[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 52 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E599-E600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              A CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL GUIDE DOG DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2000

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, on April 26, thousands of individuals 
around the world will celebrate International Guide Dog Day. This day 
was brought to my attention last November, when I received a letter 
from a constituent of mine, Ms. Christine de Angeli. She is a junior at 
St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, MD, and has spent a great 
deal of time as a foster puppy raiser. She believes that having sight 
is a gift, and feels that it is important for her to donate her time 
toward improving mobility for those with visual impairments. At her 
urging, the State of Maryland will issue a Governor's Proclamation 
recognizing International Guide Dog Day.
  Christine is currently raising her second dog guide puppy. Often when 
she is out with the puppy, she encounters people who are unaware of the 
opportunity to become a foster puppy raiser, oftentimes they are very 
interested in learning more about how they can help. These volunteers 
are great ambassadors for our country's dog guide program.
  Just by happenstance Mr. Speaker, a new staff person in my office is 
a dog guide user. Watching her work her dog guide on the Metro, in 
meetings, and around the office has given me a much greater 
appreciation for the value of these dog guides and how they enable one 
to keep working despite the loss of vision.

[[Page E600]]

  Ms. de Angeli feels strongly that in this country we should have a 
day to recognize the work of dog guides, their handlers, the families, 
and many organizations such as the Lions Club that support dog guide 
schools.
  Dog guides change the lives of people who are blind or have low 
vision. Training dog guides takes both volunteer time and private 
donations of funds. The average cost to successfully train a blind 
person and their dog guide is about $25,000. Dog guide organizations 
rely on foster puppy raisers to raise future dog guides from the age of 
eight weeks until they start their formal guide training at 18 months. 
As International Guide Dog Day is acknowledged, many more families will 
become award of the opportunity to be foster puppy raisers and will 
hopefully contribute time and energy to help their fellow citizens.
  I salute these selfless individuals and marvelous animals for their 
contributions to our society.

                          ____________________