Service Dogs: A Way of Life

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

News: Oregon Bill Defines Service Animal as Dogs

ORTLAND, Ore. – A proposed change in Oregon law would make it clearer what's a service dog and what's not.

If the Oregon bill becomes law, it would more closely match the changes in federal law when it comes to service animals. It would narrow the types of dogs allowed in places like grocery stores, boutiques and even apartments.

For someone like Patricia Kepler, who has been blind since she was 17 years old, a dog's not just a pet but a necessity. The increasing popularity of allowing dogs in stores and on MAX trains and buses, she says, puts her and her working guide dog, Nisha, at risk.

"My dog has been lunged at, especially in the MAX is the biggest problem," she said. "People bring their pet dogs on the MAX because there is no train operators in each of the cars and she's been lunged at and barked at. It's been an issue."Read More/Watch video

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Big Changes & Excitement Ahead!

Today is Shilo and my last day working for the University of Oregon supporting the Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities and the Youth Enrichment and Talented and Gifted program; we are proud to announce that we will be working for Albertina Kerr as the Program Manager for their Community Inclusion program! This is a big change on many levels as we have spent the last four and a half years surviving the economy by working no less the two part-time jobs at once going up to as many as four trying to make ends meet. We will be working full-time! Shilo will have a four-legged co-worker as well here, a black lab male from Guiding Eyes for the Blind!

We are also going to two conferences:
The Abilities Expo in L.A. March 15-17, 2013
CELA-National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference in D.C. April 9-11, 2013