by Margie Donovan
Those of us who attended the last ACB convention in Houston can recall that the dog relief area at the Adam's Mark was as close to perfect as we will probably ever get. Again this year, we are hoping for the same.
In planning for both the size and maintenance of the guide dog relief areas, it is helpful to have an idea of how many guide dog users plan to attend with their dogs. Whether or not you are a GDUI member, or even plan to attend GDUI events, it will be very helpful if you let ACB know on the pre-registration form that you are planning to bring your dog.
Previously ACB has asked for a voluntary donation of $10 as a gratuity to go to those individuals responsible for maintaining the area. This year we are asking for a minimal voluntary contribution of $15. Please keep in mind that this is a recommended amount and we will gladly accept your generous contributions of any amount. ACB will pass these funds along to the hotel to defray the cost of providing a full-time clean-up person to maintain the area.
As Houston is very hot in July, remember to give your dogs lots of water. Please bring your own food and water containers. It might be tempting to just fill up that ice bucket with lots of chilly water, but hotels cannot re-use an ice bucket once it has been put to such a purpose, so we encourage you to use a more acceptable container.
You may want to consider purchasing dog booties if you plan to be outside much during the day. If you believe that dog booties are the answer for your guide, purchase them ahead of time and work your dog on familiar routes while wearing them. Many dogs will not wear booties or work unsafely when first getting used to them.
Conventions are very stressful for both handlers and their dogs. Be sure to take extra time to praise and play with your pups. Just like us humans, when tired or stressed out, our dogs want a little TLC.
Responsible dog handling is the commitment of both ACB and GDUI. Let's all contribute in doing our part toward continuing to make this a reality. Accidents do and will happen. Making sure to clean them up is the essence of taking responsibility.
Finally, let's remember to keep our dogs on a short leash and under control while in public areas. Allowing our dogs to wander at the end of a long leash while their human partners are engaged in conversation or checking out exhibits can lead to misbehavior. Dogs love to sniff and they have more freedom to do so on a long leash. Taking a quick moment to place a dog at sit and shortening a leash enables us to monitor our dogs' behavior more closely. If you leave your dog alone in your room, be sure that it does not bark and show other signs of stress and alarm in your absence.
Remember that all concerns and complaints about guide dogs and the guide dog relief area should be brought to me as the guide dog user representative to the ACB convention committee. Happy travels to Houston.