[nagdu] Free eye exams available to service animals

Ginger Kutsch gingerKutsch at yahoo.com
Fri Feb 18 12:58:56 UTC 2011


Free eye exams available to service animals
Printer-friendly version
 
 Guide dogs, assistance dogs, detection dogs, and
search-and-rescue dogs rely on their eyes in their daily work.
During the month of May, these service dogs are eligible for free
eye examinations, courtesy of a program through the American
College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and Merial.
 
More than 180 veterinary ophthalmologists in the United States,
Puerto Rico, and Canada are expected to participate in the fourth
annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event.
 
Early detection and treatment of eye problems are vital to
working animals. "Our hope is that by checking their vision, we
will be able to help a large number of dogs better assist their
human friends," said Stacee Daniel, ACVO executive director.
 
A sampling of groups served since the ACVO/Merial National
Service Dog Eye Exam Event launched in 2008 include the
Transportation Security Administration and military working dogs
from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas; an organization providing
psychiatric service dogs to soldiers coming home from Iraq and
Afghanistan; Puppies Behind Bars; and local fire, rescue, and
police agencies. Individual service dog owners and handlers have
also been served.
 
To qualify for a free eye examination, dogs must be active
working dogs with certification from a formal training program or
be an enrollee in a training program. Other service animals, such
as horses and cats, are welcome to participate as long as they
meet the stated qualifications.
 
Owners or agents of service dogs must register via an online
registration form. Then they may locate a participating
veterinary ophthalmologist and schedule an appointment for May.
 
The website www.ACVOeyeexam.org provides additional details about
the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event. The
registration form will be available April 1-April 29.
 
URL:
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar11/110301l.asp



More information about the NAGDU mailing list