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California Guide Dog School License Reinstated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2004

SACRAMENTO — The operating license of Guide Dogs of the Desert International has been reinstated, California's State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind said today.

The school's license was suspended automatically on March 1, when it lost its licensed instructor. Under California law, a school must have a state-licensed instructor on staff in order to operate.

But the Palm Springs school, which has trained dogs for the visually impaired since 1972, recently hired a new instructor, which led to the reinstatement.

"The school is optimistically looking forward to continued operation with a class tentatively scheduled to start in October," said Harry Thomas, the Guide Dog Board's Executive Officer.

The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs and promotes and protects the interests of guide dog users and licenses both guide dog schools and instructors.

For more information about the Board, visit its Web site at www.dca.ca.gov/guidedogboard.

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