2017 Free Eye Exams for Service Dogs

Written on March 24, 2017 by Staff Veterinarian

The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) will host its annual public service event providing free eye exams for service animals in May 2017.

Drs. Nick Cassotis, Nancy Cottrill, Ruth Marrion, Alison Clode and Petra Lackner along with over 250 ACVO board certified veterinary ophthalmologists across America, Canada and Puerto Rico will donate their services to provide complimentary screening eye examinations to active Service Animals. The Service Animal’s owner/agent will incur no cost for these services. It is anticipated that through these efforts service animal health can be improved and potential disease averted for thousands of working dogs.

Guide dogs, handicapped assistance animals, detection dogs, therapy animals, and search and rescue dogs selflessly serve the public. To honor these animals and their work, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) is launching the annual ACVO/STOKESRx National Service Animal Eye Exam Event in the month of May, to screen service animals who dedicate their lives to serving the public.

This is a national event. Please share this important information with your service animal clients, friends and family.

Qualification information and registration available at:

www.ACVOEyeExam.org

Registration is open April 1st- 30th, 2017
Free Eye Exams for Service Animals take place, by appointment, in May 2017

Steps to take:

Click to Register

Qualifying:

For more information on whether your service animal qualifies, please take a look a the the ACVO Eye Exam website.

The ACVO National Service Animal Eye Exam event will provide a free screening-wellness eye exam to Service Animals including those provide the following services: guide, hearing assistance, drug detection, police/military, search and rescue, therapy, and those assisting people with disabilities other than blindness.

All animals must be formally trained, certified, currently working service animals or formally trained therapy animals with active registration. Those currently enrolled in a formal service animal training program may qualify, but is based upon clinic availability.

Registration and Appointments:

• Register your working or service animal on the ACVO eye exam website between April 1st – 30th, 2017. This will allow them to participate in the event during the month of May.
• Once you have registered, you will be given a registration number, you will need this number when you call to make your appointment at the IVG by Ethos hospital nearest to you. 

Special Note: 

• Those who were screened at previous events are welcome to participate again in the 2017 event.