Graduation

On Saturday George and I went out to the Guide Dog School to watch a graduation ceremony.

The guide dog puppies are born in whelping kennels in California. When they are about 8 weeks old they are given to 'puppy raisers'. These dedicated volunteers keep the puppy for about a year. During that year they are house broken, taught good manners, and basic obedience. The raisers take them everywhere they go to socialize them. You may have seen puppies in the grocery store or at sporting events with their distinctive blue jackets that designate them as 'Guide Dog Puppies'. Just about the time the puppy is becoming a well mannered dog, they are recalled to the Guide Dog School to begin their formal training. About 70% become guide dogs. The rest are known as 'career change dogs'.

Six visually impaired people come to Boring, Oregon for a two week intensive training to learn how to work with a guide dog, as well as how to care for their new companion. They live in the dormitory with their dog and learn to work as a team. On graduation day the 'puppy raisers' are briefly reunited with their dog. Then during the ceremony the new visually impaired owner comes onto the stage from one side and the puppy raiser brings the dog to center stage from the other side and hands the leash to the new owner. I think those who so unselfishly raise a puppy and then give it away are truly unselfish people. I was very touched by the whole ceremony.

You could see the emotion on all the faces as they expressed their thanks and love for the 4-legged members of the group. This cute high school girl was allowed to take her dog to school everyday. She told a great story about leaving her dog asleep under her desk in a class while she went to the bathroom. She heard a commotion in the hall and went out to see her puppy running down the hall to find her with her teacher in hot pursuit. According to her, more people in her high school knew the dog's name than knew hers! The new owner is a preacher and a college counselor. This is his third guide dog.

In this case the puppy raiser was a first grade teacher who also brought her puppy to class every day. Can you imagine how that would be in first grade? This new owner is also a preacher.

Two high school girls raised this beautiful dog and her new owner is a medical transcriptionist. Another dog went to a stay at home mom. The young woman in the dark suit is the master trainer who works with the dogs and new owners.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a well run program that does a great service for so many. I'm so glad I get to volunteer there.