Special bonds: Guide Dog Handlers and Their Puppy Raisers

September 13, 2019 | 8 Comments

by Kathy Austin, CVA

Tags: Guide dog, puppy raiser

 

Puppy Raisers

A lot of love, hard work and dedication go into the first year of life for a guide dog puppy. Who does this kind of work? Families of all sizes, single men and women, kids in 4H and FFA, grandparents and college students, just to name a few. They have all done an incredible thing. They take care of a puppy for about a year, teach him basic good manners, expose him to all sorts of environments, keep him healthy and go to puppy meetings to learn how to manage problems. After all this devotion and care, they send their pups back to the guide dog school so they can become full-fledged guides for someone with vision loss.

As you might imagine, these puppy raisers become quite attached to their wards. It is an emotional roller coaster. Loving their pups, being proud to see them tick off all the boxes they need to accomplish, then experiencing the sadness of giving them up. The incredible emotions were apparent to me at my first graduation ceremony at Guide Dogs for the Blind.

 

Feeling the Impact

Graduation day at Guide Dogs for the Blind is a big event. Puppy raisers, donors, staff and volunteers all attend the graduation ceremony. Some raisers and their families are also coming to pick up their brand new puppies while others are dropping off their trained puppies for formal training. Raisers whose formally trained puppy is graduating are meeting the person with vision loss who they will turn their dog over to at the ceremony. Each raiser and new handler address the audience to talk about their puppy and the pride they have in their accomplishment.

One young lady, only 12 years old, stood to talk to the audience about her experience raising her puppy. She could not hold back her tears as she spoke. You could feel the emotion as she handed her pride and joy over to his new handler. This experience made me realize, right from the start, how hard it is to do this work.

 

When Everyone Goes Home

While you might think that after the guide dog and new handler complete their training and go home, that’s the end of contact with the puppy raiser. Many guide dog schools offer their graduates an opportunity to continue the relationship with their puppy raisers. As with most relationships, some become very important and some go by the wayside. However, in my informal survey of guide dog handlers, the overwhelming majority have had extraordinarily good relationships with their puppy raisers. Most have developed strong bonds and have a special connection with each other. I wanted to share some of these heartfelt stories from guide dog handlers about their special relationships with these dedicated people. I think you’ll agree, the love and pride truly shine through.

 

Anonymous and Guide Juno

One set of my raisers were an older couple who were a ton of fun to spend time with. My guide and I even spent a weekend with them on their farm in central California. While I was working in San Francisco, my raisers secretly showed up and videotaped my guide and me walking to the bus from my office. They were so proud that the pup they raised made it as a guide!

Almost every one of my puppy raisers presented me with some photos of my guide as a pup. Because I can see a tiny bit, those photos are some of my most treasured possessions.

 

Penny and Kilo

Kilo’s raiser was a ski instructor so Kilo got a season pass to the ski resort where she taught. Kilo would sometimes pull the smallest kids up the small bunny hill. Kilo’s raiser had raised seven other puppies and all but one became working guides. Kilo’s raiser always wanted to know about how we were doing, so I would send pictures and stories about our adventures.

 

Pam and Cabrillo

Cabrillo’s raisers were a mom and her daughter, Janice and Tarin. They presented me with a scrapbook of Cabrillo’s time with them. These included photos of Cabrillo dressed as a skunk for his first Halloween and photos of him camping with them. Though I can’t see the photos, I delight and take pride as others look at them.

When Cabrillo got sick and eventually passed away, Janice, Tarin and their spouses were there for me in a big way. Janice’s husband made a beautiful urn for me to keep his ashes in. In turn, I shared some of his ashes with them. They are truly special people, wise and loving beyond anything I could imagine

 

Dan and Teton

I receive cards from my present puppy raiser for Father’s Day, Christmas, my birthday and any other holiday she wants to send a card. We talk several times on the phone and the conversations always end up several hours long.

I am still in contact with my first puppy raiser even though this guide passed away in 2012. If I needed a home for my current guide, I have a feeling she would be here in an instant. I would not trade the bond that I have developed with my raisers for anything.

 

Vicki and Latrice

I have a wonderful puppy raiser. In fact, we have a lot in common.  We were both married on the exact same day, year and hour. We met in person and it was wonderful. She sends us presents and I try to send things her way. I so respect those who are raising our fantastic dogs.

 

Alberto and G

G’s puppy raiser is a teenager in California and G was her first puppy. We communicate via email and Facebook. We talk about the new puppy she is raising and life in general. I try to share with her things about G that highlight the product of her work as a puppy raiser. I feel that through this communication I can show my gratitude for her time, dedication, love and affection. Hopefully, this will encourage her to continue doing this selfless duty of love. I also think it is important to let people know that young people are capable of being generous and responsible. My guide is a product of hours of training, affection and love given by this young woman.

 

Kathy and Jethro, Solomon, Weller and Rowen

As for me, my first raiser Sharon and I have a true friendship lasting 17 years. Jethro was the only dog she raised and now she volunteers at a stable caring for a horse rescued from the slaughterhouse.

Judi and Ron raised Solomon, who they tell me was born to be a guide dog.  They raised many pups with most of them becoming working guides. They were right about Solomon.

Mother and daughter, Renee and Shelly, along with Aparna and her boys, raised our dear Weller. He is so gentle with children, a good thing now since my first grandbaby has arrived.

Adding to my circle of puppy raisers are Sue and Lucinda. They taught Rowen proper office behavior – he always goes under the desk, no matter whose desk it is! These people are all dear to me and have a special place in my heart.

Thank you to all the raisers who devote their love, time and effort into making these beautiful pups into such an important part of our lives.

Celebrate National Guide Dog month during September! Watch this video and see the impact raising a guide dog puppy has on these FFA students. And, for full insight into the process of raising a guide dog puppy, check out the documentary, Pick of the Litter.

 

Kathy is the Community Engagement Specialist at Second Sense.  She is currently working with her fourth guide dog.