Hi Friends,
Whew, it’s a hot one, isn’t it? Whether you’re getting out early before the pavement heats up or finding a shady spot to unwind with your guide dog by your side, we hope you’re staying cool and taking care.
This issue of Embark is all about balance. We’ve got thoughtful ideas for keeping your dog’s work and play in harmony, updates from fellow graduates, new resources, upcoming events, and a look at what’s happening behind the scenes with our staff. There’s even a tricky word scramble if you’re up for the challenge.
So, take a breath, grab something cold to drink, and settle in for a little community connection.
In hopeful hydration,
Meka White and The Embark Team
Take a few moments to try to unscramble these dog names. Pulled from a pool of recent guide dog graduates, you are sure to find a name that you recognize. The answer key will be at the end of the newsletter:
1. egioha
2. isela
3. amrani
4. okomok
5. eperek
6. losilh
7. alefb
8. sysedoy
9. blykoron
10. sywhip
By Melissa Smith, Regional Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Five years ago, during the height of the pandemic, I wrote an enrichment article to help our guide dog teams deal with the lack of regular routes and social gatherings. Most of us are back to a more normal lifestyle and routine by now but the pandemic also had a permanent effect on regular activities. Many of us now work from home and have our groceries and other items delivered. Regardless of how active you may be, enrichment remains a very important part of a working dog’s life, and below are several activities you can utilize to enrich their overall quality of life. As it is a constant balance of work and play, consider your dog’s sensory needs when thinking about various forms of enrichment: smell, sound, sight, touch and taste.
Smell
Olfaction is your dog’s primary sense. We know some guide dogs struggle with scent distractions. This is understandable in that many dogs are instinctually driven by their sense of smell. In some cases, scent enrichment might diminish their distractibility in work. Try making a conscious effort to allow your dog more time to sniff during park times. You might have dedicated spots along your recreational routes where you can take their harness off and allow a bit of sniff time. Try not to allow your dog to drag you around, rather give them a defined space around you. You can still maintain proper leash manners while allowing a chance to sniff. With careful evaluation, you will discern if this exercise is helping or hindering their distraction level while working.
Sound
Our dogs have been socialized with plenty of sounds out in the world and have likely learned to ignore most of them. Sound enrichment can be as easy as turning on the radio at home or in your office. There have been numerous studies on how dogs respond to diverse types of music. Generally, the key is to monitor how your own dog responds. Some sounds are obviously more calming than others. Remember, sometimes dogs need silence just like we do.
Sight
Your dogs are naturally enriched through sight as they explore different environments by your side. Walking routes are always a great form of enrichment but strive to find other creative outlets. We all generally settle into a weekday routine regardless of lifestyle. Consider some unique routes on the weekends or your days off to reinvigorate your dog’s interest. You know your dog best and if they might enjoy this or not. Some dogs thrive with routine and predictability of known routes. Other dogs enjoy a variety of routes and being able to see new things.
Touch
Our dogs are consistently exposed to various surfaces and body handling activities, such as grooming, from puppyhood through formal harness training. We all pet our dogs, but have you ever asked yourself, “Does my dog truly enjoy being touched, and how?” Many dogs do not enjoy having their heads patted but love a scratch under the chin or on their chest. There are many options for touch enrichment, including massage, Tellington TTouch, acupressure, and general grooming. Think about how you groom your dog and if they enjoy it. How can you help them enjoy it more? How can you slow down the process and mix in massage or light petting in contrast to thorough grooming to make it more positive? Many dogs do not like having their nails clipped but with gentle foot handling and time, some learn to be more comfortable with it. Work towards making touch enrichment a positive experience for your dog.
Taste
This is an easy one for most of our highly food-motivated dogs! Breakfast and dinner are likely their most enriching part of the day! A lot of our dogs inhale their food in 30 seconds or less. In most cases, this is not very satiating. I like to put some of my dog’s meals into the form of an activity. If you have a large Kong or a West Paw Toppl toy, you can soak their food, pack it into one of these toys, and freeze it. This is now an engaging and time-consuming activity that can provide some calming enrichment. You can add a small amount of plain yogurt, peanut butter, or puréed pumpkin for new and stimulating flavors. There are plenty of options, just make sure they are dog-safe and do not upset your dog’s tummy.
Obedience and Play
In addition to the senses mentioned above, you hopefully have a nice obedience routine that you practice regularly. Try to be creative with your obedience. Do not do the same routine every time. Mix things up and end it with a fun game of “touch” and some tasty food rewards. Play a fun game of tug or fetch at the end of your session. This is a fantastic way to set the tone for your day and continue to build a strong relationship.
And remember to simply play with your dog! A game of Hide and Seek is a great way to reinforce the “come” command. This can be played anywhere in a secure space, indoors or out. Place your dog in a “stay” or “wait” or have a family member hold your dog, then find somewhere to hide. Consider starting out easy until your dog catches on. Call your dog and wait for at least 10 seconds. If nothing, you can call them again using a more animated and excited voice tone. Remember this is a game! Timing may depend on how large or small your space is. Once they find you, make sure to have a high value food reward or their favorite toy to engage them with. Your family members can also hide while you hold the dog and take turns. Make it easier or harder based on how quickly they catch on to the game. You can play this every day for just a few rounds.
I could go on forever with this topic! If you want more advanced information on enrichment with dogs, there are a multitude of resources out there on dog enrichment… books, videos, podcasts, webinars etc. Remember, you know your dog best and what might be beneficial or detrimental to their work responsibilities. Never hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. Now go have some creative fun with your dog!
Regional Graduate Meet Ups:
Guiding Eyes has begun hosting in-person, regional gatherings for our graduates to network with one another, ask for training advice from our staff, and simply enjoy a round of light refreshments in good company. These meet ups have offered us the chance to get to know one another and forge meaningful connections with graduates in our local areas. We have talked through geographic-specific challenges, successful advocacy efforts, and strategies for how to best work with and care for our guides. So far, we have held meet ups in the Philadelphia and Boston areas, with hopes to expand into other regions of the country. As per tradition, we connected with a number of grads and held social gatherings while at NFB in New Orleans and at ACB in Dallas just this month.
It is that time of year to say farewell to the individuals rolling off the Graduate Council and welcome its new members. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Pat Leahy, Judy Mathews, and Tina Reisner for their dedication to the graduate community, whether checking in with recent graduates and connecting them to community resources, leading informative calls such as rideshare discrimination or encouraging new ideas and projects to support the growth and success of Guiding Eyes. We look forward to introducing the new Council members soon.
With the support of Graduate Council members and additional Graduate facilitators, the Retirement and Bereavement calls continue to be held monthly. Upcoming dates are listed below:
Retirement Group – August 19
Bereavement Group – July 22, August 26
*Meeting information and Zoom links for all calls will be shared in separate emails.
Coming Soon – Join the WAGATHON!
Walk, run, or wag your way through 26.2 miles this September in support of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Registration opens in early August, and we’ll be in touch as soon as it’s live. Get ready to use code wag4free to sign up for free -September is just around the corner!
Be sure to check out the Graduate Center – Guiding Eyes for the Blind on the website for various resource guides and important information.
Our two newest recreational resource guides are now posted:
How to Hike with your Guide Dog
Visiting Amusement Parks with your Guide Dog
The Pat W. Browne, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament was held on Sunday, June 8th. There were 12 blind golf teams in attendance, including GEB graduates Megan Dean and Dick Pomo. Megan’s golf coach, Ann McDermott, was also the puppy raiser of her current guide, Woodstock!
Our annual Golf Classic Fundraiser was held on Monday, June 9th, where we had 22 foursomes and sold out almost every sponsorship! Graduate Bill Smith was the featured graduate speaker. His current guide, Quidditch, and retired guide, Ed, were both in attendance. These events were made possible with the help of our generous donors, staff, graduates and volunteers!
We would like to introduce several new staff members:
Christen Ferrante, Residential Nurse
Christen has joined our Health Services Team as an evening Residential Nurse. She is a proud mom of three-Taylor, Vinny, and Nicholas-and has spent years cheering her kids on from the sidelines, whether at games, graduations, or everyday milestones. With Taylor and Vinny now in college and Nicky graduating high school, she’s entering a new chapter, filled with gratitude. She has been a dedicated registered nurse for 26 years, most of that time in ambulatory care. She continues to serve patients as a Pre-Op/PACU nurse at YCSS (Yorktown Center for Special Surgery) during the day. She is thrilled to have recently accepted her new and rewarding full time position with Guiding Eyes for the Blind— as an evening nurse working directly with our students on campus— a role that she considers to be beyond meaningful. Outside of work, she loves to travel, whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a big adventure but, she cherishes any time spent with family and friends the most.
Giuliana Scovotti, Client Services Coordinator
Giuliana has joined Guiding Eyes for the Blind as our new Client Services Coordinator. Based at the Front Reception of our Yorktown campus, she will be working to support our students and graduates. She has a background in sociology and psychology, and a strong passion for people, purpose-driven work, and making a difference. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new music, and traveling. Giuliana was drawn to Guiding Eyes because of its meaningful mission and the opportunity to support a community-oriented cause. She looks forward to contributing her energy and enthusiasm to the team!
Rivi Israel, Regional Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
In case you missed the previous update, Rivi has joined our Training Team as a Regional Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. Here is the link to her audio message: Rivi Intro
Message transcript: Hi, I’m Rivi Israel, and I would like to introduce myself to you since I am the newest member of the Guiding Eyes Regional GDMI Team. I am a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and have been in the guide dog field since 2004. I am really excited to join the regional team here at Guiding Eyes! I live in the Albany New York area, and I will be covering much of New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and parts of Canada. I am looking forward to meeting all of you as I travel through your hometowns. I will reach out to those of you who are in my territory in the upcoming weeks to introduce myself, and to see if I can assist you with anything.
Rivi can be reached at risrael@guidingeyes.org or 914-703-7350. If you are in her territory, feel free to call or text.
Training Staff Milestones:
Congratulations to Samantha Orie and Caroline Walsh on achieving their qualification as Guide Dog Mobility Instructors!
Both Caroline and Sam have spent approximately three years as GDMI trainees. During this time, they have not only learned the ins and outs of Guiding Eyes as an organization and the intricacies of guide work, but have also spent countless hands-on hours with our wonderful dogs, learning how to teach the skills and initiative necessary to produce confident and effective guides.
They have observed experienced instructors in class, interacted with students and graduates, and learned how to give instruction on the proper use of a guide dog. Their trainee program has also provided a wide variety of other experiences to build their knowledge and skills, including (but not limited to): several hours of instruction in O&M travel skills with a white cane, a simulated class experience while wearing a blindfold, air travel to transport dogs, attendance at outreach events and national conferences, and providing guide dog demonstrations and experiences for donors and other stakeholders.
In addition, Caroline and Sam have completed our extensive curriculum of books and other reading materials, video learning modules, workshops, and discussion groups. All of this has given them a strong foundation from which to build their careers and continue expanding their understanding of guide dog teams well into the future.
This remarkable milestone is a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and passion for improving the lives of others. Their hard work, compassion, and commitment have not only led them to this well-earned accomplishment, but have also made a lasting impact on the organization and the people we serve. Their contributions have strengthened our mission and inspired those around them. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this achievement with them!
Meet Web Content Developer: Michelle Meunier
How long have you worked at Guiding Eyes, and what is your position?
I am approaching my 25th anniversary at Guiding Eyes! I’m the Web Content Developer on the Digital Marketing Team. My main focus is on the content, functionality, and accessibility of GuidingEyes.org. I provide support for communications and marketing, including writing, design, and a variety of creative needs.
What is your favorite part of your current role?
I appreciate how my position has evolved creatively and allows me to connect with various aspects of the organization. Most of my years were spent at the Canine Development Center in administrative roles, which provided me with valuable insights into the early phases of a Guiding Eyes pup’s development and the vital roles of our volunteers. However, in the past several years, my increased involvement with the Graduate Community, Client Experience Team, and Training has broadened my understanding. I have been privileged to connect with the individuals who put their trust in us for their guide dogs. For me, it brings everything full circle.
Can you describe how your current role supports our Guiding Eyes Graduates?
Website accessibility is of utmost importance, and I’m always listening, learning, and improving. I have collaborated with the Client Experience Team to improve graduate communications through a redesigned online Graduate Center, routine informational emails, and by providing technical support for the creation of the Graduate Newsletter. I also lead a team of volunteer interviewers who contact recent graduates. Those conversations become the graduate bios, which I then incorporate into the Graduate Team blog posts. They are meaningful, not only to the graduates but to the raisers, the prospective students who see themselves in these stories, and the supporters who gain a more personal understanding of our mission.
If you could instantly master any skills outside of your current role, what would it be?
Hard to choose – maybe pottery, knitting, painting? I also like gardening, but my success can be wildly hit or miss. I love flowers, and each year I attempt container gardens of vegetables. Visitors have to endure my excitement over a bouquet of zinnias or my tangled, unwieldy tomato plants.
If you have an idea or story to share for a future issue, we’d love to hear from you. While space is limited, we welcome submissions and may make edits as needed. Send your ideas to gradnewsletter@guidingeyes.org, and we’ll be in touch if we’re able to feature your piece.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to share more with you in the seasons ahead!
Answer Key for Unscramble the Dogs:
1. Hoagie
2. Elias
3. Marina
4. Kokomo
5. Keeper
6. Hollis
7. Fable
8. Odyssey
9. Brooklyn
10. Whispy
