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| Please read this article reporting the results of a local 'test' event held by Dr. Bill Miller in December. |
| LOCAL EVENT HELD FOR SERVICE DOGS - DECEMBER 2007 |
| by Dr. Bill Miller |
| The Public Relations
Committee has proposed, and the Board of Regents (BOR) has approved, a
national event to examine the eyes of service dogs. Recently ACVO
Diplomates were surveyed and an overwhelming number of you agreed that
the concept was a good idea for a public relations event and that you
would support it through participation. Most are already performing
ocular exams on service dogs without charge. We are in a unique position
for the ACVO to capitalize on the good works of its members to further
promote the profession and the College.
Recently, a Service Dog eye exam event was held in Memphis to test the waters and develop media materials for a national campaign. We examined 74 police, search and rescue, and guide dogs in one morning. This is essentially the same examination that we conduct for CERF clinics. The fallout from the local event has been very positive, with improved communication between referring veterinarians and the ophthalmologist and the general public learning that there are veterinary ophthalmologists available. Local news coverage has been enthusiastic. We can only expect the national program to have an even greater impact. In conjunction with Pet Health Month, we will hold the Eye Exams for Service Dogs during the week of May 12. Stacee Daniel will be contacting the membership in the near future to confirm your participation. A directory will be constructed on the ACVO website which will list participating members and explain how service dog owners/agents can contact them to make an appointment. It will be up to individual participants to decide how to arrange to examine these animals (e.g. one day, multiple days, multiple partial days, etc.). We have established a press network that will help us distribute press releases to news services such as CNN, CBS, and NBC, prior to the event. Press release packets will be provided to the Diplomates who wish to participate through the ACVO website for use in local markets. Information packages will also be available this Spring to participating Diplomates through the ACVO website. Corporate sponsorship is anticipated for the national campaign. Funds generated through corporate sponsorship after expenses will be donated to the Vision for Animals Foundation. Therefore your participation will not only help promote veterinary ophthalmology but also fund VAF programs. We can only see positive benefits from this campaign and anticipate tremendous exposure for the ACVO and veterinary ophthalmologists. Thank you in advance for your support of this event. |
| Return to Service Day registration form |
