Two by Four June 2015 Guide Dog Users of Canada Newsletter, Published Quarterly

Guide Dog Users of CanadaWebsite: http://gduc.caEmail: guidedogs@gduc.caPhone/Fax: 1-877-285-9805

Please find complete contact information at the end of this newsletter.

Editor: Bob BerriganAssistant editor, past member of GDUC Board: Laurie Scott

Your suggestions or submissions are always appreciated. Contact Two by Four at twobyfour@gduc.ca

In This Issue:

Editor's NotesPresident’s ReportArticle: Why Do You Need A Dog?In Dog We Trust – E-bookGone to the Dogs and Loving It – A Collection of PoemsManitoba HRC Releases Service Animal Public Consultation ReportRate Your Guide Dog SchoolHonouring Our Guides: A Note of Love from A guide Dog and In MemoriamTails are wagging for new guide and service dog guidelinesAn Interview with a Guide Dog, Part 1 What Quanto’s Law Means for Guide Dog UsersFido al fresco? New Feature: Happy Birthday, humans and Guides!How to Contact Guide Dog Users of Canada

Editor’s Notes

Welcome to our June 2015 edition of Two by Four! On behalf of the entire GDUC Board of Directors, we wish each and every one of our members, friends, volunteers, and other readers all the best for the summer ahead.

As reported to the membership by President Penny Leclair, Phil Goodwin has resigned from the GDUC Board of Directors. We all wish Phil well, and thank him for his many years of work and contributions to Guide Dog Users of Canada.

We are also continuing a feature that we started in our winter issue, Honouring Our Guides. If your guide dog or retired guide passes away and you’d like to share a poem, essay, or an obituary, please send it along to me at twobyfour@gduc.ca and I’ll add it to our next edition. This feature isn’t limited to just our dogs. In this edition, you will read a very touching tribute from a guide dog to a handler who recently passed away. Again, I’d like to extend to our readers the opportunity to remember all our guide dog friends, human and canine.

Another new feature I’m starting with this edition of Two by Four is a list of birthdays, of both guides and members. We all love our dogs, and want to congratulate and thank them. Yet we, too, each have a birthday. No, don’t worry, we don’t need to know the year! My hope is to create a database and publish a list of birthdays for the upcoming months. This edition will cover June through August.

Please send me your birth date, without the year, as well as that of your dog, mentioning his or her age. The email address is twobyfour@gduc.ca. Our next edition should be out in time for our exciting 2015 AGM in September.

Speaking of our AGM, I can tell you beyond any shadow of a doubt that this year’s extravaganza is bound to blow your socks off! We’re in Kingston, Ontario this time around, and we’re staying and working in the renowned Ambassador Hotel. Did you know that the Ambassador Hotel boasts the largest indoor water park in Kingston? It’s true! Bring your bathing suits, your sense of fun, and join us in Kingston! Christine and the Committee Crew have been working at a furious pace to ensure that each and every one of us will experience an AGM that we’ll remember forever. The call-out is coming soon with all the details, so watch your inbox!

Each member is important to this organization. If there is a reason why you joined, then maybe a friend who is a guide dog user may also join GDUC for the same reason you did. Please tell your friends about why you are a member and how they can become a member too.

Refer a friend to: http://gduc.ca/membership.

Please contact the Board members if you are willing to work on any of our committees listed at the end of this newsletter. GDUC can only become more well-known if we all do the work it takes to reach out to others. If you know of guide dog users, please give them the information to join. If you know of a group that would like information about GDUC, or would like to have a speaker come talk about what we do, contact the board at guidedogs@gduc.ca and we will try to arrange for a presentation.

Thank you to all members. Thank you everyone who supports GDUC with your lifetime or annual membership.

Finally, I’d like to thank all the contributors who sent articles, columns, and news releases for this edition of Two by Four. Believe me, I can’t do this job without your support! Thanks to Marcia Yale, Penny Leclair, Alan Conway, Rich letourneau, Vic Pereira, and everyone else who helped make this newsletter possible! I appreciate hearing from our readers with your comments and suggestions, so keep them coming.

Bob Berrigan, Editor.

Guide Dog Users of CanadaPresident’s Report

While you and your puppies have managed to work through a long winter and moved into the spring, the board of GDUC has been hard at work to improve this organization.

Though most of you don’t realize the amount of work it took to transition to the Not-For-profit act, (NFP act), which we had no choice unless we wanted to give up being a charitable organization,. I must acknowledge the effort Greg Thompson extended for many months to complete the paper-work that had to be done. Others on the board assisted Greg and together we succeeded.

In February/ the board assembled a package of comprehensive documents for the Canada Revenue Agency to advise them that we’ve made the transition to the NFP. Guide Dog Users of Canada have in our files a letter from that lovable government department acknowledging our documents; so they appear to like our new charitable purpose and activities. The transition is now complete.

Lynn Raloff spear-headed an important document which we will be voting to approve at this year’s AGM. It is important that all organizations have a code of conduct for members and volunteers. Again, with team work we will continue to improve this document. Your input will be important so we will soon have a list on which to discuss what this document will include if you have an interest in reading this and contributing comments.

Bob Berrigan continues to show creativity as editor of Two By Four. You are welcomed to share stories with him; he can use material and is a wiz at editing your message. Send bob your stories at:twobyfour@gduc.ca

Christine Duport-Switzer certainly has the AGM team busy and all plans are on schedule for a unique conference and AGM to be held in Kingston.

We have 80 members and growing, thanks to Patti Ellis and her committee. If you feel a sense of pride in being a member of GDUC, please tell a friend about how you feel and send them to this link:http://gduc.ca/membershipWith your help to recommend GDUC to friends who have a guide dog, we could reach 100 members before 2016. Can we do this? I think so. The technical committee has made our web site more friendly and versatile. Please visit and leave comments so we can improve the site even morewww.gduc.ca

You can rate your school, try it out and tell us what you think.

Welcome to the following eight new members of GDUC, we are pleased you chose to be part of our supportive group.

Bob Brown – life membershipPat Anderson – 2015 annual membershipMilena Khazanavicius 2015 annual membership Bill Blight 2015 annual membershipPat Gates 2015 annual membershipCharlie MacDonald 2015 annual membershipJackie Corbett 2015 annual membershipBarbara LeGay 2015 annual membership

I thank all members for the privilege of serving as your president. As long as trained guide dogs lead blind people in Canada, there will always be a need for a national group of guide dog users. Our rights need to be protected, and access improved. Guide Dog Users of Canada—the place to give and receive support when it is needed. Penny LeclairPresidentGuide Dog Users of Canada

Article: Why Do You Need A Guide Dog?

Written by Sarah Chunghttp://lowvisionrants.com/2014/11/29/on-guide-dogs-and-people-who-have-low-vision/

“You can see enough. Why do you need a guide dog?”

“Wow – Your vision is better than mine. Why do you have a guide dog?”

I am met with these criticisms all the time.

Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a mid-partial, have a good chunk of useable vision, and I work with a guide dog. Many people assume that guide dogs are only meant for people who are totally blind. Quite the contrary – Let me explain why I use a guide dog and how my dog helps me.

First and foremost, a guide dog is a mobility aid. In opposition to the white cane, I feel as though my dog makes life slightly easier even though I’m a partial. My dog can perform tasks that a cane cannot help with.

I don’t claim to be an O&M instructor or an expert. These points are just based on my own experiences. Always consult an O&M instructor before applying for a guide dog. Most guide dog schools require this before accepting an individual into the program.

Let’s break it down. I had to think about this. There are 5 key points I’d like to touch on.

1. Stairs: Although I can tell for the most part when I’m approaching stairs, I can’t always find that first step. Especially for stairs going down, my dog will stop before we descend the stairs. I tell her to “find the step” and she will stop just shy of the first drop-off. A cane can do that too, however, I feel as though there is a greater margin of error and which could result in some nasty medical bills. Since I’ve had my dog, navigating stairs in a public place such as an el station has been much easier.

2. Curbs: Sometimes when I use a cane, I miss finding the curb to cross an intersection. Pfft – That wouldn’t happen to a partial.. Uh, yes it would. Can you say danger? A cane can’t stop you from getting hit by a car if you overstep the curb, but a dog can pull you back. You can also prevent this by telling your dog to “find the curb” once you know you’re approaching an intersection. This ties into my next point.

3. Crossing Intersections: Contrary to popular beliefs, a guide dog cannot read traffic lights. However, they can and will pull you back if it’s unsafe to cross. Such was the case for me when I began working with Jim, my first dog. This moment was what made me realize that even partials can benefit from guide dogs. I was waiting to cross an intersection in Chicago. After listening for the surge, I determined it was safe to cross and told Jim “forward”. We took a few steps and he suddenly pushed me back a few feet. I felt wind in my face and looked to my right and saw the faint red glow of tail lights. I didn’t hear this car coming. However, I didn’t get hit by it because my dog was doing his job. Hybrid cars.. The bane of my existence. BUT – It was because of Jim that I am here unscathed.

4. Finding Objects/places: The “find” command is **extremely useful. Not all schools incorporate it into training, but if taught correctly, it can benefit the handler. Why? Because, I happen to be one of those partials who second guess what they see. So, the dog helps combat the urge to wander aimlessly until I find what I’m looking for. My dog can find trash cans, empty seats, and even the bathroom simply by me asking her to. This saves me a lot of time. We also work on targeting dropped items. Something I learned how to do by researching dog training.

5. Companionship: People think that these dogs are robots. My dog may be a mobility aid, but she is also my best friend. We get lost together, meet new friends together, and overall, provide support. She lends me a listening ear and someone to talk to. Sometimes I prefer talking to her than a person! *grin*

There you have it. This is a very short list, but it covers the main points.

I think the negative stigma that is associated with partials deter many from getting a guide dog. Whatever your doubts may be, consider the pros before you let the cons outweigh the decision to apply for a guide dog. I occasionally use my cane, but prefer being with my dog. Think about it. I know this is a controversial topic, but it doesn’t hurt to discuss this further.

**End of Article.

In Dog We Trust E-book

Written by GDUC members and volunteers, compiled by Volunteer Paul Bennett of LaBeag Publishing and GDUC President Penny Leclair, this E-book is now for sale online at COBO and Amazon. From Heart-warming to humorous, from thought-provoking to poignant, these stories and essays speak of guide dogs and the people who love them. All proceeds from sales will be donated to GDUC’s Wellness Fund. Click on the following link to purchase In Dog We Trust www.labeag.com Go to published and you will find the book and how to purchase it.

What’s more, Accessible Media inc., AMI, is producing an audio version of “In Dog We Trust”, narrated by professionals from AMI. This audio book will be available for sale in the near future. Keep checking our website http://gduc.ca for further developments.

Gone to the Dogs and Loving It - a Collection of Poems

If you are like most of us, your family and friends love dogs. Now you can give them a birthday, Christmas or thank you gift that is unique and will help Guide Dog Users of Canada. Thanks to Devon Wilkins you can purchase a ten dollar CD or MP3 download called Gone to The Dogs and Loving It. The collection features 27 poems about dogs. Many of the poems were written by Devon Wilkins, (past president of Guide Dog Users of Canada). Several Poems have sound effects or musical backgrounds. Every cent of the ten dollar purchase price will be used to benefit GDUC. You can order CDs or the MP3 download by going to http://gduc.ca/gonetothedogs.

A work of love by a dedicated member of GDUC - Devon has included "A Guide Dog's Prayer", the poem read at the 2013 AGM which everyone enjoyed so much. Get your copy today!

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission releases Service Animal Public Consultation Report

February 26, 2015 School superintendents, rental property owners, service providers and service animal users agree that the Manitoba Human Rights Commission Consultation Report on Service Animals is a step in the right direction to reduce the confusion surrounding the rights and responsibilities of service animal users. Since The Human Rights Code was amended in June 2012 and the term “guide dog” was replaced with “service animal,” there has been confusion about the right of individuals who use service animals to be free from discrimination, including guaranteed access to public establishments, and the corresponding obligations of employers, service providers and landlords, to ensure that freedom. “Service animals, especially dogs, are increasingly being relied upon to meet the specialized needs of individuals with disabilities other than visual or hearing disabilities,” says Yvonne Peters, Chairperson of the Manitoba Human Rights Board of Commissioners. “The evolution continues and this report reveals the path the Human Rights Commission will be taking to ensure the rights and responsibilities of everyone.” Public consultations were held in Winnipeg and Brandon in September and October 2014. Participants included service providers, school representatives, rental property owners, and users of various animal assistants. Associations such as the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association (MRFA) and the Manitoba Hotel Association (MHA) support the report and appreciate that its concerns are being acknowledged. Scott Jocelyn, Director of the MRFA says that the consultation and following report recognizes that clarification and education on what is a service animal is imperative to make sure everyone’s rights are protected. “I am especially looking forward to working with the Commission and other stakeholders, including the Provincial Government, to work towards further solutions,” he says.

Frank Koch-Schulte President of Professional Property Managers Association (PPMA) agrees and emphasizes that clarification is an important element when deciding when to consider reasonably accommodating certain animal assistants in rental housing.

The need for a better understanding is echoed by school representatives and business owners as well as service animal users. “The most important aspect of these consultations is to ensure service animal users do not face barriers and are allowed equal access to rental/condominium housing, employment opportunities, and public services,” says Ms Peters.Susan Hardie, the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies and service animal user, who attended the consultation, agrees with Ms Peters, adding that persons with invisible disabilities using service animals can face even more barriers and the proposed actions are important steps towards eliminating these barriers. “The education component is imperative and I look forward to working with the Commission to ensure that all service providers receive the clarity they require,” says Ms Hardie. The report includes a series of actions to be implemented by the Human Rights Commission and recommendations to other stakeholders. A revised Board Of Commissioners policy has been approved. Substantive changes will be made to existing guidelines and new informational fact sheets will be developed over the next six months. The report and the Commission’s Board policy on service animals are on the Commission’s website www.manitobahumanrights.ca.

**End of Article.

Rate Your Guide Dog School

This is your opportunity to tell others what's good, and in some cases not so good, about your guide dog school. We're sure others will find your opinions helpful as they consider their options for obtaining a guide dog.

Please go to http://gduc.ca/schools to access a comprehensive list of North American guide dog schools. Click the school's name to be taken to a page containing contact information and a link to the school's website. Beside the

school's name you will find a link which indicates the number of reviews for the school. If no reviews exist the link will say "Log in to Write a Review". You must have a My GDUC account to rate a school. If you don't already have one, there is a "Create a My GDUC Account" link near the bottom of the my GDUC Login page.

You can see how others have rated their schools in the following areas: Admissions Training At school experience Field support

Share it with your friends.

Try it today and let us know what you think!

If you have any problems please email thompson@gduc.ca for assistance.

Honouring Our Guides

In this edition of Two by Four, we offer two memorials, each very different than the other. Thank you to the authors for their heart-felt contributions.

A Note of Love from A guide Dog

Hello. My name is Narella, and I am a 13-year-old golden retriever who lives in Huntsville, Ontario. I moved there in December of 2003, to live with Michael Yale. He used to be very active in your organization, and I even attended several conferences with him.

A little over seven years ago, Marcia joined our family, and we eventually moved down to Toronto to spend eight months there with her and her cat. My master didn't like the city any more, and neither did Marcia, so we all moved up to Huntsville to a little house with a great backyard. Too bad that cat had to come along! Just kidding!

My master had a stroke over five years ago, and Marcia started working with me, so I could guide both of them. We travelled quite a bit, to places like Mexico, Portugal, Amsterdam, the U.S. and Cuba, and I guided Marcia through the big airports so my master could relax in a wheelchair and not have to walk those long

distances. She had never walked with a guide dog on any regular basis before, so I taught her what to do, with my master's help, of course!

On April 9, my master was not feeling well, so we all went to the hospital--except for the cat, of course! She never got to go out with us. My master stayed there for two weeks, and Marcia and I spent our evenings, nights and mornings alone together, then we'd go back to spend our days with him. He seemed to be getting better by April 23, but that night something happened and the doctor called Marcia to tell her to come back. He was able to talk when we got there, and I even licked his hand. But then he became really quiet and I don't know if he felt Marcia touch his hand to my nose--and then she was crying and I sensed a change in the air. He had slipped away, leaving the two of us alone.

I know some of you never had a chance to meet my master, and I wish you had--he was an amazing man who let me be me, with all my silliness unpunished. He seemed to know how to treat a dog, and often enjoyed being with dogs more than he did with humans. He even said that most humans weren't even as smart as my choke chain!

I miss him, and I know Marcia does as well. We're not sure what the cat thinks, but she's been supportive of both of us. We are all taking it one day at a time. Marcia says email or call if you like.

**A Note from the President:Mike Yale gave support to GDUC for many years. After his unfortunate stroke, he did attend an AGM. His advocacy energy and experience will be sorely missed within the community of people who are blind. –PL.

In Memoriam by Rich Letourneau

With great sadness, I report that our beautiful and noble big boy Oswin is gone. Susan and I had to say good bye to Oswin on August 10th, 2013.

On August 8th, I noticed that Oswin was not eating well. By Saturday the 10th, I not only noted his reluctance to eat but also noticed that his abdomen seemed to be full and he was beginning to be reluctant to move freely and to respond to my calling him.

We got him directly to our vet. After X-rays, an ultrasound and blood tests, the best diagnosis without surgery was that a bleeding tumor had formed. Based on

Oswin’s behavior throughout the day, we realized that the tumor must be continuing to bleed as his discomfort was becoming more apparent. We made the hard decision to release him of this discomfort the next day but had to escalate saying good bye to the same day as he was definitely letting us know that it was time to go.

He was unusually loyal and I never had to worry about him escaping from us which I have found rare in my guides. Although Oswin grew to be a very accurate and responsible guide as would be expected with consistent handling and love, he is the first of my dogs to show a presents out of harness that equaled and may have surpassed our working life together. Oswin had the ability to make any person entering our house hold feel comfortable and he didn’t have to jump or exude a lot of physical energy to do this. More than one person who was afraid of big dogs and shepherds in particular were comforted and even maybe somewhat healed of past bad experiences through Oswin’s gentle and caring spirit.

I chose to do more than the standard work with Oswin and after studying and learning from experienced mentors, successfully taught him how to retrieve reliably from scratch. This gave me a very great appreciation and even greater feeling of gratitude for all of the extensive and patient work that your instructors do. Of course, this process also increased my bond with Oswin. Once he understood what I was asking for, he would calmly retrieve items and bring them to me off leash. He would then wag his tale and nearly leap for joy when I had received the item.

Susan and I were very shocked and saddened that we had to say good bye to Oswin when we did. Of course, we were hoping for much more time with him.

Shortly after Oswin and I returned home from class, I became interested to know the origins of Oswin’s name.

From: http://www.meaning-of-names.com/english-names/oswin.aspIn English, the name Oswin means- gods friend.

There is no doubt in my mind that Oswin was brought in to our lives by God for a reason.

Here’s to you Os.

Editor’s Note:

All GDUC members are invited to submit memorials and obituaries for their own guide dogs, working or retired, or even our late members, as above, to run in the Two by Four newsletter. Please limit your dog memorials to your most recent dogs. These obituaries and memorials don’t have to be poems; simply words you care to share with your fellow GDUC members. We reserve the right to edit for length, although there is no set word count.

Tails are wagging for new guide and service dog guidelines

NEWS RELEASEBC Ministry of Justice Ministry of Social Development and Social InnovationMarch 12, 2015

Strengthened public safety, high training standards and improved access to public places, such as transit vehicles and restaurants, are key goals of B.C.’s newly introduced Guide Dog and Service Dog Act.

Guide and service dogs provide integral support for people with disabilities, such as helping individuals with visual impairment manoeuver through city streets and providing assistance with things such as severe hearing loss, epilepsy or diabetes.

If passed, the act will lay the foundation for a number of changes proposed to take effect this fall. It will ensure that individuals accompanied by a certified guide or service dog are guaranteed the same rights and privileges as anyone else. Also, dogs or puppies-in-training, when accompanied by a certified trainer, will be allowed to go into any public place where a fully certified dog can go, giving them a chance to get used to being in new and diverse environments before being fully responsible for their handler’s safety.

The Guide Dog and Service Dog Act would also establish high and consistent training standards. All guide and service dogs currently certified will continue to qualify as long as they continue working as a guide or service dog. However, once the new regulations come into effect, guide and service dogs will be required to be trained by a facility accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) – both of which are Internationally recognized training standards. Dogs that may come from another province or country without certification, or dogs that have since been trained through non-accredited schools, will have an

opportunity to be certified through a successful assessment by a designated third party, given they can demonstrate they are trained to the required standards.

To make sure the public and businesses are aware that a guide or service dog is certified, new requirements will be put in place around visible identification for the dogs – such as a designated tag or card for its vest. This will make it clear to business owners, landlords and transit staff, for example, that a dog accompanying someone is fully certified under B.C. law.

Tenancy rights for guide and service dogs will also be updated so landlords and strata-run complexes have clarity around the rules about peoples’ right to keep their certified guide or service dog with them, regardless of bylaws restricting pets. Retired guide and service dogs will also fall under the new housing rules, meaning that individuals who have relied on their guide or service dog for years will not be required to separate from it, even if a new dog has been certified to inherit its previous role.

Modernizing B.C.’s guide and service dog guidelines is a commitment in Accessibility 2024, government’s 10-year plan to make B.C. the most progressive place for people with disabilities in Canada. With this legislation, government is taking an important step forward towards creating a more inclusive government and a more accessible British Columbia.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton says, “Guide and service dogs provide a true lifeline for many British Columbians – their support allows their handlers to live fully integrated lives despite the challenges they may face. “These changes are about ensuring access rights for these individuals and their certified dogs and safeguarding the public through high training standards. They will also provide clarity around the rules about where guide and service dogs can accompany their handlers – for the public, for business owners and staff, and for landlords and strata.”

Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Michelle Stilwell says, “Guide dogs often provide more than just a service to people with disabilities – in many cases, they are family. With these changes we can make sure that a fully certified dog will be appropriately recognized and won’t result in someone with a

disability being turned away from a service. Modernizing British Columbia’s guide and service dog legislation – a key component of our Accessibility 2024 strategy – will take us one step closer towards our goal to make our province the most progressive jurisdiction in Canada when it comes to helping people with disabilities.”

**End of Article.

An Interview with a Guide Dog, Part 1By Bob Berrigan

It’s been a year and a half since I brought home my latest guide dog, Gus, to the small town of Alexandria, Ontario. He’s an 80 pound Black Lab, trained at Canadian guide Dogs for the Blind. I find Gus to be an excellent guide, and a dog with the best memory of my three previous guides. In honour of our 18 month anniversary, I thought I would give him a chance to share his own thoughts on what life has been like for him since leaving the training centre, both as my guide and as my companion. He’s quite a chatty fellow, as you’ll read, and in this first of two instalments, he feels no qualms about expressing himself. In our next edition, we’ll see if that changes. Oh, with due respect to common decency, I’ve edited out his profanity.

Bob: Hello, Gus, and welcome to our Two by Four newsletter!

Gus: Hi. Thank you. Where are the cookies?

Bob: You can have a cookie when we’re done.

Gus: Yeah, okay, fine. Just don’t blame me the next time your shoulder somehow bounces off a telephone pole somewhere.

Bob: We’ve spent a year and a half together now, and although I’ve shared a lot of stories about you, I thought it would be fair to give you a chance to share some of your own stories. Would you like to start with your work?

Gus: Hey, you’re the one who calls it work! I call it fun. I get to go everywhere you go, and that includes air conditioned buildings. I think the best time I have is when we’re walking along a busy sidewalk somewhere, downtown Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, or even Halifax. I had a great time in Halifax! But then again, I have a great time wherever we are. One thing you and your fellow humans might

not appreciate about your guide dogs is that our perspective is a lot different than yours. First of all, you’re up on two legs. How can you keep your balance, for Goodness sake? If I were to try that, I’d be falling all over the place. Anyway, my point is this: we have to keep people’s legs in mind. That’s not always an easy thing to do.

Bob: Legs? What do you mean?

Gus: Well, you’re what, six foot four? When you could see better, you just had to look over everyone’s shoulders as you walked. You took in the whole person. Us dogs, though, just think of it. We’re not even up to most people’s hips. So as we guide you as we walk, we have to make sure we don’t try to take you between the wrong pair of legs. After all, it’s what we see the most clearly from way down here. We’ve got to keep the right pair of legs connected with the right person, and guide you around them. And believe me, you humans have no idea how to use the straight line theory when you walk without a guide dog! Good Lord, you guys go at angles, you wander from side to side, you hog up entire sidewalks, you suddenly turn and stop and look into store windows or talk to strangers or throw change into someone’s hat because he’s playing the guitar, and I’ve got to keep track of each pair of legs no matter which direction they go. It’s not always easy!

Bob: That’s true! Thanks for doing that. Otherwise, it could be embarrassing.

Gus: Another thing that I love to do is make decisions. Because you can’t see, you probably don’t realize just how many things I have to choose without your knowing I choose them. As a matter of fact, Bob, you don't even know when I’m being really good because you may not even know what trouble I got you out of. For example, in the Ottawa train station, there are pillars and potted trees among the other obstacles in the way as we walk. There are also all kinds of people moving around in their funny directions... well, I’ve talked about that. But what I mean is that let’s say we’re walking through that train station, and we’re heading for one of the potted trees. I ease you over to the right a little so that we don’t walk into it, sure, but what you don’t realize is that I went to the right because there was a woman coming along with a baby carriage on the left. We wouldn’t have had room over there. Or I’ve had to decide whether to take you out of the door on the left because the door on the right is blocked by people kissing and hugging and crying and making all kinds of funny noises. Jeez, why don’t you just smell each other’s...

Bob: Never mind what you smell!

Gus: ...like dogs do when we meet each other. You certainly complicate your own lives.

Bob: Is there anything I do that you don’t like?

Gus: I absolutely hate it when you try to get those winter boots on my paws! Who thought up those things anyway, the Marquis de Sade? I’ve got claws, Bob, claws! It’s not at all like you putting on a pair of your own boots! You have socks over your feet, and you don’t have dew claws! Just imagine what it’s like to have a thumb on your ankle. Oh, of course I hear you curse and swear at me just because I run around from room to room for 20 minutes to avoid putting those darned things on. I’m not just playing hard to get, I am hard to get! When you finally tackle me and wrestle me to the floor, of course I get cooked spaghetti leg! I’m not going to help you! Man oh man, not only are they hard to get on, but I hear what everyone has to say about what I look like. No, thanks, I’d rather go out au natural instead of wearing those clown boots. I do have my pride, you know.

Bob: without those boots, your paws get full of snow and road salt. Doesn’t that aggravate you?

Gus: Well, yeah, it does. A little, anyway. But if I were to put on those horrible boots, then I wouldn’t have an excuse for you to wash my paws. If you didn’t wash them, then I’d have no excuse to lick them.

Bob: You mean that you really do like to lick your own paws? It’s not just a way to groom yourself?

Gus: I really, really like to lick myself everywhere, not just my paws! Oh, man, you have no idea! You can’t imagine the ecstasy of having all that hair to slide your tongue over. Now that’s an experience! Oh, sure, every now and then I forget and swallow and I cough and that probably makes me sound like someone is choking a goose. But yeah! Licking is just plain old fun! And what really makes me happy is to lick myself for as long as I can, and as loud as I can! Especially when I’m on my bed lying beside you and you’re trying to sleep! Come on, bob, don’t act so dumb! What else would you have to yell at me about? And who else could make your living room carpet so nice and wet and full of drool? I don’t see you doing it.

Bob: What else don’t you like about living with me?

Gus: Well, you do put the cookies out of my reach. You also seem to forget that in my heart, I’m a very social creature, and I want to say Hi to all the other dogs around. There aren’t as many dogs as there are humans, you know. That makes us relatively rare in the grand scheme of things. You greet your friends and relatives, don’t you? Yet here you are, always telling me to ignore that cute little blonde Wheaton Terrier we pass every morning, or I can’t join in the fun when I see two dogs playing in someone’s yard. That’s not an easy thing to handle without feeling some resentment. And since I’m talking about this, I’m going to let you in on a secret. There are some nights that this resentment really builds up, and I get up in the middle of the night and stand beside your bed and just stare at you, and I try sending the worst message that I can think of to wake you up: “I pooped on the carpet, I opened the fridge and drank your beer, I pooped on the carpet, I drank your beer.” Sometimes those thoughts are so hot that I’m surprised you don’t burst into flames on your bed.

Bob: People often think that dogs don’t have any sense of dignity. Is there anything that offends you?

Gus: Are you kidding? Of course there are things that offend me! I spend almost two years of my life learning how to be the next best thing to perfect. I can’t chew slippers, I can’t jump up and lick the crumbs off the table or counter, and I can’t grab all those geese by the lake at the park. but the thing that gets me the most, and believe me, I’m not alone in this, because I’ve talked to a few other guide dogs under the table, is when you don’t pay attention to me and where I’m going. I mean, come on! You need a guide to help you, yet there are times when you fight against what I’m trying to do! It serves you right if you walk face first into a branch full of wet leaves or if you step into a shin-deep puddle because you think I’m taking you astray. Hey, listen, we know what we’re doing, okay? We don’t want to see you hurt yourselves, so why not trust us? We don’t want to get hurt, either. I’d like you to keep something in mind: As nicely as you treat me, as well as you care for me, I want to treat you well and keep you safe in return, with the same love and care you have for me. It’s not just my work, it’s who I am. It’s why the trainers chose me as a guide. So please, pay close attention to what I do! I’m not deliberately going to do things to upset you. Unless, of course, it’s pooping on the carpet and drinking your beer.

In our next instalment, Gus will have a chance to answer questions all guide dog owners must wonder about. Thanks for reading!

**End of Article.

What Quanto’s Law Means for Guide Dog UsersBy: Marc Workman 2014-08-25 16:03:00

You may have heard that Canada’s Justice Minister, Peter MacKay, earlier this year introduced Bill C-35, the Justice for Animals in Service Act (JASA) (also known as Quanto’s Law).

Quanto was an Edmonton police dog that was killed while aiding in the capture of a suspect in October, 2013. Guide dog users may be wondering how Quanto’s Law affects them. Here is a brief explanation of the proposed law. It’s important to remember that we are only discussing a Bill at this point; Bill C-35 has not yet been passed into law.

The proposed law applies to military, law enforcement, and service animals – including guide dogs. Under this law, it would be a distinct crime to kill, maim, wound, poison, or injure these animals. It is already a crime to harm animals – including guide dogs – without lawful excuse (that is, without a legal justification). What Quanto’s Law would do is increase the punishment for killing or injuring certain animals – namely military, law enforcement, and service animals. For example, with Quanto’s Law in effect, killing a law enforcement animal while it is assisting an officer to carry out his or her duties would result in a mandatory minimum punishment of six months imprisonment. The current law does not require a mandatory minimum sentence for this crime. The maximum punishments under Quanto’s Law for killing or injuring a guide dog are the same as they are for killing or injuring a pet dog under existing law. However, Quanto’s Law would require that the courts give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence when handing out sentences against those who hurt guide dogs and other service animals. What this means in plain language is that Quanto’s Law would direct the courts to give out stiffer penalties when the animal that’s killed or injured is a service animal. This is similar to the way that an assault against a peace officer is treated as a more serious offense than the same assault against a civilian. In other words, there are no new legal protections being proposed for guide dogs, but if Bill C-35 becomes law, the courts will be instructed to take harm done to service dogs more seriously than if the animal were simply a pet.

Many CNIB clients rely on guide dogs to enhance their mobility and independence. Harm done to guide dogs is socially, emotionally, and economically very costly. It’s appropriate that the penalties for killing or injuring a service animal reflect the increased harm caused by those who commit such crimes. Quanto’s Law is a step in the right direction. Quanto’s Law, however, will apply only to harm caused by humans. The issue of attacks by other animals will have to be addressed at the provincial level, as has been done in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. You can find more information on Bill C-35 – including an RSS feed to stay up to date on the Bill’s progress – by visiting this page on Open Parliament.

Photo: Marc Workman, National Manager of Advocacy at CNIB, and his guide dog Nairobi post with two Members of the RCMP

The above content was written by Marc Workman and initially appeared on the CNIB Blog athttp://blog.cnib.ca/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?List=9028a3c9%2D88f2%2D49e1%2Dbd91%2D28de3e292019&ID=577&Web=cf0574a6%2Deb20%2D48b0%2Db0f8%2D124d7617ad52

**End of Article. Fido al fresco? NY weighs allowing outdoor dining with dogs. NEW YORK (AP) — Never mind the doggie bag: Spot wants a seat at the outdoor table, or rather under it.

New York is considering whether to join a growing number of states that give pet dogs legal entree, if not actual entrees, at open-air eateries.

Dog lovers and restaurateurs say the proposal would safely accommodate people who want to dine out with man's best friend in places from Manhattan sidewalk cafes to country ice cream stands. But a statewide health officials' group is against it, and at least one lawmaker is raising questions, and some restaurant-goers fear an onslaught of begging, barking, biting and other doggie don'ts — or, worse, doggie dos.

Owners like Michelle Vargas feel the estimated 500,000 dogs in the nation's biggest city have a place in al fresco dining and it's not on the pavement outside a patio railing, where the current law would have them.

"For me, there's nothing better than being with — I don't even call them my dogs. They're my boys," Vargas said while relaxing this past week with her poodle mixes, Luigi and Carmine, and a friend's wire fox terrier at an outdoor Manhattan park cafe.

American public health officials have long banned pet dogs from eateries, out of concerns including potential biting or transmitting germs to people's food. A 2013 study in the Journal of Environmental Health found such risks haven't been clearly quantified amid slim research.

Aficionados counter that dogs hang out safely in home kitchens and even make hospital visits. California, Florida, Maryland, New Mexico and some other states and communities around the country have opened restaurant patios to dogs within the last decade; North Carolina even approved cats, too.

After getting a unanimous OK from New York's Senate, advocates are pressing its Assembly to sign on this spring.

New York City's 83,000 restaurant inspections per year yield only about 170 tickets for letting pets in. But furry faces often can be seen while inspectors are elsewhere.

Dougie the poodle peeked discreetly from beneath owner Marni Turner's chair at a Manhattan sidewalk cafe table one recent day. If he could be a legit guest, "it would make my life a lot easier," Turner said.

State Sen. Kemp Hannon and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal say their proposed law would do that, while protecting people's safety by barring servers from petting dogs and banning dogs from the furniture, among other provisions.

The lawmakers, who don't have dogs, stress that restaurants could decide whether and how to host Fido outdoors. Options could include special sections.

The American Kennel Club cheers the proposal as good for owners and dogs. Restaurateurs are generally supportive, state restaurant association President Melissa Fleishschut says.

Albany pub manager Tess Collins would welcome having permission for patio dogs, since many patrons already bring them along.

"It's created a camaraderie" among customers, she says.

But the idea gives some New Yorkers pause.

"Who wants somebody's dog next to them, begging, when they're trying to eat?" says Erik Galloway, of Shoreham, on Long Island.

He likes dogs generally but notes diners can't be sure how healthy another patron's dog is.

The state Association of County Health Officials voted Friday to oppose the measure, amid concerns including cleanliness, bites and whether local governments could enforce tougher rules, executive director Linda Wagner said.

Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried said this week he was exploring the proposal's ramifications.

To be sure, there are some cautionary tales.

Moon Under Water was the first St. Petersburg, Florida, restaurant to seek a permit to welcome dogs on its patio after a 2006 state law opened the door. But the pub banned them after three months.

They sometimes yapped at each other and patrons and, in one case, vomited after being fed mashed potatoes, recalls manager Mark Logan, a dog owner."It kind of got overwhelming," said Logan, who also worried about insurance liability if someone got bitten.

Yet canines have been guests of honor for nearly a quarter-century at the Barking Dog Cafe, a Manhattan restaurant that promotes its patio's dog-friendliness."Actually, sometimes a dog is more behaved than we are," general manager Fokol Kaci says. "You can tell it, 'Sit down,' and it will sit down."

**End of Article.

New Feature: Happy Birthday, humans and Guides!

As mentioned in the Editor’s Notes, we’re introducing another new feature with this edition of Two by Four. Below you’ll find the birthdays of several members between June 1 and August 31.

Please send your own birthdays, as well as those of your guides, to twobyfour@gduc.ca, and I’ll include them in each subsequent edition of the newsletter.

Here are the human birthdays for this edition. Sadly, no word of any dogs with birthdays within the dates mentioned above:

Marcia Yale, June 14.Matthew Dierckens, June 19. Madeline Peters, June 19.Mich Verrier, June 23. Penny Leclair, August 10.Alan Conway, August 10.

Happy Birthday to all of you from the members and friends of GDUC, the Board of Directors, the Two by Four Editorial personnel, and of course, all our guides! They send out a collective “Woof!” of congratulations, and hope for a small piece of whatever cake you may enjoy... or at least, the crumbs that fall on the floor.

How to Contact Guide Dog Users of Canada

Website: http://gduc.caEmail: guidedogs@gduc.caPhone/Fax: 1-877-285-9805

Mailing address:Guide Dog Users of Canada300 Hedonics RoadApt. 1009Peterborough, ON K9J 7T1

GDUC Committees and Representatives

Current Board Members

Penny Leclair, PresidentEmail: president@gduc.ca

Lynn Raloff, Vice President and Wellness Fund Committee ChairEmail: raloff@gduc.ca

Greg Thompson, Treasurer and Technical Committee ChairEmail: treasurer@gduc.ca

Bob Berrigan, Secretary and editor of Two by FourEmail: guidedogs@gduc.ca

Directors at Large:

Christine Duport-Switzer, Conference/AGM Committee ChairEmail: agm-registration@gduc.ca

Patti Ellis, Member Relations Committee ChairEmail: memberships@gduc.ca

Susan Neveu-Bhatti

Devon Wilkins, Past President and Public Relations Committee Chair

GDUC Representatives

Alan Conway heads up the Fake Service Dogs Committee and attends meetings of the Canadian Transportation Agency Advisory Committee on our behalf.

Penny Leclair is our representative on the Consumer Access Group, CAG. She is also the chairperson of that organization.

This concludes the June 2015 edition of Two by Four, Guide Dog Users of Canada's quarterly newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed reading this issue. If you would like to contribute material for inclusion in a future edition, please submit either a hyperlink to an article, or send an article as a Word document to twobyfour@gduc.ca with the words “Submission For Two by Four” in the subject line. If used, we’ll gladly acknowledge your contribution.

Thanks to all our members who contributed to this issue, and thanks for the help from President Penny Leclair, my other fellow board members, and as always, assistant editor Laurie Scott for her sharp observations, suggestions, and recommendations. These truly streamline Two by Four. Thanks, Everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Bob Berrigan, Editor and Secretary of the GDUC Board