May is National Service Dog Eye Examination Month, and many board-certified diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) will offer free screenings for these hard-working and caring animals. At Animal Vision Center of Virginia (AVCVA), we offer free screening exams on qualified service animals every month of the year. Trained to perform tasks to assist people with visual, hearing and medical impairments, service and working dogs also help police and military units sniff out drugs, assist in search-and-rescue operations and comfort patients in therapeutic scenarios.
For a third year, our team will have the privilege of performing free ocular screenings off site for the police dogs and patrol horses with the City of Virginia Beach Police and Sheriff’s Department.
To qualify for the exam, service animals must be active working animals that are certified by a formal training program or organization, or are currently enrolled in a formal training program. For more information about the referral process, or to schedule a screening, please contact [email protected], or see the ACVO National Service Animal Eye Exam webpage at www.ACVOEyeExam.org.
