Latest news with #InternationalGuideDogDay
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Vibrant new artwork at animal shelter reminds us that retired guide dogs can be adopted
Eva is a super dog in every way. And now she is being celebrated by every person who walks through Miami-Dade County Animal Services. A 36'x36' mixed media artwork called 'SUPER EVA' is now on display as a reminder that even service animals can be adopted once they retire. The real subject of the art is the retired guide dog of Miami Lighthouse's President and CEO, Virginia A. Jacko. Eva was adopted when she got older and is now enjoying life with a beloved family. Her vibrant portrait was unveiled on International Guide Dog Day at Miami-Dade County Animal Services. SUPER EVA has black beaded ears, a pink beaded mouth and blue foam glasses. She wears a bedazzled multi-colored guide harness and a purple glitter cape. On her forehead is a triangle superhero symbol, emblazoned with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind logo. 'SUPER EVA was made by program participants in our Senior Group Activities Program honoring the impact that guide dogs have in the lives of people with visual impairments,' Jacko said. 'On International Guide Dog Day, we celebrated the life-changing bond between guide dogs and the people they serve. Through the collaboration between Miami-Dade Animal Services and Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, we aim to deepen public understanding and appreciation for these incredible service animals and the freedom they help make possible,' she said. 'SUPER EVA is a symbol of both Miami-Dade County Animal Services and Miami Lighthouse's mission to raise awareness of the critical role of service animals and provide essential support to individuals with vision loss,' said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who attended the ceremony. Annette Jose, director of Miami-Dade County Animal Services, said the shelter is honored to showcase the beautiful artwork. 'It not only underscores the profound impact service animals have on the lives of individuals who are visually impaired but also serves as a powerful reminder that many retired service animals, like Eva, deserve a second chance at adoption, allowing them to thrive in loving homes,' Jose said. Eva was raised and trained at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York. You can visit Miami-Dade County Animal Services Pet Adoption and Protection Center at 3599 NW 79th Ave., Doral. FREE ECO COURSE FOR STUDENTS 'Bending the Curve' is the 2025 Tropical Audubon Society summer course open to high school students who love the natural world. Learning is structured with a virtual Zoom component for remote flexibility, and with in-person events to enhance networking. field trips are planned to Everglades National Park and A.D. (Doug) Barns Park to bring studies to life. The program is designed to inspire students to activate their 'Tropical Audubon Ambassador' education and foster 'conservation through community.' They can also earn up to 30 community service hours. The series is June 30-July 26. Aspiring High School Ambassadors will receive advocacy training from environmental experts and gain a deeper understanding of our region's indigenous wildlife and cornerstone ecosystems — The Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Pine Rocklands and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks. Apply by 5 p.m. June 20, at or POINCIANA FESTIVAL JUNE 7-15 Celebrate the seasonal flowering trees now in bloom at the 88th Annual Royal Poinciana Festival. This annual event, sponsored by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society, begins June 7 with a free walking tour of South Miami Avenue and Simpson Park and ends June 15 with a trolley tour in the Coral Gables area. More events include another free walk, a 'cocktail party with a paintbrush,' and a yoga class at The Kampong on Biscayne Bay. The Kampong in Coconut Grove protects Miami's oldest royal poinciana, chosen by the Fairchild family, and other majestic poincianas, including some rare yellow flowering cultivars. The opening reception, 6-9 p.m. June 8 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, features a special display of paintings of the Florida Highwaymen by Mark Lerner and piano music by Brian Murphy. Dinner and presentations will follow, including the 2025 Royal Poinciana Fiesta Queen and Court scholarship recipients and the Larry Schokman Book Award recipient. Poinciana cake and the famous Royal Poinciana Punch will then be served. On June 12, you can celebrate flowering trees and help plant eight poinciana trees and one Cassia bakeriana in the Town of Cutler Bay. More about all events at FOUNDATION AWARDS STUDENTS The Coral Gables Community Foundation has awarded a record-breaking $3.25 million in college scholarships to 202 students. The donor-directed funds celebrate the academic excellence of students across Miami-Dade County. 'This historic year for the Scholarship Program is a reminder of what's possible when passionate donors come together to uplift the next generation,' said Michael Walsh, chair of the Coral Gables Community Foundation's board. 'Every dollar awarded reflects someone's belief in the power of education, and in these students' potential to lead, give back and change the world.' The impact was especially strong this year thanks to a transformational $2.88 million gift from the Stamps family. The Stamps awarded $20,000 scholarships to the top two academic performers at each of Miami-Dade's 64 public high schools and eight Catholic high schools. Each award is paid in four annual installments. 'We believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives, and we're proud to support — in partnership with the Coral Gables Community Foundation — these exceptional students as they take the next step toward achieving their dreams,' said Mary Snow, executive director of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. There were more than 800 applications submitted by students in several states, a testament to the program's growing reputation and reach. More at Write to ChristinaMMayo@ with news for this column.
Borneo Post
03-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Chinese guide dogs help visually impaired individuals secure easier living
Mango guiding Wang Zhihua to work in Beijing. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (May 4): Whether negotiating the bustling streets, tackling the crowded subways or strolling through the tranquil parks of Beijing, Wang Zhihua is always accompanied by a Labrador in a bright red vest. 'This is Ms Mango, my guide dog and also a beloved member of my family,' said the 43-year-old visually impaired man. International Guide Dog Day falls on the last Wednesday of April each year, honoring the vital role guide dogs play in supporting the independence and mobility of people with visual impairments. As this special day approached, Wang shared the story of his journey with Mango. 'When I first heard that a guide dog is a blind person's second pair of eyes, I thought no blind person could resist the allure of this statement,' Wang Zhihua said. This very idea inspired his decision to adopt a guide dog. After a period of waiting, Wang Zhihua was matched with Mango at the China Guide Dog Training Center in 2016, marking the beginning of a nine-year journey of mutual companionship. After taking Mango home, Wang Zhihua began commuting to work independently with her by his side. His boss even started entrusting him with business trips. Wang and Mango became inseparable, and even his wife joked: 'You spend more time with her than with me.' 'At first, when she needed to signal me to stop, Mango would sit according to the standard guide dog training protocol. But over time, as we built trust with each other, she began gently pressing her head against my leg to stop me,' Wang Zhihua recalled. What Wang Zhihua didn't expect were the two occasions when Mango used this very gesture to push him out of harm's way, and in doing so, she was twice injured by reckless drivers. Those two dangerous moments helped forge a deep, unbreakable bond between them. According to Wang Zhihua, when danger arises, Mango will protect him unconditionally – and do so without any hesitation. Wang Zhihua's wife is also visually impaired, but her guide dog sadly passed away two years ago, leaving the couple deeply heartbroken. 'For the entire month, the house was completely silent,' he recalled. Now, as Mango grows older and approaches retirement, Wang and his wife cherish every moment with her even more. They care for this beloved family member with the same unconditional love and tenderness she has always shown them. In addition, Mango's significance to Wang Zhihua goes far beyond daily companionship – her arrival quietly changed the course of his life. While initially commuting with Mango, Wang Zhihua gained a more direct and personal understanding of the difficulties visually impaired people face when traveling with guide dogs. Although policies permit guide dogs to ride in vehicles, many drivers remain unaware of or fail to understand the rules, resulting in them being repeatedly refused rides. Faced with this challenge, Wang Zhihua reflected on a truth that many in the disabled community know well – prejudice often stems not from cruelty, but from ignorance and misunderstanding. Motivated by this belief, he joined the ride-hailing platform Didi Chuxing in 2019, where he helped design and launch an accessible ride service specifically for guide dog users. This accessible ride service for guide dog users prioritises registered passengers by matching them with drivers who have agreed to provide such accessible services. According to data from Didi, since the service was first launched in September 2020, it had expanded to 139 cities as of March 2025. Notably, more than 3.1 million Didi drivers have completed accessibility service certification. Mango stays by Wang's side as he works at the office. – Xinhua photo Standardised training lays foundation In China, many guide dogs like Mango help visually impaired individuals navigate the world – and most of them come from the same hometown as Mango. Mango's birthplace, the China Guide Dog Training Center in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, was founded in 2006. It was the first non-profit organisation on the Chinese mainland dedicated to breeding and training guide dogs. For a Labrador retriever or a Golden Retriever, the common breeds viewed as guide dog candidates, qualification for a job in the human world is not easy. 'A qualified guide dog can help its owner circumvent obstacles, memorise at least 30 commands and five destinations, execute tasks on cue, and navigate for the visually impaired,' said Wang Xin, assistant to the director of the center. Moreover, a candidate puppy must come from a lineage clear of records of aggression for three generations – and have a calm temperament and high level of obedience, she added. 'We receive approximately 300 applications each year, and we review the personalities, mobility needs and living conditions of these applicants to ensure optimal pairing,' Wang Xin said, while adding that an applicant usually has to wait two years before taking their furry friend home. Since its inception, the center in Dalian has supplied over 400 guide dogs free of charge to visually impaired individuals. It has also managed to increase its training success rate from 20 to 50 per cent and now graduates about 30 to 40 certified guide dogs annually. As the use of guide dogs becomes more widespread in China, relevant regulations and standards have also been implemented. In 2018, China established a national standard for guide dogs, which outlines technical requirements spanning selective breeding, rearing, training and evaluation, as well as post-placement follow-up featuring the likes of retraining and retirement protocols. A trainer of the China Guide Dog Training Center teaching a guide dog how to assist its owner going down the stairs in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. – Xinhua photo Growing public acceptance paves way Boosted by strong support via government policies, public acceptance of guide dogs has grown significantly in China. In 2023, the country passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment, which legally guarantees the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by service dogs – including guide dogs, hearing support dogs and dogs providing other forms of assistance, ensuring that they can access public spaces and services with greater ease. 'Over the years, the overall environment has steadily improved,' Wang Zhihua said with a smile. Today, guide dogs are not only allowed in taxis but can also accompany their owners on the subway, high-speed trains and even airplanes. As a result, more and more visually impaired individuals are willing to step out of their homes and bravely embrace life. 'Guide dogs are seen as the best companions and helpers in terms of the independent and safe mobility of blind individuals. They also reflect a country's level of social progress and accessibility,' said Wang Xin. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China had a total of 85.91 million people with disabilities as of 2023 – including more than 17 million with visual impairments. 'Looking ahead, we hope that more people will get involved in the guide dog initiative, enabling blind individuals needing guide dogs to experience the convenience and independence these dogs provide, as soon as possible,' she added. – Xinhua
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memories of guide dogs: the four-legged friends who never failed us
Today is International Guide Dog Day, and what better excuse to show pictures of gorgeous golden retrievers and lovely labradors? Quaver with his owner Chris Clarry and Stanwix year five teacher Tess Worden (Image: Louise Porter) The day is celebrated in support of the community that trains and benefits from guide dogs. The 14th Carlisle Brownies produced a book to raise money for Guide Dogs (Image: Newsquest) These may have been around since 79AD, a fact which was discovered when paintings of guide dogs being used to help the blind were uncovered on the excavations in Pompeii, Italy. A blind and visually impaired awareness day at the Stagecoach depot at Lillyhall with guide dogs Zoe and Odette (Image: Newsquest) Guide dogs have been used in various countries throughout the centuries, such as ancient China and medieval Europe. During the 1700s and 1800s, historians and anthropologists seem to have encountered more observations of guide dogs through children's nursery rhymes and stories. Members of Kirklinton YFC raised £1,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind in 1990 (Image: Newsquest) However, even though they had been used in previous times, it wasn't until the mid-1800s that some of the first legislation recognising guide dogs started to appear. One such activity was noted in 1838, when the British parliament exempted licence fees for 'shepherds' dogs' and 'those kept by the blind as guides'. Training guide dogs in Carlisle in 1986 (Image: Newsquest) This type of legislation benefits those who keep dogs that help them with their work or with disabilities. Linda Benett from Carlisle with her guide dog Unity (Image: Newsquest) The early 1900s saw the organised training of guide dogs for blind people, and in 1934, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was established in the United Kingdom. Brook Street Primary School held a Dress Up as a Pup Day to sponsor three guide dog puppies (Image: Newsquest) People who lived in the era of the Second World War saw extensive use of these kinds of helping dogs, specifically for veterans who had lost their sight in the midst of war due to chemical related injuries. And although communities have made much progress in the way of guide dogs, many people don't realise that it wasn't until 2010 that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) helped establish legal rules for those with disabilities who are in need of guide dogs. A Halloween non-uniform day at Irthington School to raise money for Guide Dogs (Image: Newsquest) International Guide Dog Day was started in 1992 to honour the work that these service dogs provide for people with visual disabilities everywhere. These dogs have skills including leading a blind person around an area, assisting with a hobby, picking up dropped items, providing emotional comfort during their service and much more. This is why guide dogs are some of the best service dogs to have.
West Australian
29-04-2025
- General
- West Australian
International Guide Dog Day 2025: Guide Dogs WA celebrates with paw-some dogs showcased across Perth
They say dogs are a man's best friend, but for some, they really are the paw-fect companion. Each year, dozens of volunteers spend countless hours raising Labrador puppies to help them become full-time guide dogs. Guide Dogs WA development and training leader Emily Gomboc said the pups were trained to assist people with vision impairment, autism and trauma. 'We also have dog-assisted therapy and facility dog programs . . . and we've got a dog at the children's court who visits the witness room and comforts witnesses before they go in,' she told The West Australian for International Guide Dog Day on April 30. 'Our roles are very diverse, it's more than just about vision impairment.' She said Labradors were 'great companions' and said they were favoured for their gentle temperament and trainability. 'They're such great companions and they seem to have a sixth sense in terms of being able to read people's emotions,' she said. 'No matter what type of days you've had or how you feel, dogs are happy and welcoming and their companionship is invaluable.' Ms Gomboc said little Duncan — who is just seven weeks old — was getting ready to enter Guide Dogs WA's puppy development program. 'They all start in our well-being program where they are exposed to basic things like different surfaces, sounds and smells,' she said. 'When they're about eight weeks old they enter our puppy development program until they're between 14 and 18 months of age and then they go and live with volunteer families.' From there, volunteers spend hours exposing their pups to environments like trains, buses and shopping centres for when they go on and permanently live with a client. 'Our volunteers deserve so much credit for the time and effort they put into these pups,' Ms Gomboc said. 'Some volunteers commit for the whole 18 months . . . we also have temporary short-term boarders who take on puppies for respite periods so people can go on holidays which is encouraged because we want resilient, adaptable dogs. Guide Dogs WA trainer Stacey Dorn said guide dogs had a 'life-changing' impact on their client's lives. 'They'e like 'how did we live without this dog? How did we even cope with life before this dog?'' she said. 'There's so much positivity and companionship to gain from dogs, there's nothing else like it.' Guide Dogs WA is today celebrating International Guide Dog Day with dozens of paw-some activations across the Perth CBD. Guide dogs and training puppies will make an appearance at multiple Bunnings', Murray Street Mall, Raine Square, Gramercy Bar and Grill and Belmont Forum. And for every $25 donated, each person will be able to submit a name of their choice to name one of the training puppies. 'It's an opportunity for the community to ask questions . . . and for us to tell them about our dogs because they're such a crucial part of people's lives,' Ms Dorn said. 'The dogs give people independence and freedom and it's important that they have continued access to that.'
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Guide Dogs WA celebrates with puppies showcased across Perth
They say dogs are a man's best friend, but for some, they really are the paw-fect companion. Each year, dozens of volunteers spend countless hours raising Labrador puppies to help them become full-time guide dogs. Guide Dogs WA development and training leader Emily Gomboc said the pups were trained to assist people with vision impairment, autism and trauma. 'We also have dog-assisted therapy and facility dog programs . . . and we've got a dog at the children's court who visits the witness room and comforts witnesses before they go in,' she told The West Australian for International Guide Dog Day on April 30. 'Our roles are very diverse, it's more than just about vision impairment.' She said Labradors were 'great companions' and said they were favoured for their gentle temperament and trainability. 'They're such great companions and they seem to have a sixth sense in terms of being able to read people's emotions,' she said. Seven-week-old puppy Duncan. Credit: Danella Bevis / The West Australian 'No matter what type of days you've had or how you feel, dogs are happy and welcoming and their companionship is invaluable.' Ms Gomboc said little Duncan — who is just seven weeks old — was getting ready to enter Guide Dogs WA's puppy development program. 'They all start in our well-being program where they are exposed to basic things like different surfaces, sounds and smells,' she said. 'When they're about eight weeks old they enter our puppy development program until they're between 14 and 18 months of age and then they go and live with volunteer families.' From there, volunteers spend hours exposing their pups to environments like trains, buses and shopping centres for when they go on and permanently live with a client. 'Our volunteers deserve so much credit for the time and effort they put into these pups,' Ms Gomboc said. 'Some volunteers commit for the whole 18 months . . . we also have temporary short-term boarders who take on puppies for respite periods so people can go on holidays which is encouraged because we want resilient, adaptable dogs. Guide Dogs WA puppy whelping advisor Tyne Palmer with 11-week-old Miggs. Credit: Danella Bevis / The West Australian Guide Dogs WA trainer Stacey Dorn said guide dogs had a 'life-changing' impact on their client's lives. 'They'e like 'how did we live without this dog? How did we even cope with life before this dog?'' she said. 'There's so much positivity and companionship to gain from dogs, there's nothing else like it.' Guide Dogs WA is today celebrating International Guide Dog Day with dozens of paw-some activations across the Perth CBD. Guide dogs and training puppies will make an appearance at multiple Bunnings', Murray Street Mall, Raine Square, Gramercy Bar and Grill and Belmont Forum. And for every $25 donated, each person will be able to submit a name of their choice to name one of the training puppies. 'It's an opportunity for the community to ask questions . . . and for us to tell them about our dogs because they're such a crucial part of people's lives,' Ms Dorn said. 'The dogs give people independence and freedom and it's important that they have continued access to that.'
