Clean Up After Your Dog including Poop bags, disinfectant wipes, and a towel.
  13. Be prepared to Catch your Dog Doing Good and Reward them! Bring the treats and use the day to remind yourself and your dog how wonderful and good they are.
  14. Do not allow your dog to Disturb/Greet/ Invade the Space of Working Service/Guide Dogs. It is customary to give handlers of these dogs warning if you need to pass them such as "Dog Passing on the Left/Right" and to keep your dog at your side while passing. If you all cannot pass in the hall or other tight space let the handler know (if they were in the tight space first) that they can pass keep your dog at your side in a sit or a down leaving plenty of room for the team to pass. If you are in the tight space first again let them know you are coming through with a dog keep your dog at your side.  Please know that service dogs are generally not permitted to greet/socialize with other dogs while working as it distracts them from the reason they are there... to assist their partner with a disability. Any team you encounter today will be very grateful if they do not have be on the lookout for or surprised by unknown dogs in their path,because you are looking for them:)
If all of the above is overwhelming to you, consider leaving your dog at home on Take your Dog to Work Day and enjoying the dogs and people that do show up. Remember: Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD do it. Make the right choice for you, your dog, and your workplace.

    Thursday, June 3, 2010

    News:The Benefits of an Animal Friendly Workplace

    une 3, 2010 @ 2:11pm | Julie Tappero
    Midnight is a black cat that lives near our office. Occasionally, Midnight shows up at our door, asking to come inside and visit with us, where his toys and cat treats await him. During the Christmas season, we have Doggie Howliday, a day that all employees can bring their dogs to work. We even had a beta fish that lived with us for awhile too. We’re an animal friendly workplace!
    June 25th is national Bring Your Dog to Work Day. This day highlights the benefits of being an animal friendly business. Regardless of your own personal pet-preferences — whether you’re a dog-person, a cat-person, a fish-person, or a non-pet-person entirely — studies have shown that adopting an animal friendly workplace policy can benefit employees and businesses both.
    Recruiting good employees can be tricky, and costly, especially if you’re a small business. There are many people who are seeking dog-friendly work environments, and adding this inexpensive perk can help to recruit the right person. You can even list your business as “dog-friendly” in your recruiting ads, potentially attracting applicants that will give up higher salary or better benefits in order to be able to bring their dog to work. Also, when an employee is able to bring their dog to work with them, they often will be more apt to stay with their employer, rather than look for a new position and risk losing this valued privilege. Read More including some basic points on accommodating Service Dogs in the workplace.

    Coming up later this week: Are You Prepared? Take your Dog to Work Day and Service Dog Handling Tip #2: Helping your Service Take Sudden Changes in Familiar Environments in Stride

    Wednesday, June 2, 2010

    News: Vermont Increases Penalty For Animal Owners Whose Pets Attack Guide Dogs

    By Louis Porter VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: June 2, 2010
    MONTPELIER – Gov. James Douglas has signed a bill into law that increases civil and criminal penalties for those whose pets attack guide dogs for the blind.

    It is not clear how common the problem is since many such incidents go unreported, said Stan Greenberg. But when such incidents occur – as happened to him – it is terrifying and debilitating for the visually impaired person involved and their guide dogs, which are trained not to be aggressive, even in such situations.Read More