After a month of training at Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc. in San Rafael, Calif., Sudbury's Rob DiMeglio and his new canine companion Gabe have graduated from the program.
DiMeglio is a computer trainer of adaptive equipment with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The graduation ceremony was held May 20 at the Guide Dogs' 11-acre campus located 20 miles north of San Fransisco.
During the course of training, skilled guide dogs and their new partners learn to negotiate srairways, elevators, overhead obstacles, crowded sidewalks and busy streets. The dogs are trained to avoid distractions and disobey commands to cross the street if traffic is coming.
Guide Dogs for the Blind is a community dedicated to providing people who are blind with the opportunity to experience what a powerful partnership with a guide dog can mean - not only to mobility, but to quality of life. The school is commited to matching each person with the right dog, developing a personalized training program matched to each person's lifestyle and providing support services after graduation and beyond.
Since 1942, the Guide Dogs for the Blind school has produced more than 10,000 trained guides for graduates across North America. There are currently more than 2,000 people using dogs trainied at the Guide Dogs' school.
For more information, contact Guide Dogs for the Blind at 1-800-295-4050 or visit www.guidedogs.com .
