Pine Tree Guide Dog Users PTGDU

12/17/2025

Protect your pups from hidden holiday hazards! Check out these safety tips from the experts at Guide Dogs for the Blind.

1. Skip the Table Scraps

As tempting as it is to share the holiday feast, your dog’s digestive system doesn’t see it as a treat. Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, and common ingredients like chocolate, xylitol, onions, grapes, and raisins can be toxic. Keep leftovers sealed, trash secured, and drinks out of reach.

2. Choose Pet-Safe Plants

Some festive plants, such as amaryllis, holly, poinsettia, and mistletoe, can cause illness if ingested. Opt for pet-safe alternatives or faux greenery to brighten your space without the risk.

3. Practice Candle Safety

Candles add warmth and glow to the holidays, but wagging tails and open flames don’t mix. Always keep candles out of reach and never leave your dog unsupervised around burning candles.

4. Keep Ornaments Out of Reach

Decorations look beautiful, but they can be dangerous if broken or swallowed. Avoid hanging fragile or food-based ornaments (like salt dough or popcorn garlands) within your dog’s reach, and steer clear of tinsel, which can be especially harmful if ingested.

5. Watch for Potpourri and Essential Oils

Holiday scents are lovely for people, but not for dogs. Potpourri and essential oils can cause irritation or poisoning if touched or ingested. Keep these items well out of your dog’s environment.

6. Secure Toys and Batteries

Small toys and batteries from new gadgets can look like chew toys to a curious pup. Swallowing a battery can cause chemical burns and serious harm, so keep play areas tidy and clean up promptly after unwrapping gifts.

7. Create a Quiet Retreat

Even the most social dogs sometimes need a break. Give your dog a calm, comfortable space away from guests, music, or fireworks (especially during New Year’s celebrations). A little peace and quiet can make a big difference in their well-being.

Photo Description: a Guide Dogs for the Blind black Lab looking directly at the camera while sitting on a snowy wet sidewalk. Snowflakes are gently falling and some have landed on the dog’s fur, harness, and the ground around it. The background is slightly blurred with some snow accumulation visible.

12/10/2025

📸 Snap the perfect holiday pic of your pup with these expert step-by-step tips! https://www.chewy.com/education/dog/general/how-to-take-picture-perfect-holiday-photos

Photo Description: A tan and black off duty German Shepherd guide dog with a red bandanna sitting beside a festively decorated Christmas tree and wrapped presents. Next to the dog and presents is a snowman figure on top wearing a red hat and white scarf. The side wall has a backdrop of a fireplace scene with a flickering fire and red stockings hanging above.

11/30/2025

Shop till you drop! PTGDU’s Annual Holiday Gift Giving Guide is here-packed with trusted, tail‑wagging favorites to make the most of everyone’s holiday season. 🎁
PD: Two off-duty Lab guide dogs , one yellow and one black, curled up together fast asleep on a cozy dog bed in front of a crackling fire.
https://pinetreeguidedogusers.org/monthly-news-updates/

11/20/2025

Help spread the word, and please take the survey if you're a guide dog handler in the United States.

Calling ALL service dog handlers! Use your voice today for stronger access rights in the future! 📢🦮

If you are a U.S. service dog handler, please take 5 minutes to share your experience regarding access issues you've faced in public spaces, rideshares, or businesses in our State of Access survey. Your voice helps us advocate for stronger access rights and informs policymakers, advocacy groups, and the public.

👉 www.seeingeye.org/stateofaccess
📅 Deadline: Tuesday, November 25
🗺️ Open to all U.S.-based service dog handlers

🤔 Not a service dog handler?
🤲 Help us advocate for stronger access rights by sharing this post!

PD: A yellow Lab Seeing Eye dog in harness sits underneath a cafe table and beside his handler’s feet.

11/11/2025

Calling all dog lovers! PTGDU's Annual holiday Gift Giving Guide is just around the corner, and we want to hear from YOU! What dog gear, gadgets, toys, treats, or supplies do you absolutely swear by?

Photo Description: A seven-week old German shepherd guide dog puppy with sleepy eyes peeking over the edge of a cot-style dog bed. She is wearing a Santa hat that covers one ear while the other ear is smudged with green tattoo ink.

11/05/2025

News flash! The November issue of our monthly news update is now available. https://pinetreeguidedogusers.org/monthly-news-updates/

Photo Description: Two women in jeans sitting on a gray wooden deck under a large striped patio umbrella. They are seated at a round outdoor table with drinks on it, and their guide dogs are resting at their feet. One dog is a light-colored Lab Golden cross and the other is a black Lab in harness. In the background, houses can be seen across a small cove and the leaves on the trees are beginning to change color.

10/31/2025

🎃 Pick of the Patch! 🎃 Just in time for Halloween, the 4-Footed Leaders Seeing Eye Puppy Club is sharing one of its all-time favorite fall dog treat recipes - Pumpkin Drop Dog Biscuits!

3 cups oat flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon flaxseed

1 large egg

3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir well. Scoop a tablespoonful of dough and place on an ungreased baking sheet (dough does not spread). Bake 18 to 22 minutes. Cool on wire racks and store, up to 2 weeks, in the refrigerator.

10/24/2025

♻️🐾 CLYNK your cans for Pine Tree Guide Dog Users! Every time you drop off your CLYNK bags at participating Hannaford stores in Maine & New York or Stop & Shop in Connecticut, you can choose to donate your bottle returns to PTGDU.

✅ Just log in to your CLYNK.com account
✅ Head to the Donate page
✅ Search for Pine Tree Guide Dog Users
✅ Click Donate and make a difference! 🦮💚

10/15/2025

It's Blindness Awareness Month! Join us in celebrating the value and contributions of blind and low vision Mainers, and to work together towards a more inclusive and equitable society!

WHEREAS, blindness and low vision affect millions of Americans, including an estimated 35,000 Maine people; and WHEREAS, the white cane and guide dog serve as essential tools of independence, mobility, and safety for blind and low vision individuals, and their use is legally protected under Maine la...

10/09/2025

Shepherd shenanigans! Four Seeing Eye dogs, one rogue terrier, and a 10-month old German shepherd Seeing Eye puppy reigning as CEO of chaos.

Photo Description: Six dogs in a fenced-in area with grass, fallen leaves, and a stone path. In the foreground, a 10-month old German Shepherd puppy is playfully nipping at an off-duty yellow Lab’s face, while a smaller black dog is between them. In the background, three other Seeing Eye dogs are running towards the scene from a wooded area including an off-duty yellow Lab golden cross, a career-change black poodle, and a retired black Lab. To the right, black outdoor chairs arranged around a fire pit on a stone patio.

10/03/2025

October is here! And so is our Monthly News Update, packed with fall happenings, helpful resources, and an Autumn Chicken Salad recipe from The Seeing Eye. Take a peek at https://pinetreeguidedogusers.org/monthly-news-updates/

Photo Description: Two Seeing Eye puppies wearing their green training vests are sitting on a gravel surface in front of a display of orange pumpkins. The pup on the left is a light-colored Lab and the one on the right is a German Shepherd with a dark face and ears. Behind the pumpkins, a metal fence and some greenery and trees are visible in the background.

09/22/2025

Cheers to the U.S. Department of Justice!🙌 For far too long, blind passengers have endured unacceptable treatment by Uber and other rideshare companies—facing long waits, missed commitments, and being left behind simply because they’re traveling with a guide dog.

This recent step toward our is welcome news.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. Uber is the largest provider of ride-hailing services in the United States. The la...