RECORD BREAKING 4,000 SERVICE ANIMALS RECEIVED FREE EYE EXAMS
June 28, 2011 • Health & Wellness • Rescue
Provided by: American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and Merial
The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) today announced record breaking results from the 4th Annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event. With the help of more than 200 volunteer board certified veterinary ophthalmologists throughout the U.S. and Canada, 4,000 service animals were examined during the event, an increase of 25% from last year. Guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs and other service animals including horses and even a service donkey received free sight saving exams.
As part of the program, a team of ACVO doctors hosted a Service Dog screening event at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center. Approximately 150 Transportation Security Agency (TSA) dogs and military working dogs were screened.
“We are beyond pleased by the number of service animals that received a free eye exam during this year’s event,” said Stacee Daniel, Executive Director of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. “Our volunteer veterinary ophthalmologists saw a record four thousand animals which will help them stay in good eye health and continue to do their job of helping others.”
Along with dogs, there were other species of service animals which were examined in this program, including horses, and even donkeys, such as Henry. Henry is a therapy donkey who travels thousands of miles with Young’s Funny Farm (a home for therapy animals) to visit hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and special needs facilities to help bring a smile to patients. A few months back his owner discovered he had an eye injury which ultimately stole his sight in one eye. This year’s free examination helped ensure that his other eye is working just fine and he will be able to continue his mission of helping others).
The goals of the annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event are: to benefit individuals and society who rely on Service Dogs, strengthen referral relationships between veterinary ophthalmologists and general practice veterinarians, to gather data relative to work performance for future work recommendations and to preserve the sight of those animals who serve us selflessly.
Registration for the event takes place in April of each year. The eye exams take place in May. To qualify, animals must be active “working animals” that were certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. To learn more about the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event, please visit www.ACVOeyeexam.org
