All past, present, and future dog handlers among BVA’s blind and low vision veterans are encouraged to join next week’s virtual meeting of the Association’s Dog Handlers Committee. The 4:00pm (Eastern Time) session on Tuesday, June 20, is open to all veterans with sight loss who are interested in topics and issues associated with guide dogs. Attendance at previous meetings is not required to join and participate in the session.

After learning that some of the guide dog relief area at the Association’s 78th National Convention will be concrete rather than grass or a dirt surface, Committee Chair Michaun Harrison determined that a beneficial topic for Tuesday’s discussion would be the periodic need to convert country dogs into city dogs, and vice versa.

“We want to share tips and ideas on how to transition from concrete to grass, and from grass to concrete, gravel, or artificial turf,” she said. “The goal should now be how to transition our dogs in time for the convention or, for that matter, any other occasion thereafter when it may be necessary to change the relief area conditions in which they may have been trained or become accustomed.” 

Please share the meeting information and link to those who may be interested in attending. The sessions generally last approximately 90 minutes. For additional information from the Dog Handlers Committee webpage under the icon “Membership,” click here. To enter the Tuesday meeting, click here.