Publisher's Synopsis
Guide Dogs of America, A History, recounts the founding, growth and operation of one of America's premier providers of guide dogs for the visually impaired. It also details the history of the guide dog movement in America, beginning with the story of "Lux," the first guide dog in America, given to blind United States Senator Thomas Schall in 1927. Guide Dogs of America was founded by Joseph W. Jones, Sr., a machinist by trade who lost his vision and, when he was turned down, at age 57, as "too old" for a guide dog, started his own guide dog school. Jones soon teamed with Captain L. A. Kreimer, a veteran of the German Army in World War I who had trained the world's first guide dog at an army field hospital in 1916, and who subsequently ran the German's extensive network of guide dog schools for soldiers blinded by the war. Together, Jones and Kreimer, with significant support from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union to which Jones belonged, began training guide dogs in Los Angeles. Hollywood stars soon took note of the charitable work being done by the school - where dogs and training are provided to students free of charge, and without assistance from any level of government - and lent their fame and fortune to the operation. John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, Jonathan Winters, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, Jackie Cooper and Betty White were among the first to become involved, setting a trend that continues to this day through the involvement of a new generation of stars, including Amanda Righetti, a star of CBS Television's "The Mentalist." This book also describes the guide dog process: from breeding, puppy raising, training, selection of students, matching students with the proper dog, to post graduate services, and features a first person narrative by Guide Dogs of America graduate Lorri Bernson, who tells in moving detail of the loss of her vision, the battle to achieve independence, her hopes and dreams as a student at the school, and the fulfilling life she has been able to lead with the assistance of her guide dog. Equally important, Guide Dogs of America tells the story of the men and women who have made all of this possible, from the dedicated members of the Machinists Union who have held thousands of charitable events and donated millions of dollars, to corporations who have donated generously, and the galaxy of Hollywood stars who have given freely of their time and talents. Anyone interested in the story of how one man, faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges can not only overcome them, but can provide hope, independence and a better life to literally thousands of people around the world will enjoy this book.
