Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU)

“Opening Doors to Independence and Opportunity”

 

July 2025 Monthly News Update

Welcome to the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users Monthly News Update, a nationally recognized publication for guide dog handlers and others interested in the guide dog movement. To offer submissions or feedback, please send us a message.

Community Connect

This section features community updates and more

  • What’s trending with PTGDU? Get status updates, photos, links, and more on our official Facebook page. You can also connect and share with our PTGDU family by joining the Members & Friends of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users group page.
  • Holiday overload. For some dogs, the 4th of July is just another day. But for others, the exploding lights, blasts, pops, whizzes, and thunderous crashes can be way too much. Find out how to prepare your pup for a stress-free holiday from the guide dog experts at Dogs, Inc.
  • Mark your calendars. Plans for ACB Maine’s fall convention are well under way. The event will take place in Augusta on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Maine’s Annual White Cane Walk and Family Fun Day will also be held this fall on Saturday, October 4th at 10 a.m. at The Iris Network in Portland. Watch our monthly news updates for more details.
  • The heat is on! From overheating and sunburn to dehydration and heat stroke, extreme temperatures can be harmful for your dog. Help keep your special canine safe in the summer heat with veterinarian-approved tips, gear, and a safety checklist.
  • New action-packed podcast. Join the adventures of guide dog handler Mike May and friends as they explore the ruins of Machu Picchu, navigate the greater San Francisco area on foot, motor along the banks of the Galapagos Islands, and more. The People Make the Places podcast shares years of Mike May’s written and audio travel stories combined with a variety of interviews with the people he’s met along the way.
  • Guide Dogs: A Partner & Friend. Tune into the June 10th episode of the Nation’s Blind featuring the president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) and a blind guide dog trainer as they discuss the ins and outs of life with a guide dog. Includes tips for new handlers and favorite guide dog names.

Advocacy Matters

This section features news on access and legislative issues.

  • Fighting back. Is small claims court the way to go when it comes to rideshare discrimination? Listen to one woman’s story about suing Uber in small claims court after being denied access by three drivers in a row. Discussion includes a broad overview of the small claims court process and more.
  • Before you go. Preparing to navigate the nation’s congested airports this July? You may want to check out these helpful tips for flying during the busiest month of the year.
  • What’s in a name? The proper terminology for a guide dog trained by its blind handler is an “owner-trained” guide dog. Some people mistakenly refer to these dogs as “self-trained” guide dogs. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are not required to be trained by a professional training program — disabled people have the right to train their own service animals.
  • Unlocking Federal Funding for Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Check out Polara’s overview of the 13 federal funding programs that pay for pedestrian accessibility infrastructure. Includes helpful links and guidance for applicants.

Submissions From Members & Friends

This section features contributions shared by PTGDU members and friends.

The Magic of Discovery

By PTGDU member Sue W. Martin

When we bring home a new dog from The Seeing Eye, the instructions are clear. Keep things quiet. The dogs have been through a lot of changes in their short lives and the idea is to make the transition to their new home and new life as smooth as possible.

Once in my home environment, I tried to provide my new dog, Kasey, with loads of positive experiences. We started with simple routes in our little village, branched out to walks in the nearby Botanical and Japanese Gardens, and then added some hikes in nearby parks.

When Kasey wasn’t working, I dutifully did obedience, grooming, clicker work, and other tasks to which she was accustomed. Consistency and praise were the goals for those first few weeks.

I hadn’t planned to travel with Kasey so soon after we left training. It just happened that way. We had been looking for a home to buy in Michigan for months. Just two weeks after bringing Kasey home we found it.

We found the house on a Tuesday and by Thursday, we made an offer. The wheels of buying real estate don’t generally go ‘round as fast as these wheels went. But go ‘round they did.

By the end of May, we settled into our seats on a flight headed for Michigan.

The first issue that arose was that Kasey didn’t completely empty on my first trip outside. Okay, what that actually means is she didn’t poop. We had an early flight, and her outing was earlier than usual. No problem, thought I, I’ll give her another chance at the airport. But that didn’t work out as planned. It took us way longer than usual to get checked in and, by that time, there just wasn’t time to take her out again.

That little problem wasn’t solved until we got to Michigan. But it worked out fine. Good girl, Kasey.

Once I was on the plane in Birmingham and got to the row where my seat was located, I took off Kasey’s harness, spun her around and backed her into the row of seats. I followed her in, had her sit facing me, and asked her to sit. Then I slid her as far as I could beneath the seat in front of me. And there she stayed for the duration of the flight. Good girl, Kasey.

The flight was late leaving Birmingham, and we only had a few minutes to make our connection in Detroit. Kasey hit her “shepherd trot” and we made it just in time to board. Good girl, Kasey.

We spent a good part of the next two days touring the new house, first with the realtor and then with the home inspector. The first go ‘round, I asked Kasey to follow Jim as we learned the layout of the new place. During the time with the home inspector, I branched out on my own, going where I wanted to go, both inside and outside the home.

In situations where I had to stand still for long periods of time to listen to explanations, ask questions, or just plain wait, I asked Kasey to either sit or lie down and rest. She did so without breaking the rest command, whining, or showing any restlessness. Good girl, Kasey.

At the hotel, I had Kasey sit at the door to our room as well as the door to get inside from the parking lot. Only once did I reinforce that these were good doors that I wanted to find again and she did it every time. Good girl, Kasey.

All of these may seem insignificant in the bigger picture of a guide dog’s work. But they really added up. It was our first trip out into the great big world.

 

Gear, Supplies and Dog Toys

This section features a brief description of items favored by guide dog teams but is not intended as an endorsement of the actual products.

Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Neck Gaiter

Wag that tail! Make your dog happy this summer with Ruffwear’s reversible cooling neck gaiter.  Made from lightweight stretch spandex material, the gaiter uses evaporative cooling to help your dog stay cool and comfy during the sizzling hot days of summer. Simply soak the gaiter in water, wring it out, and slip it over your dog’s head. Available in a variety of colors and sizes. $19.99 each.

 

PTGDU Recipe of the Month

This section features a favorite recipe from the guide dog community.

The Seeing Eye

Jan’s Ice Cream Cake

Well known on campus for her fabulous baked goods, Seeing Eye training manager Jan Abbott’s homemade ice cream cake is no exception.

Ingredients

Fudge Sauce:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 (4 oz.) pkg. German’s sweet chocolate baking bar

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust:

25 chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

2 quarts ice cream, any flavor

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen whipped topping

Directions

To prepare the sauce, melt butter, chocolate bar, sugar, and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan over low heat. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.

For crust, stir cookie crumbs with 1/4 cup melted butter until crumbs are moistened. Press into bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan.

For filling, slice ice cream into chunks and evenly pack into pan on top of cookie crust. Allow ice cream to slightly soften for about 5 minutes if necessary. (Use 1 whole container (1.5 quart) ice cream and about 1/3 of a second container to make 2 quarts.) Pour cooled sauce over ice cream filling. Sprinkle nuts evenly on top of sauce, if desired. Spread frozen whipped topping over the cake. Cover and place in freezer until ready to serve.

 

About Us

This monthly news update is a publication of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization serving blind and low vision residents of Maine and beyond who are partnered with specially trained guide dogs. Founded in 1997, PTGDU’s mission is to promote complete acceptance of guide dog teams in all aspects of life. Visit us on the web or follow us on Facebook.