Denver area service dogs to receive free sight saving eye exams

Englewood, CO – Service dogs having sharp, clear eyesight is very important. Crisp vision allows the service animal to be able to work with those with disabilities and to be able to fully make up for whatever capabilities are challenged with their owner. Similarly, clear vision in tandem with law enforcement officers is equally critical.. That is why Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (www.vrcc.com) is offering free eye exams for service dogs in the month of May to the Denver metro area. So far, 30 dogs are registered to get an exam at VRCC.

VRCC is teaming up with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) to launch the 5th annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event in the month of May. Drs. Matthew Chavkin, Tanja Nuhsbaum, and Bradley Graham, all board certified veterinary ophthalmologists at VRCC, will provide free eye exams to eligible dogs, which include guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, police detection dogs and search and rescue dogs. Dr. Chavkin’s participation is part of a national effort of more than 200 board certified veterinary ophthalmologists in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico who will provide free sight-saving eye exams to thousands of service dogs.

“In these exams, we hope to identify any health issues in their early stages,” says Dr. Chavkin. “Early detection and treatment are the keys to fast recovery.”

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2012 EVENT:

To qualify, dogs must be active “working dogs” that were certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. The certifying organization could be national, regional or local in nature. Specific service groups are listed on the website at www.ACVOeyeexam.org

Owners/agents for the dog(s) must FIRST register the animal via an online registration form, at www.ACVOeyeexam.org Registration ends April 30th. Once registered online, the owner/agent can contact VRCC directly to schedule an appointment, during the month of May. Appointment dates and times are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about and register for the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event, please visit www.ACVOeyeexam.org.

About Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (VRCC):

Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (VRCC) is a veterinary specialty and emergency hospital committed to the finest care available for your animal companion. Through advanced education and experience, veterinarians focus and specialize their knowledge in various areas of medicine. In fact, some of the world’s leading veterinary specialists work at VRCC in the fields of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Oncology/Radiation, Surgery, Dermatology/ Allergy, Ophthalmology, and Emergency Care. Go to www.vrcc.com for more information. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VRCCvet. Follow us on Twitter @VRCC.