National Guide Dog Month

National Guide Dog Month is a celebration of the work of Guide Dogs in the United States as a way to raise awareness, appreciation and support for guide dog schools across the United States. It was established in 2008 as a fundraising drive to benefit non-profit guide dog organizations accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation).^[1]

History

National Guide Dog Month was first inspired by Dick Van Patten, who was impressed by the intelligence and training of guide dogs. During a visit to the campus of the Guide Dogs of the Desert in Palm Springs California, Van Patten was blindfolded to experience how guide dogs provide assistance and mobility to blind people.

After learning that the costs to raise and train a guide dog exceed $40,000^[2] and can take up to two years,^[3] Van Patten was inspired to help raise awareness and money for guide dog schools.^[4]

Mr Van Patten currently serves as an honorary Board Member^[5] for the Guide Dogs of the Desert. Through his pet food company Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods he has underwritten all costs for the promotion of National Guide Dog Month to ensure that all money raised would directly benefit non-profit, accredited guide dog schools in the United States.

In 2008, Van Patten enlisted the support of The Petco Foundation, to organize a fundraising campaign through their retail stores. The San Diego based retailer piloted the first guide dog fundraiser in the Southern California area to benefit the Guide Dogs of the Desert,^[6] based in Palm Springs, California.^[7] In 2009 National Guide Dog Month was established to benefit the non-profit guide dogs schools accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation.

In 2009, National Guide Dog Month was established for the month of May,^[8] however in 2010, it was moved to September due to conflicts with other national fundraising drives.

Beneficiaries

In 2011, the non-profit guide dog schools in the United States listed by IGDF were listed as beneficiaries of National Guide Dog Month. 100% proceeds will be donated to the following guide dog training facilities^[9]: · Guide Dogs for the Blind · Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind · Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. · Guide Dogs of the Desert · Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc. · Southeastern Guide Dogs · Leader Dogs for the Blind · The Seeing Eye, Inc. · Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. · Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Use of Registered Charity

Fundraising for National Guide Dog Month is collected from donors and dispersed by The Petco Foundation,^[10] a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (#33-0845930) that supports other IRS (Internal Revenue Service) designated non-profit pet related groups. The Petco Foundation is listed and rated by Charity Navigator.^[11]

Celebrity Spokespersons

The use of celebrity spokespersons to attract media interest has helped National Guide Dog Month gain awareness with American consumers. In 2009 while Paula Abdul appeared as a judge on American Idol blind contestant Scott MacIntyre was presented with a guide dog to represent National Guide Dog Month.^[12] In 2010, as spokesperson, Nicollette Sheridan helped raise awareness through various interviews^[13] and appearances. In 2010, actress Katrina Bowden made promotional appearances in support of National Guide Dog Month.^[14] In 2011, spokespersons Omar Miller and Eva LaRue^[15] appeared at a graduation ceremony at the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in San Rafael, California to honor Dr Cecilia von Beroldingen, with the first annual Change A Life Award. Dr von Beroldingen is a blind scientist who with the use of her guide dog Neoki given to her through the program, has been able to continue her work for the California Department of Justice Criminalistics Institute Forensic Training Facility in Sacramento. Miller and La Rue, who portray CSI investigator characters Natalia Boa Vista and Walter Simmons on the television series, CSI Miami, presented von Beroldingen with the inaugural National Guide Dog Change A Life Award, to inaugurate National Guide Dog Month in 2011 as a testament to Cecilia's courage and example of how having a guide dog has enabled her to remain independent.^[16]

• 2008: Dick Van Patten^[17]
• 2009: Paula Abdul^[18]
• 2010: Nicollette Sheridan^[19]
• 2011: Omar Miller & Eva LaRue^[20]

Proclamations

In May 2009, Governors of multiple states issued proclamations in recognition of National Guide Dog Month, including California, Florida, Arizona, Mississippi, Nebraska and Illinois.

File:Mississippi-guide-dog-month-proclamation.jpg

Mississippi Guide Dog Month Proclamation

References

1. ^ accredited
2. ^ "Costs to train a guide dog". http://www.guidedog.org/content.aspx?id=564#trainingcost. 
3. ^ "Guide Dogs for Blind Dog Training". http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_dog_guide. 
4. ^ "Palm Springs Life Magazine article, August 2010". http://www.palmspringslife.com/Palm-Springs-Life/August-2010/A-Man-of-Passion/. 
5. ^ "Dick Van Patten, Board Member, Guide Dogs of the Desert". http://www.gddca.org/board.html. 
6. ^ "Broadwayworld.com reference of Van Patten support in 2008". http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/Dick_Van_Patten_Honored_on_Palm_Springs_Walk_of_Stars_20080109. 
7. ^ "Dick Van Patten reference of support for Guide Dogs of the Desert, 2008". http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dick-van-patten-to-be-honored-with-star-on-palm-springs-walk-of-stars-56864732.html. 
8. ^ "PetcoScoop, May 1, 2009". http://www.petcoscoop.com/2009/05/national-guide-dog-month-starts-today/. 
9. ^ "Beneficiaries of National Guide Dog Month". http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/programs/NatGDMonth2011.html. 
10. ^ "Petco Foundation Charity". http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_petcofoundationhome.aspx. 
11. ^ "Charity Navigator listing for The Petco Foundation". http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=9917. 
12. ^ "Scott MacIntyle receives guide dog from Paula Abdul". http://www.pr.com/press-release/151125. 
13. ^ "Fido Friendly, issue 45 Sept/Oct 2010". http://www.fidofriendly.com/article/features-blind-ambition. 
14. ^ "Katrina Bowden support for National Guide Dog Month". http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20494816,00.html. 
15. ^ "Pet Product News, August 29, 2011". http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2011/08/29/natural-balance-csi-stars-promote-national-guide-dog-month.aspx. 
16. ^ "Change A Life Award to Dr Cecilia von Beroldingen". http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_18772668. 
17. ^ "2008 Guide Dog Month, Dick Van Patten". http://www.petcoscoop.com/2008/04/guide-dogs-of-the-desert-open-new-palm-springs-depot/. 
18. ^ "Paula Abdul spokesperson". http://67.225.181.68/~natural/national-guide-dog-awareness-month.html. 
19. ^ "Nicollette Sheridan spokesperson". http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/september-is-national-guide-dog-month-at-petco-101973038.html. 
20. ^ "Omar Miller & Eva La Rue spokespersons". http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8759912.htm. 

External links

• Natural Balance Pet Foods Guide Dog Programs Page
• The Petco Foundation

Main articles: Assistance dog and Service dog