Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tech vet college offers free eye tests to service dogs
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech will give free eye exams for service dogs on Friday.
To qualify for the service, dogs must be "working dogs" certified through a formal training program or organization. Guide dogs, handicapped-assistance dogs, bomb- and drug-detection dogs, police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs qualify.
Friday's exams are part of a national event in collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and Pet Health Systems and sponsored by Merial, an animal health company. The veterinary college has been offering the free service for more than 20 years.
The exams involve ophthalmologists' using equipment to examine the dogs' eyes to see how they respond.
"It will be more the ophthalmologist looking in than the dog looking out," said Christy Jackson, a spokeswoman for the college.
To register or learn more about the program, go to cvoeyeexam.org or call (540) 231-7239.
-- Greg Esposito
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