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

[Danielle Sykora]

I think it has the potential to be a great collaboration. There has
always been such a rift between guide dog programs and non-guiding
service dog programs. Most guide dog handlers don't know much about
other types of service dogs, so maybe this will be an educational
experience for everyone involved. It also can allow for the sharing of
resources, similar to how GDF and AVD share a student residence,
kennel, breeding department, consumer services department, etc.

As for how this will impact the individual programs, I would be
interested to hear. I do wish they used terminology that reflects the
ADA (I.E. service dog not assistance dog), but maybe that's me.

Danielle

On 1/8/20, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Well, I am sorry to hear this in a way, but maybe it makes sense. I just
> hope that no veterans who need service animals and Blind/visually impaired
> people don't lose anything in the merger. I wonder how long it has been in
> the works.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lisa Belville via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 9:30 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Lisa Belville <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance
> Dogs Announce Merger
>
> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dsykora29%40gmail.com
>