Newshounds: GDB in the News

Puppy Raiser Megan Minkiewicz has raised six puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. She is currently raising Caleb (with husband Alex) and writing a series of articles throughout the next year and a half for The Bark blog. Her most current blog post is featured in the current issue of the magazine.

The Bark Magazine (February/March 2011)
“Caleb About Town”

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Gresham Outlook (February 9, 2011)
“Troutdale Woman Graduates from Guide Dog Training”

Marin Magazine (February 2011)
“Snap Shots: 34th Annual GDB Holiday Luncheon”

KSEE-TV / NBC (January 26, 2011)
“South Valley Students Train Guide Dogs”

KPIX-TV / CBS (January 14, 2011)
“Good Question: Can Blind People Use Text Messaging”

NorthBay Biz (January 2011)
“Creative Partnerships”

Newshounds!

GDB team Terry Blosser and Guide Dog Bryson rode on the Natural Balance Pet Food float during the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Media coverage is listed below.

• KPTV-TV / FOX (December 29, 2010)
• KGW-TV / NBC (December 29, 2010)
• The Gresham Outlook (December 22, 2010)

Orange County Register (January 3, 2011)
“Right Attitude Can Take You Far”

KSBW-TV/ NBC (January 5, 2010)
“Dog Becomes Woman’s Eyes, Best Friend”

Dallas Morning News (January 5, 2011)
“Raising Future Guide Dogs is Tough Love for Dallas-Area Families”

Coeur d'Alene Press (December 19, 2010)
“A Holiday Story”

KING-TV / IND (December 13, 2010)
“Amazing Guide Dog Puppies Arrive in Rain”

Oregonian (December 4, 2010)
“Scene & Heard”

AOLKIDS.com (Winter 2010)
“Rescue and Service Dog Pictures”

Newshounds!

• Stars & Their Pets: Betty's Little Leader (People Magazine's peoplepets.com, October 25, 2010): "Walk of Fame" features a photo of longtime GDB supporter Betty White with Guide Dog puppy Phil at a GDB event in Montecito, Calif.

• Owner Spotlight: Bob Fricke, A Labor of Love (Subaru's Drive Magazine, Fall 2010): Featuring puppy raiser Bob Fricke.

• Training canines go to school, educate dogs and kids (Ventura County Star, September 4, 2010): Highlighting school nurse and puppy raiser Alice Garcia and her adventures with bringing her puppy to school.

• A Dog Guide for Inwood (West Lynn Herald, October 2010): GDB alumnus Doug Robinson offers tips on interacting with his Guide Dog, Reggie.

• A Life of Service: From puppyhood to service, it takes a community to raise a guide dog for the blind (San Clemente Times, October 7, 2010. PDF file; see page 29): Featuring puppy raisers Nancy and Don Bloyer, and one of the pups they raised, Madge, who went on to become a working guide.

• Steady Hedy (KXTV-TV/ABC Sacramento, October 8, 2010): Featuring GDB alumna Carolyn Wing Greenlee and her Guide Dog Hedy. Video included.

• The Giving State: Training Future Guide Dogs (The California Report on KQED, October 14, 2010): Audio interview with puppy raiser Nancy Olivas of Walnut Creek, Calif.

• A New “Leash” on Life at Guide Dog Graduation (Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory blog, October 21, 2010): A columnist's Mother's Day weekend excursion to attend a graduation at our Oregon campus.

• Guide Dog 101: 'Puppy in training' gets lessons at school (The Modesto Bee, October 22, 2010): GDB puppy Luigi goes to school with his puppy raiser, 8th grader Sophia Mesches. Includes video.

• Riding blind can make you see so much: Lessons from a tandem rider on Cycle Oregon (The Oregonian, October 28, 2010): Featuring GDB alumnus George Thompson.

• Searchers find missing man unconscious in the woods near his North Plains home (The Oregonian, November 9, 2010): GDB career change dog Lopez was part of the search and rescue effort that located the missing man.

• The Surprising - and Amazing - Life of a Guide Dog (Oh Behave! on petliferadio.com, November 10, 2010): GDB spokespersons Morgan Watkins and Emily Simone are featured.

• Canines Improve the Lives of Diabetics (AOL Health for Diabetes Awareness Month, November 2010): Featuring GDB's relationship with the organization Dogs4Diabetics.

• The Financial Cost of Having a Guide Dog (Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind, November 3, 2010): Written by GDB alumna Alena Roberts.

Head of the Charles Regatta

GDB Alumnae Aerial Gilbert and Natalie McCarthy were members of a four-person rowing team that won the gold at the Head of the Charles Regatta in its first adaptive event for disabled rowers. Aerial, with her Guide Dog, Splash, subsequently visited Perkins School for the Blind to teach the sport to blind youth.

• Disabled teams compete in Head of the Charles (NECN TV, October 24, 2010); includes video.

• Champion blind rower urges Perkins students in Watertown to get active (Wicked Local, Watertown, October 27, 2010).

Newshounds!

National Guide Dog Month Media Coverage:

• It's National Guide Dog Month! (KPTV Fox 12 Oregon): Instructor Dan Rollings talks about Guide Dogs and the Petco/Natural Balance effort to raise $1 million dollars for guide dog organizations during the month of September.
• Pet of the Week/National Guide Dog Month (KOIN TV Oregon): Director of Research and Development Michele Pouliot details National Guide Dog Month.
• National Guide Dog Month (WLS-TV Chicago): Instructor/Graduate Services Field Manager Lauren Ross interviewed about National Guide Dog Month (embedded video below).

GDB in the news!

• Truck Full of Puppies Makes Stop in Roseburg (KPIC News Oregon): News segment about the puppy truck stopping in Roseburg, OR.
• Cara Dunne - Part of Base Village Forever (Snowmass Sun, July 14, 2010): Statue unveiled in GDB alumna's honor.
• Portland Blind Cafe (The Southeast Examiner, July 31, 2010): A unique fundraising event for a GDB puppy raising club.
• Phoenix Guide Dogs Take Flight as They Train for Air Travel (ABC TV 15 Arizona, July 31, 2010): More than a dozen Guide Dog puppies board their first flight.
• Progress for People with Disabilities - But Not Everywhere (The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch, August 5, 2010): Featuring GDB alumnus Ken Altenburger.
• Cabs for Labs (Langetwins Winery Blog, August 12, 2010): Promoting a fundraiser for the Lone Star Puppy Raisers.
• Training Canines Go to School (Ventura County Star, September 4, 2010): Featuring GDB pups that get to go to school in the Las Virgenes Unified School District.
• Keeping Guide Dogs Safe (Fetch Magazine, September 10, 2010): Featuring GDB grad Georgie Heisel.
• Sixty Years of Guide Dog Breeding Brings Out the Best (The Vancouver Sun's "Puppy Love" blog, September 16, 2010): GDB's breeding collaboration with the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society.
• Guide Dogs Shadow Students on Campus (LPC Express, September 17, 2010): Profiling two Las Positas College students who are GDB puppy raisers.

Newshounds!

• Raising Guide Dogs for the Blind (Q13Fox.com, June 14, 2010): Feature about puppy raising in the Seattle area.
• The Life of the Blind (Mayweather Live Show, June 22, 2010): Video segment featuring GDB wheelchair alumna Norine Labitzke.
• Raising Canine (CSUSB Magazine, June 23, 2010): Highlighting puppy raisers David and Melissa Hudson; Melissa is also a GDB grad. (Pictured: Melissa and David Hudson with Melissa’s Guide Dog, Anya, and puppy in training, Saturna. Courtesy of CSUSB Magazine.)
• For Cara (The Aspen Times, June 23, 2010): Unveiling of a statue of athlete and GDB alumna, the late Cara Dunne-Yates, at the Base Village of the Snowmass Ski Area
• Scene and Heard (The Oregonian, June 26, 2010): A recap of GDB's Pinot & Pups Wine Gala
• On the Move (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, July 4, 2010): Etta Allen named new chairman of the board at GDB.

Newshounds!

GDB in the news....

• Raise guide pup and change a life (Sequim Gazette, May 12, 2010): Guest opinion from puppy raiser Deb Cox.
• Pinot for Pups (KOIN-TV/CBS, Portland, May 13, 2010): To help promote GDB's Pinot & Pups Wine Gala, George Thompson and Guide Dog Cairo along with puppy raiser Stephanie Ricker and GDB puppy-in-training Frasier were featured on an evening lifestyle program. (Frasier is pictured above; photo courtesy of KOIN-TV.)
• Family raises dog with mission (Forest Grove News Times, May 27, 2010): Highlighting puppy raisers, the Schrader family, with their GDB pup, Tandy.
• Blind Survivor (Central Florida News, Channel 13, May 31, 2010): A news segment featuring GDB grad and 911 survivor Michael Hingson.
• 'Great American success story' also includes a good dog (Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 7, 2010): A feature on GDB graduate Deb Swenson and her guide Kudo.
• Guide Puppies and Police Horse, Nose to Nose in West Seattle (westseattleblog.com, June 8, 2010): A feature of Guide Dog puppies meeting with Seattle Police Department's mounted patrol.

Newshounds!

Here's a round-up of GDB in the media recently - enjoy!

• Teen finds her guiding principle raising potential guide dog (The Record Searchlight, Redding, CA; April 19, 2010): Feature on puppy raiser Rachael Hoblin (pictured above; photo by Greg Barnette).
• Take a Time Out (Spirit, Southwest Airline's inflight magazine, May 2010): GDB’s puppy raising is included in a round up article on charitable opportunities.
• Dog lovers can have a night out at the movies - with their dogs (The Oregonian, Portland; April 27, 2010): Highlighting the Portland premiere of Sniff the Movie benefitting GDB.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind (American Dog Magazine, Summer Issue 2010): Feature article highlighting GDB team Chris Foster and black Lab guide O’Conner.
• Blind Veteran Making Waves (Diveheart newsletter, April 2010): Featuring GDB grad Rick Olson and his SCUBA diving adventures.
• Born to Lead - A Guide Dog Documentary (YouTube video): GDB puppy raising documentary by film student and puppy raiser Ariana Hazzard.
• The 10 Funniest Small Town Names in America (SmarterTravel.com; April 11, 2010): Boring, OR and Guide Dogs are highlighted.
• Thanks for Helping with Guide Dogs (The Beach Reporter, Manhattan Beach, CA; April 21, 2010): Letter to the editor.
• Forum with Michael Krasny: Joan Rivers (KQED-FM, San Francisco; May 6, 2010): Interview with Joan Rivers; she mentions GDB and GDB alumna Theresa Duncan called in to thank her for her ongoing support.
• Blindness doesn't slow down frisky Labrador (San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2010): Blind GDB career change dog has a great outlook on life.

Newshounds!

Last week, retired guide Hector, who now spends his days with GDB's Community Relations Officer Michele Davis, celebrated his 12th birthday in style. In honor of his birthday, staff and volunteers on our Oregon campus participated in KGW-TV's Annual Food Drive and contributed more than 600 pounds of goods to the effort (pictured, above). GDB's donation was highlighted on the Channel 8 newscasts throughout the day. "There is a downside to stardom, however," said Michele. "Hector is no longer willing to do any more free gigs and now requires kibble paid in advance!"

In other news...

• Guide Dogs Give Back (webvets.com): Featuring the Shakes family, puppy raisers from San Ramon, Calif.
• Dog No. 22 (Los Angeles Daily Breeze, South Bay Pets:) Featuring puppy raiser and leader Pat Whitehead as she picks up her 22nd Guide Dog puppy.
• Skiing, Rock Climbing, Cycling: This Resident Does It Blind; San Ramon Girl Scouts Draw Inspiration From Blind Leader (sanramonpatch.com): Two articles profiling GDB alumna Gena Harper.
• Beeper Eggs Emit a Joyous Noise to Bay Area Blind Kids (Silicon Valley Mercury News, April 3, 2010): Highlighting the Blind Babies Foundation's annual Easter Egg hunt, and the Guide Dogs who were there to join in the fun.
• San Rafael Dog School Comes to the Aid of Local Residents (Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 6, 2010): A feature story about GDB alumna Nancy McMasters and her guide, Amity.

Newshounds!

• Passenger Profile "Georgie and Dugan" (Milwaukee Country Transit System Newsletter, February 2010): Profile on a working team in Milwaukee, Wis.; pictured, above.
• Guide Dog Puppy Joins Wilson Class (San Juoquin Record, Stockton, CA, February 27, 2010): Teacher and puppy raiser Joanne Shojinaga brings her pup to class.
• Clovernook Exhibit Pays Tribute to African-American Heritage (Cincinnati Enquirer, February 12, 2010): GDB alumna and artist Wanda Owens presents an exhibit of her work, "Virtual Soul Vision 2."
• Dogs Honored for Achieving First Step in Special Training (The Emunclaw Courier-Herald, Enumclaw, Wash., January 11, 2010; also featured in the American Kennel Club's Evaluator News, February edition): A slideshow and article about the pups from one puppy raising club that are all graduates of the AKC's S.T.A.R. puppy program (S.T.A.R. stands for socialization, training, activity and a responsible owner).
• Betty White's Love for Animals Started 'In the Womb' (People Magazine's peoplepets.com, February 16, 2010): Betty White gives a shout-out to GDB.
• A Blind Runner and His Amazing Guide Dog (Bark Magazine, March 2010): A feature on GDB grad Kerry Kuck and his guide Audi.
• Guide Dog Sets Sights On New Route (YouTube video, by Marla Friedman of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism): Video feature of GDB alumna Kathy Austin and her guide, Solomon, working with GDB Field Manager Lauren Ross.
• Solutions In Sight: Getting Around Town (YouTube video by the Braille Institute in Los Angeles): An educational video prominently featuring GDB alumna Adelaida Ortega and her guide Caraway.

Newshounds!

• Pet Talk: Guide Dogs for the Blind graduates its first class of the year in an emotional ceremony (The Oregonian, January 26, 2010; photo above by Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian): First GDB class of the year graduating on the Oregon campus
• Puppy raiser becomes recipient of her good deed (San Francisco Chronicle, February 3, 2009): GDB career change-turned-hearing dog, Bounty, provides service to puppy raiser
• Brentwood woman succumbs to puppy love (Contra Costa Times, January 11, 2009): Featuring puppy raiser Renee Anderson
• Dog raised in Vancouver saving lives in Haiti (The Columbian, January 22, 2010): GDB career change-turned-search and rescue dog, Cadillac, saving lives in Haiti
• John and the Lynchburg Labrador (Lynchburg College website, Lynchburg, VA): A profile of student John Pastorius and his guide Houston).
• Guide Dogs on campus (The University of Montana website): A video feature

Newshounds!

• Service Dogs Appeal to Wide Audience (The San Francisco Examiner): Featuring puppy raiser Peggy Sundstrom (pictured above; photo from SF Examiner)
• Vacaville Pair Train Service Dogs (The Reporter, Vacaville, CA): Family inspired to raise Guide Dog puppies by their uncle/brother-in-law, GDB alumnus Karl Vidt
• Guide Dogs for the Blind (Volunteer Experiences, Inspiring Stories - blog): Feature on GDB puppy raiser and author Suzanne Woods Fisher
• Rowing Through the Darkness (The American Spirit, CBS National News): Featuring GDB alumna and world-class rower Aerial Gilbert and her Guide Dog , Splash
• Everyday Heroes (KMGH-TV/ABC 7, Denver, CO): Featuring puppy raisers Bill and Caroline Wriston

Newshounds!

Here's a roundup of some of the news stories featuring GDB this past month. Once again, our people and puppies are making headlines!

• Sequim Gazette (Sequim, WA), October 23, 2009: Puppy Practices at High School
• Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA), October 26, 2009: Ed Eames fought for rights of disabled
• Palos Verdes Peninsula News (Palos Verdes, CA), October 29, 2009: Rancho Palos Verdes Family Trains Guide Dog for the Blind
• KMPH Fox 26 (Fresno, CA), October 30, 2009: Convention for the Blind in Fresno
• Stockton Record (Stockton, CA), November 7, 2009: Guide Dogs Can Use your Assistance
• Stockton Record (Stockton, CA), November 10, 2009: Teen Trainer Grateful for Puppy's Return

Newshounds!

Today, the cast and crew from “Curiosity Quest” filmed and conducted interviews on our California campus for an upcoming show about Guide Dogs. They interviewed staff, raisers, grads... and got plenty of puppy love! “Curiosity Quest” is an upbeat, family, educational program that explores what viewers are curious about. “Curiosity Quest” airs on PBS stations across the country. The program has an estimated audience of 50 million people. Check your local listings for show times. No air date has been set yet, but if you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook, we'll keep you in the loop! You can check out some photos of while they were here on our Flickr site.

Newshounds!

GDB’s own Aerial Gilbert and Guide Dog, Splash, will be highlighted on Katie Couric’s CBS National News segment “The American Spirit.” “The American Spirit” is a weekly series that reports on extraordinary people whose solutions to America’s problems positively impact their community. The segment is tentatively slated for Friday, October 23. Please visit www.cbsnews.com for local listings.

Newshounds!

USA Today, October 14, 2009: "Sully Finds Another Kind of Fame" - USA Today featured a photo of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of the Hudson river landing fame with his new GDB breeder dog, Fame, a Lab/Golden cross. The Sullenberger Family has been involved with GDB for many years, both as puppy raisers and breeding stock custodians. (Photo by Martin Klimek, Special for USA TODAY)

Dog World, November 2009: “Purebred Predictability” - An article about purebred dogs, with a segment on GDB's Breeding Program. Brent Ruppel, GDB's Director of Canine Community Programs, is featured. The November issue of Dog World is currently on news stands - run out and get your copy today to read the complete article.

Newshounds!

Here's a recap of some of GDB's recent media coverage. You could say that we really have a nose for news! Thanks to everyone out there helping us spread the word. 

Yoga Journal, October 2009: “Paws and Breathe”  - A feature about GDB's innovative Yoga class at our California campus for students in class. The October issue of Yoga Journal is on news stands now - pick up a copy to read all about this beneficial program. 

People Magazine, August 24, 2009: “These Dogs Might Save Your Life” - A feature about some GDB career change and retired breeder dogs that are involved with The Pine Street Clinic's cancer detection study. 

Here's links to some great media stories available online: 

• Santa Rosa Press Democrat, August 12, 2009: “Blind Athlete Completes Sprint Triathlon” - featuring GDB alumna Aerial Gilbert and her guide Splash.
  
• News-Review, July 27, 2009 (Roseburg, OR): “Prepping Puppies” - Featuring puppy raiser Lesley Nishiguchi and her pup Kramer. 

Newshounds!

Our people, pups and dogs sure do know how to attract some good attention! As witnessed by this photo, taken by puppy raiser Sue Day, during a recent puppy club outing. She writes: "This was taken during a club outing to San Francisco on the Ferry Boat. We ended up walking to Pier 39. Just as we got there, an interviewer and camera man from Fox Sports approached Don Hirzel, the leader of our Alameda County 4H puppy raising group. The camera crew was out doing public interest stories and asked Don questions about Guide Dogs, what he was doing, and other questions about Guide Dog puppies and the organization. It turns out that the crew was there to cover a soccer game with Mexico; the segment was actually aired in Mexico."

That's just like our puppy raisers - ready with a feel-good, man-on-the-street interview any ol' time of day! 

Here's a list of links to some more recent media coverage we thought you'd enjoy. Great stories and videos of the impact our program is having in our communities. Enjoy!

• Dog Fancy Magazine: After the Call of Duty. Highlighting retired service dogs, and featuring retired guide Bianca. Note: the link only gives you a teaser to the story; pick up the August 2009 issue of Dog Fancy Magazine on newsstands now to read the complete article. 
• KOMO-TV News / ABC (Seattle, WA): Puppy Love for the Visually Impaired - Video. Visually impaired students at the Louis Braille School meet the next generation of Guide Dogs. 
• Carbon County News (Billings, MT): Purple Paw Awarded to Stanley Northcutt at Hair Ball. A feature about alumna Chris Northcutt and her guide, Stanley.  
  
• The Napa Valley Register (Napa County, CA): How to Host the Blind. Featuring GDB board member and alumna Vickie Kennedy and her presentation to hotel employees on how to best serve blind guests.
  
• Marin Independent Journal (Marin County, CA): Puppy love for 44 years; Guide Dogs volunteer helps dogs bond with humans. A profile of long-time GDB volunteer puppy socializer, Evelyn Hoffman. 
  
• View From The Bay, KGO-TV / ABC (San Francisco, CA) - Video: Volunteers needed for Guide Dogs for the Blind. A segment talking about puppy raising volunteers.  
  
• Good Question, KPIX-TV / CBS and CW 44 (San Francisco, CA) - Video: What Kind Of Dog Makes A Good Guide Dog? A segment featuring GDB's Puppy Socialization Coordinator, Sharon Kret.  

And here's a couple of stories about some of GDB's career change dogs and retired breeder dogs that are involved in a cancer detection study at the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California. 

• O Magazine: Dogs Who Can Sniff Out Cancer. Featuring GDB Master Instructor Paolo Pompanin and his career change dog, Tessy, who is involved in the cancer detection study. 
• Good Question: KPIX-TV / CBS and CW 44 (San Francisco, CA) - Video: Can Dogs Detect Cancer?

For more information about the cancer detection study and the Pine Street Foundation, please visit their website at http://pinestreetfoundation.org/.