This month, we hear a presentation from Dr. Nicole Constantine the owner of Charleston Veterinary House Calls. She offers suggestions on how to minimize risks to assistance dogs from household products.

This month’s feature guest is Msindisi Bunguza, who became a guide dog trainer in his native South Africa, and is currently working at Canadian Guide Dogs for The Blind near Ottawa, ON.

We begin by hearing a couple of brief articles: the first regarding regulations aimed at airlines in the United States, and the other warning dog owners in Norway about a mysterious disease.  Next, we talk with Steve Doucette from Canadian Guide Dogs for The Blind about present and future plans for the training program.

This month, we hear a conversation between Marcie Davis of Working Like Dogs and Gayle Harbott of Mobility Dogs of New Zealand.

This month, we hear a chat with Patti Ellis and Sue Neveu, organizers of Guide Dog Users of Canada’s AGM and conference.  The event is scheduled for September 19 to 22.  Weather permitting, many of the activities will take place in the great outdoors, because this 20th anniversary weekend will be held at the Canadian National Institute for The Blind’s Lake Joseph Centre in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario.

At the Top Dog conference in January of this year, the underlying theme was mutual understanding and respect among people who use guide, hearing, or service dogs. This month, we speak with Brad Morris from his home near Charleston, South Carolina, who has come up with a method for people to indicate that they agree with having mutual respect. He calls the innovation the Green Silk Scarf Project.

This month, we hear Part 2 of a panel discussion on the need for equal recognition of all types of assistance dogs. We also get a reminder about the national fundraising walk for the Lion’s Foundation of Canada dog guide training centre in Oakville, Ontario.

This month, we begin with a time-sensitive announcement for those living in North America and Puerto Rico.

We then turn to a presentation given at last January’s Top Dog weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.  Part 1 of the panel discussion entitled Thanks, Pups talks about those of us in the assistance dog field building an understanding about what all our dogs do for us.  Happy International Guide Dog Day for next Wednesday!

We begin this edition with three very time-sensitive announcements about what are being called guide dog camps. Next, we hear an interview with Keith McGregor, director of the training program for Deafblind clients at Leader Dogs in Rochester, Michigan.

Heather Bird from the New York Association of Guide Dog Users talks to us about a series of conference calls outlining training programs. Next, we hear an article recounting yet another incident where a driver of ridesharing company refuses to take a woman and her guide dog.