Are you a dog guide handler? Looking for a fun afternoon for you and your pup with other dogs and their handlers? On April 29, LightHouse is holding the Dog Guide Jamboree, an afternoon of fun and learning to celebrate the special bond between handlers and dogs.
We sat down with Adult Programs Coordinator Maia Scott who has her own dog guide, Gleam, and is organizing the event to find out more.
How did the idea for the Dog Guide Jamboree come about?
“When I first started working at LightHouse, I met [fellow Adult Programs Coordinator] Sabrina Bolus. She told me that her mom participated some years back in a Doggie Olympics. I thought ‘Oh that’s the cutest thing! We should do something fun for dog guides at LightHouse.’ One of my colleagues in the Community Services department mentioned that since International Guide Dog Day was coming up on April 26, that we should do something to celebrate that. Dog Guide Jamboree will be a fun opportunity to have the Community Services staff work together, plus it’s an intergenerational event for LightHouse students since we have students who are handlers from ages 18 to 88. This is a chance to celebrate beautiful partnerships, synergy and interdependence that happens when living the dog guide lifestyle.”
Can you give us a rundown of the event?
“It’s going to be a pretty packed three hours. Between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, we’ll have a number of stations including a dog treat tasting bar, a people treat tasting bar, a dog grooming area run by volunteers, and also some craft tape and bling at a harness decorating station. Of course, there will be a dog-themed music playlist accompanying all that. After that there will be a little bit of friendly competition with ‘Juno Says’. It will basically be obedience-based things that we do with our dogs. If the competition gets stiff, we might have volunteers walk around with tennis balls and squeaking toys. Next, we’ll have an advocacy update with a representative from Guide Dogs for the Blind. I’m looking into getting some puppy raisers from Golden Gate Puppy Club to be on a panel for an ‘Ask a Puppy Raiser’ session. We’ll close out with a bit of dog guide related trivia.”
What do you mean by Juno?
“Juno is a term used when talking about dog guides. There is never ever a dog named Juno out there working. So, if you’re in a meeting with 100 dog guides and you have a trainer saying ‘and the best way to work this obedience issue is to say Juno down!’. Because there’s never a dog guide named Juno, no dog will wonder ‘oh is that me?’”
What’s your history with dog guides?
“I’m 52. Literally half a lifetime I’ve been working with dog guides now. I’m on my fourth dog, Gleam, now. But each dog has been unique, and each has taught me something about life and has helped me live the dream and move about confidently. They’ve also been guides in kind of a heart space as well; they’ve taught me things about setting boundaries, asking for what you need and shameless curiosity.”
Anything else you’d like to add?
I think Dog Guide Jamboree will be a really fun time to socialize with other dog guide handlers. There is no school affiliation; this is for any and every dog guide team. From a handler perspective, I know we talk about independence a lot, but working with a dog guide has taught me about the importance of interdependence. By trying to be independent I’ve cut myself off from a lot of things. By working with a dog and knowing she relies on me for food and shelter and compassion and a play friend, while I rely on her for safety, has really shown me that interdependence as a blind person is as important. Knowing that we are valuable to others is just as important as knowing we can do it for ourselves.”
What: Dog Guide Jamboree
When: Saturday, April 29, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: LightHouse San Francisco, 1155 Market, 10th Floor
RSVP to Dog Guide Jamboree for current Lighthouse students.
New to LightHouse programing? Sign up for Dog Guide Jamboree here.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.
