Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU)

“Opening Doors to Independence and Opportunity”

March 2023 Monthly News Update

PTGDU Community Connect

This section features PTGDU Board and committee updates.

  • Prepare to be pampered! Indulge your inner chef and splurge at our PTGDU Pampered Chef fundraiser event.  Get the scoop on Pampered Chef’s new spring products, favorite tools, and helpful cooking tips via Zoom on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:00 PM. Our online party catalog will be live March 7 through March 14. Contact us for more details or to place your order over the phone.
  • Looking for some action? Download our free, professionally designed educational materials for your next lesson plan or presentation about guide dog teams in action.
  • Unexpected vet bills for your guide dog? PTGDU’s Mary T. & Curtis D. Lovill Trust Emergency Veterinary Expense Fund may be able to help. (Applicants must be Maine residents and members of PTGDU.)

Advocacy Matters

This section features news on access and legislative issues.

  • Get street smart. Listen to The Seeing Eye’s environmental access expert Lukas Franck as he explains the challenges that blind pedestrians face and offers tips for safely navigating modern roundabouts and complicated intersections.
  • Want to request an accessible pedestrian signal (APS) in your area? Check out the recommended process and sample request letter developed by the Environmental Access committee of the Orientation and Mobility Division of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.
  • The survey results are in! Read about The Seeing Eye’s “Interference with the Work of Dog Guides in Public: A Survey” article by Melissa Allman, Kathleen Freeberg, and Dr. Katy M. Evans published in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.

Tips for Living & Working with a Guide Dog

This section offers practical tips and tricks for life with a guide dog.

Improving Your Visibility at Street Crossings

Calling all guide dog handlers! Want to add an additional margin of safety when crossing busy streets and roundabouts? Research studies have shown that raising and lowering a white cane (flagging) at street crossings can help influence motorists to yield. The movement of the white cane redirects the driver’s attention while the white cane alerts the driver that the pedestrian is blind.

Getting a driver’s attention and making it obvious that you are blind is more critical than ever. The rise in distracted drivers who are sending text messages; talking on cell phones; fiddling with stereos and navigation systems; and eating or drinking while driving has contributed to an increase in pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Moreover, significant changes in intersection design, traffic signals, and vehicle technology have made it more difficult for blind pedestrians to independently and safely cross streets.

Improving Your Safety

One way for guide dog handlers to increase visibility is to use a modified “flagging” technique with a short white cane. This method calls for the handler to be positioned at the crosswalk with the cane extended out and its tip pointed down towards the ground. The cane is then raised up to about shoulder height before lowering it back down again. When raised, the tip of the cane should be pointing straight across the street in the same direction where the handler plans to cross. This up and down motion should be repeated a few times before stepping into the street. During the crossing, the cane should be kept lowered. It is recommended that this technique be first practiced in a safe location to ensure that the guide dog is not distracted by the moving cane.

Options for a Short White Cane

A telescopic Short white cane works well for “flagging.” It can be quickly extended at the chosen crossing and easily tucked away after use. Ambutek sells a 28-inch Telescopic Fiberglass Identification Cane ($20) specifically for identification purposes. The compact size makes it ideal for guide dog handlers on the go. The Chris Park Ultra Mini Telescopic Cane ($57) is another option.  It’s designed for light indoor duty and comes in different lengths. When collapsed, this cane is longer than the Ambutek cane but also can be used as an emergency back-up mobility device.

Gear, Supplies and Dog Toys

This section features a brief description of one or more items favored by guide dog teams but is not intended as an endorsement of the actual products.

Fluff & Tuff Ruby Rainbow Trout

Tug, shake, or fetch! Land your dog hook, line and sinker with this fun, durable plush squeaky toy. The Ruby Rainbow Trout is green, brown and white with embroidered eyes. It’s constructed of ultra-lush outer fabric, double stitched seams, and a tough inner lining. Measures 14-inches in length. Machine-washable. $19.50.

PTGDU Recipe of the Month

This section features a favorite recipe from the guide dog community.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind FRESH HERB ROASTED SALMON  

Simple but elegant, this tasty favorite is perfect for entertaining or just to enjoy on your own.

Ingredients

1 6 ounce salmon portion

2 teaspoons olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Pinch of fresh rosemary, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

Juice from half of a lemon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat olive oil in small cast iron skillet or other oven-proof pan on medium heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper on fish and place in the oil skin side up. Cook three to 4 minutes on the cooktop until brown, then remove from heat. Gently turn fish over and drain off about half of the oil. Add the garlic, rosemary, and lemon juice. Place the pan in the oven and Bake about four Minutes more until fish is flaky and cooked through.

About Us

This monthly news update is a publication of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization serving Maine’s blind and visually impaired residents who are partnered with specially trained guide dogs. Founded in 1997, PTGDU’s mission is to promote complete acceptance of guide dog teams in all aspects of life. Visit us on the web or follow us on Facebook.

To offer submissions or feedback to the Pine Tree Guide Dog User’s monthly news update, please send us a message.