«

After shooting, "Dima Goes to the Food Court," I was planning on doing a
"Dima Goes to the ..." series. However, she collapsed this week, and a
trip to the vet has revealed there is a tumour on her spleen. If it is
malignant, she only has about six months to live.

Whether it is malignant or not, she will be retiring, so I thought I would
take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog and who
appreciated her picture.

I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
medical expenses.

If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.

1-800-295-4050
http://www.guidedogs.com

To get this back on topic a bit, I will try to replace my intended series
with a new one as I return to Guide Dogs for a new guide -- hopefully
sometime this summer. Dudley Goes to the Dogs?

Thanks,
Dudley

On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:44:33 GMT, in rec.photo.digital "Dudley Hanks"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>After shooting, "Dima Goes to the Food Court," I was planning on doing a
>"Dima Goes to the ..." series. However, she collapsed this week, and a
>trip to the vet has revealed there is a tumour on her spleen. If it is
>malignant, she only has about six months to live.
>
>Whether it is malignant or not, she will be retiring, so I thought I would
>take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog and who
>appreciated her picture.
>
>I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
>support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
>medical expenses.
>
>If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.
>
>1-800-295-4050
>http://www.guidedogs.com
>
>To get this back on topic a bit, I will try to replace my intended series
>with a new one as I return to Guide Dogs for a new guide -- hopefully
>sometime this summer. Dudley Goes to the Dogs?

I'm sorry but I don't get this? It sounds like you are abandoning her. What
gives?

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:44:33 GMT, in rec.photo.digital "Dudley Hanks"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>After shooting, "Dima Goes to the Food Court," I was planning on doing a
>>"Dima Goes to the ..." series. However, she collapsed this week, and a
>>trip to the vet has revealed there is a tumour on her spleen. If it is
>>malignant, she only has about six months to live.
>>
>>Whether it is malignant or not, she will be retiring, so I thought I would
>>take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog and who
>>appreciated her picture.
>>
>>I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
>>support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
>>medical expenses.
>>
>>If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.
>>
>>1-800-295-4050
>>http://www.guidedogs.com
>>
>>To get this back on topic a bit, I will try to replace my intended series
>>with a new one as I return to Guide Dogs for a new guide -- hopefully
>>sometime this summer. Dudley Goes to the Dogs?
>
> I'm sorry but I don't get this? It sounds like you are abandoning her.
> What
> gives?

No, no one is abandoning her. In fact, she will be cared for by the best
people in the world.

However, when you are blind, and when you work with a guide, unfortunately,
very unfortunately, the world doesn't come to a screaming halt when the
going gets tough.

Dima is my second guide. Bonner was my first, a big strapping male
shepherd. It took me five years to get over his loss and apply for Dima.

But, as one's sight goes down, one depends on these guides more and more.
With my current level of vision, I would have zero mobility without another
guide. So I have opted to apply now. I have the counciling and support of
the Guide Dogs organization behind me, which helps a lot.

As noted above, sick guides are not disregarded. They are given the best
medical attention, and often go to live with their original puppy raiser, a
trainer or one of the training staff. They are spoiled wroughten, and their
last days are made as comfortable as possible.

Given that you probably have never used a guide, I don't expect you to
understand the bond that exists between a guide dog and its handler. We
spend all of our time together, we go every place together, and we depend on
each other. The bond is at least 100 times as strong in this case as it is
in a pet / owner relationship. But, life is harsh, and decisions have to be
made. If you had no vision and needed to get to your child's school because
he / she had been hurt in an accident, you might start to understand...

Trust me, tears have, and continue to be shed...

Dudley

"George Kerby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:C4029E60.48DFB%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> On 3/15/08 7:44 PM, in article R3_Cj.108915$C61.44820@edtnps89, "Dudley
> Hanks" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> After shooting, "Dima Goes to the Food Court," I was planning on doing a
>> "Dima Goes to the ..." series. However, she collapsed this week, and a
>> trip to the vet has revealed there is a tumour on her spleen. If it is
>> malignant, she only has about six months to live.
>>
>> Whether it is malignant or not, she will be retiring, so I thought I
>> would
>> take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog and who
>> appreciated her picture.
>>
>> I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
>> support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
>> medical expenses.
>>
>> If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.
>>
>> 1-800-295-4050
>> http://www.guidedogs.com
>>
>> To get this back on topic a bit, I will try to replace my intended series
>> with a new one as I return to Guide Dogs for a new guide -- hopefully
>> sometime this summer. Dudley Goes to the Dogs?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dudley
>>
>>
> So sorry to hear that news, Dudley.
>
> We had to put down our GSD that we had for 12.5 years about six weeks ago.
> They really become part of your family. And I would imagine that with you
> and Dima's special bonding relationship, it will be just as tough, if not
> tougher, for you to separate.
>
> I am going to make a donation to such a great organization right away.
>
> Good luck and God bless...
>

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Dima had some more tests last night.

The vet says that in 30% of this type of tumour, it either starts with or
spreads to the heart. If the tumour is present in the heart, nothing can be
done. If the heart is clean, at least the spleen can be removed, and the
progression can be slowed.

Dima's heart is clean, so they will operate this week.

This should slow down the progression, and we could have a bit more time
with her.

Thank you for your donation. I can personally attest that Guide Dogs uses
each gift as effectively as possible. They do their best to treat all of
their dogs with the utmost of respect. And, their vet staff is second to
none.

Take Care,
Dudley

"Rita Berkowitz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dudley Hanks wrote:
>
>> Given that you probably have never used a guide, I don't expect you to
>> understand the bond that exists between a guide dog and its handler.
>> We spend all of our time together, we go every place together, and we
>> depend on each other. The bond is at least 100 times as strong in
>> this case as it is in a pet / owner relationship. But, life is
>> harsh, and decisions have to be made. If you had no vision and
>> needed to get to your child's school because he / she had been hurt
>> in an accident, you might start to understand...
>
> Some people simply don't get it or they have a lot of emptiness in their
> heart. Most people regard their pets as part of the family and love them
> as
> such. There's no amount of explaining this to people that would never get
> it.
>
> I'm always amazed to see guide dogs and always take a moment to say hello
> and a rub behind the ear. These dogs are amazingly loyal and well
> trained.
> It's always refreshing to see a guide dog, especially a lab.
>
>> Trust me, tears have, and continue to be shed...
>
> Yep, I know! We had to put Rex down after 15-years. It was tough and
> very
> emotional. It's just as bad as losing a child. I wish you and Dima the
> best.
>
>
>
>
> Rita
>
>
>
>

Thanks, Rita,

I'll give Dima a big hug from you.

Take Care,
Dudley

Dudley Hanks wrote:
> After shooting, "Dima Goes to the Food Court," I was planning on doing a
> "Dima Goes to the ..." series. However, she collapsed this week, and a
> trip to the vet has revealed there is a tumour on her spleen. If it is
> malignant, she only has about six months to live.
>
> Whether it is malignant or not, she will be retiring, so I thought I would
> take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog and who
> appreciated her picture.
>
> I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
> support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
> medical expenses.
>
> If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.
>
> 1-800-295-4050
> http://www.guidedogs.com
>
> To get this back on topic a bit, I will try to replace my intended series
> with a new one as I return to Guide Dogs for a new guide -- hopefully
> sometime this summer. Dudley Goes to the Dogs?
>
> Thanks,
> Dudley


Sorry to hear about your guide dog. I know the bond between an owner
and his dog can be very strong even when the dog is just a pet, I can
only imagine how much stronger it must be in your case.

I have to admit I am a bit surprised to find someone on a photography
group who's vision is such that he needs a guide dog. In any case, I
was wondering if you would do me a favor. I have a web site and am
curious how it compares in the area of accessibility in regard to screen
readers, which I am guessing you use. before I put up this site I was
reading about some tips that make a screen reader work better,
especially in respect to tables. So if you have the time, please take a
look at http://hrrdb.com. It is a ham radio repeater database.
Currently the database isn't very complete so you may not find much if
you do a search centered around your location. So when you bring up the
site do a search for repeaters with in 100 miles of Oklahoma City, OK
and see how well the screen reader deals with the search result table.
On the search result page below the result table, there is also a map
generated by google maps, I guess that part wouldn't be much use to you.
Thanks for your input, I hope to make future web sites even better in
this regard, so I look forward to your input.



--
Chris W
KE5GIX

"Protect your digital freedom and privacy, eliminate DRM,
learn more at http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm"

Ham Radio Repeater Database.
http://hrrdb.com

>> I would also like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for their incredible
>> support. The organization trained Dima, and is looking after all her
>> medical expenses.
>>
>> If you ever wanted to donate to a great charity, this is one of the best.
>>
>> 1-800-295-4050
>> http://www.guidedogs.com


> I have to admit I am a bit surprised to find someone on a photography
> group who's vision is such that he needs a guide dog.

It's all part of the digital photography revolution. Cheap cameras, LCD
viewers, auto-focus, auto-exposure, a bit of imagination, and, presto! A
blind photographer.

For more info, check out my blog at:

http://blind-apertures.blogspot.com


In any case, I
> was wondering if you would do me a favor. I have a web site and am
> curious how it compares in the area of accessibility in regard to screen
> readers, which I am guessing you use. before I put up this site I was
> reading about some tips that make a screen reader work better, especially
> in respect to tables. So if you have the time, please take a look at
> http://hrrdb.com. It is a ham radio repeater database. Currently the
> database isn't very complete so you may not find much if you do a search
> centered around your location. So when you bring up the site do a search
> for repeaters with in 100 miles of Oklahoma City, OK and see how well the
> screen reader deals with the search result table. On the search result
> page below the result table, there is also a map generated by google maps,
> I guess that part wouldn't be much use to you. Thanks for your input, I
> hope to make future web sites even better in this regard, so I look
> forward to your input.
>
>
>
> --
> Chris W
> KE5GIX

Hey Chris, checked out the sight, and it seems fine. Of course, I'm not a
HAM radio operator, so the data didn't make much sense to me. However, your
table read nicely: in rows instead of columns.

All the fields that I tried were readily identifiable, and my
screen-reader's page search facility worked perfectly.

Obviously, the Google map was ignored, but that is par for the course.

The only comment I would have is that, as a Canadian, it would be nice if
you could make the State field into a "State / Province" field, and then
include the Canadian provinces and territories. That way, you could pick up
Canadian users as well. I'm assuming that if there is a demand for your
page in the States, the demand will translate north of the border.

Nice Work,
Dudley

Dudley Hanks wrote:

<edited for brevity>

> Dima had some more tests last night.
>
> The vet says that in 30% of this type of tumour, it either starts with or
> spreads to the heart. If the tumour is present in the heart, nothing can be
> done. If the heart is clean, at least the spleen can be removed, and the
> progression can be slowed.
>
> Dima's heart is clean, so they will operate this week.

Hello, Dudley:

I'd heard of heart tumors, before, but I was unaware they could "spread."
That is, I thought they were "benign," from a malignancy standpoint.

Further info:

Wikipedia - Primary tumors of the heart
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_tumors_of_the_heart>

Personally, I had a cancerous parotid (i.e., salivary) gland removed, from
the right side of my face, in 1992; I needed about three months of follow-up
radiation treatments, as well.

> This should slow down the progression, and we could have a bit more time
> with her.

<edited>

I'm truly happy to see that something can be done, to help Dima.

Good luck, to both you and your dog(s)!


Cordially,
John Turco <(E-Mail Removed)>