Saturday, December 22, 2012

Workshops for Service Dogs in Seattle Feb 2013


Looking for in person workshops for service dogs? A chance to talk to others who have SD's and learn from great instructors!
This one is being held in Seattle in Feb. 2013
Seattle Service Dog Workshop

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Now offering Training Services outside of VI area via webcam

The head instructor for Vancouver Island Assistance Dogs is now offering web-cam training sessions for anyone outside of the Vancouver Island region. There is a reasonable cost involved. This is a great chance to improve your skills, problem solve, use Donna as a sounding board for creating a training plan or to keep your training on a regular schedule. Basic behaviours to complicated task help!

All you need is a web cam with mic and high speed internet and some space in front of your computer.

Check out this blog or her  facebook page.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Communication and the Modern Dogs seminar, Nanaimo, BC


Nanaimo, BC Sept. 17 & 24,  7-9pm $50
Do you know how to read your (assistance) dog's communication? 
90% of dog and human communication is non-verbal and most of that communication is very subtle. How you respond to those signals can strengthen your bond and improve your relationship. Learn to read the early signs. Discover the most recent theory of dog social structure and how their communication skills are key to keeping peace in your dog's daily life. 
Pre-register at Nanaimo Parks & Recreation 756-5200 or online at
https://ireg.nanaimo.ca/webreg/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=119970011&SDT=40260.51409375
Type in Code # 115276

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

International Assistance Dog Week Aug. 5 to 11, 2012

Celebrate! Let others know!
http://www.assistancedogweek.org

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Tip for New Readers of VIAD blog

All posts are numbered and named by topic to help make it easier to find what you are looking for. Look on the right hand side of this blog under Archives and click on "2009".
As new posts get old, they are numbered and moved into the series where they fit.

Income Tax Deductions for a Service Dog in BC


In Canada, any costs incurred to care for and maintain a service dog are allowable as a deduction IF the animal is provided by a person or organization whose main purpose is to train such animals. Things such as costs for certification, annual local licencing fees, food, grooming, veterinary bills, (especially for routine checks, vaccinations) etc. In BC, these dogs must be certified to qualify. Does this mean owner-trained dogs do not qualify? This is a grey area and one to ask your income tax person about.

¶ 52. The costs of acquiring and the care and maintenance (including food and veterinary care) of an animal qualify as medical expenses under paragraph 118.2(2)(l) as long as certain conditions are met. These costs must be paid on behalf of a patient who is blind, profoundly deaf or who has a severe and prolonged impairment (see ¶ 1 above) that markedly restricts the use of the patient's arms or legs. The animal must be specially trained to assist a patient in coping with his or her impairment and the animal must be provided by a person or organization one of whose main purposes is the training of animals for this purpose. The patient's reasonable travel expenses incurred for the purpose of attendance at, and reasonable board and lodging expenses incurred for the purpose of full-time attendance at a school, institution or other facility that trains persons with the same kind of impairment in the handling of such animals will also qualify as medical expenses."


from: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it519r2-consolid/it519r2-consolid-e.html#P267_56490

Monday, February 6, 2012

Another owner-trained service dog certified in BC

Here is a letter I recently received updating me on the process! Sometimes one piece of information is all that is missing. Congratulations to Carla & Banjo!
I have included a link to her in case other's need this information.

"Hello Donna,
Back in September, you E-mailed me with information about how to certify owner-trained service dogs.
I e-mailed both places. Helping Paws got in touch with me right away.
Diana, from Helping Paws http://www.helpingpaws.ca/ is absolutely wonderful. I made an appointment to test my dog, had to cancel twice due to medical circumstances. She totally understood, and we finally made it to Creston.

She took my dog Banjo and I through town, in and out of stores, walking by distractions, saw what he does for me (pick up things I drop, open and closes doors, etc) and was happy to tell me that Banjo passed. A week later we received Banjo's sevice dog certificate from the BC government.

I take him everywhere now, Walmart and other stores, restaurants, my bank... everywhere. And it is wonderful to have him with me, and also my husband, who had a stroke and is also disabled. We are finally getting out of the house.

I can't thank you enough for sending me the e-mail to Helping Paws, it has changed our lives so much to have a service dog, that can help us out in public, too. Both my husband and I thank you so very, very much.

I follow your web blog all the time, there are still lots of tips for Banjo to learn! He is doing great, what a help he is.

Thanks again .
Sincerely, Carla
And a WOOF from Banjo :) "