Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow

Special Places in 1999

Nevada State Museum
February 1999

It's not everyday that a guide dog puppy comes face to face with a bear, but at the Nevada State Museum it is all part of the experience.

This museum has so much to see.

Staircases lead to wonderful exhibits
like the firearms collection.

At the end of the tour,
you will feel smarter and more contented.

Super K-Mart
March 1999

On March 1, 1999 the entire Carson City 4-H Guide Dog club went to Super K-Mart for dinner and training. It was quite a sight to behold.

K-Mart is filled with wonderful distractions and training opportunities.

There were ten stations throughout the store. Each had a specific training goal. Working with someone else's dog makes any station an extra challenge.

Carson-Tahoe Hospital
March 1999

Since 1993, the guide dog puppies have visited the Carson-Tahoe Hospital. The puppy parade down the halls is a real show stopper. A visit to the emergency room is a chance to see how the puppies react to equipment that beeps, moves and hisses.

Becoming at ease with wheelchairs and people on crutches is always an interesting activity at the hospital. One year, the care flight helicopter landed on the roof as the puppies watched from the parking lot.

Old Sacramento Fun Day
April 1999

The Old Sacramento Fun Day is a special event in April. Walking the cobblestone streets and old time boardwalks are part of the pleasure.

So too is riding the steam engine train.

After a long winter, dogs and people enjoy relaxing in the sun.

Kennedy Space Center
July 1999

Guide Dog Puppy in Space

How did you spend your summer vacation?
'Chadwick' spent his touring the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He told
NASA, "If I don't become a guide dog,
I'm ready to blast-off for the new space station."

Epcot Park Disney World
October 2002

Chadwick can't wait to find the real Mickey Mouse. Are you the real Mickey?

Chadwick loved Epcot. He enjoyed the boat ride inside the Mexico Pavillion and looking for trolls in the Norway shop.

San Rafael Fun Day
August 1999

The 2002 NEA Representative Assembly was held in Dallas, Texas. Two of the ten thousand delegates included Warren Wish and 15 month old Francois. Francois enjoyed staying at the Doubletree Hotel and visiting the Galleria Mall. He especially enjoyed riding the downtown light rail and visiting the Daily Plaza and the Sixth Floor museum.

Nevada Governor's Office

On April 15, 1997 Governor Bob Miller using forty pens (a souvenir for everyone in attendance) signed into law Assembly Bill 202. The members of the Carson City 4-H Guide Dog club were witness to this historic moment. Guide dog puppies in training now had access rights to places of employment.

The passage of AB 202 brought to fruition the dream of Las Vegas school teacher, Ann Gifford. When the Clark County School District denied permission for her guide dog puppy to go with her to school, Ann filed suit in District Court. After the court ruled in her favor, the Clark County School District appealed the case to the Nevada State Supreme Court. By a 4-3 majority, the Supreme Court ruled that Nevada's service dog laws extended into the classroom and to other places of employment. One year later, Assemblywoman Sandi Krenzer introducted AB 202 to make Nevada's law in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. Today, guide dog puppies go to work with their adult raisers in schools, state offices and private business settings across the state.

Minden Airport

Going to the airport is always fun, especially when you can hop aboard. Guide dog puppies learned how to get into both small planes and helicopters. Squeezing into a small place on the floor alongside the seat was a special challenge.

Nevada State Train Museum

Puppy Advisor Jim Russell enjoys the V&T ride with Griffin and Char Hanselman.

Train riding and musem tours can sure make a puppy feel so sleepy.

Nevada Supreme Court

In 1995 the Clark County School District forbid music teacher Anne Buchanan-Gifford from bringing her guide dog puppy in training into her classroom. This was in violation of Nevada State service dog access laws. When the school district refused to negotiate an accomodation, Mrs. Gifford with "Telpa" (right) filed suit in District Court. Eventually, the CCSD appealed the case to the Nevada Supreme Court. On April 10, 1996, represented by attorney Richard Segerblom (center), Ms. Gifford and members of the Carson City Guide Dog club attended the hearing.

The next day, the "Reno Gazette-Journal" said, "There were arguments from lawyers and questions from justices - but not even a whimper Wednesday from 10 dogs at a Nevada Supreme Court hearing...."

Months, later in a 5-4 decision, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in Ms. Gifford's favor and upheld the right of a person raising a guide dog puppy to access all places of public accomodation. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Cliff Young acknowledged that every "....every dog has his day."

Exercise Class

To give people with visual disabilities true independence, a guide dog puppy must be able to maintain his/her poise no matter what the circumstances. "Topaz" shows that she too knows how to get down and exercise.

Puppy Fun Days

Eldorado County, CA has a wonderful funday at the historic town Plymouth. Getting to meet a burro is only part of the fun. Notice the pile of droppings to tempt the taste buds of this young dog. The old county store, jail, and hotel make for a unique setting.

Club Meetings

During the winter, we have enjoyed visiting the laundromat.

Higher learning is especially appreciated on a cold raining night at Western Nevada Community College. Touring the campus, going up & down stairs and enjoying an art exhibit were all part of the experience.