[NAGDU] Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs Announce Merger

[Lisa Belville]

Hi, all.


I saw this on the GDUI guide dog list and thought I'd pass this on.  I'm 
a GDA grad, and this is the first I've heard of such a merger.  Thoughts 
from other GDA grads welcome.


Lisa



prnewswire.com
Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs Announce 
Merger
Guide Dogs of America
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guide-dogs-of-america-and-tender-loving-canines-assistance-dogs-announce-merger-300982399.html 

SYLMAR, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Guide Dogs of America and 
Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs (TLCAD) today announced the merger 
of their organizations. This merger combines their respective service 
dog programs into a single organization operating under the Guide Dogs 
of America umbrella. The merger is effective immediately.
A visually impaired guide dog user, hugging his black lab guide dog.
Founded in 1948, Guide Dogs of America empowers people who are blind and 
visually impaired to live with greater independence, confidence and 
mobility by providing expertly matched guide dog partners. TLCAD gives 
the gift of independence to veterans and individuals with autism by 
providing highly skilled service dogs. TLCAD also pairs facility dogs 
with professionals who serve populations that benefit from animal 
assisted intervention or therapy. Their prison-based dog training 
program also helps rehabilitate incarcerated individuals.
"TLCAD shares our goal to transform the lives of people through 
partnerships with highly trained assistance dogs," said Russell Gittlen, 
President of Guide Dogs of America. "This merger will allow us to put 
more dogs into the hands of people who need them -- which is our 
ultimate mission."
"TLCAD is very excited to join the Guide Dogs of America family and we 
look forward to the new opportunities our combined efforts bring to 
those in need of service dogs," said Victoria Cavaliere, Executive 
Director of TLCAD.
Although TLCAD will maintain its name and local offices in San Diego, 
California, the newly merged organization will be headquartered in 
Sylmar, California, on Guide Dogs of America's 7.5-acre campus.
All programs and services are provided at no cost and are available to 
individuals throughout the United States and Canada.
SOURCE Guide Dogs of America
Related Links
http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/

-- 
Lisa Belville
missktlab1217 at frontier.com