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Beside the biweekly meetings, our puppy club has a monthly fun outing. This evening was our annual boardwalk and ice cream palor trip. This is the newest "kid" on the block. Isn't she the cutest!!
 

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After a full night sleep (expect for one potty call), "Yellow Girl" spent the morning sniffing, chasing, and exploring the world in which she will work. She is presently recharging her batteries for more exploration later in the day. "Papa" promised to take her out in fields when he gets home from work.

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Shelley ♥ 

Born: January 8, 2012

Arrived: Febuary 27, 2012

female yellow labrador retriever

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Willow seems to understand the new puppy is arriving on Monday.

She's catching up on her rest as she knows she'll have her work cut for her.

It will be her job to keep the pup inline or she thinks it is!

lots of adorable critters are meeting up over @ Camera Critters Saturday

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Before you start getting excited, this is NOT my puppy.

My puppy arrives next week and I was able to find out she is a lab, most likely a yellow and her names begins with the letter "S".

Tonight I attended the bi-monthly puppy meeting and this precious little boy, who goes by the name of RJ made his debute.

Isn't he just the cutest?

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Yes, I do suffer from empty nest syndrome. I loved being a "stay @ home" mom. I enjoyed going to school functions, running kids from soccer games to CCD.  I was thrilled to plan and throw a good birthday party and sleep awake overs were always a blast.  I would do it again in a heart beat if given the chance. 

For now our home is filled with dogs and soon a new puppy.  Yup, we was recently assigned a new puppy for training.  She/he arrives next week. We are not certain of the breed, sex, color or name.  It does not matter cause soon our home will be filled the sounds of little puppy patters, the smell of puppy breath and the warmth of a fuzzy cuddle. 

Graduation Day ~

Time passes way to quickly. It seems like just yesterday that “my” little Shyla was going potty on the kitchen floor, chewing the sofa and everything else within reach. I can smell her puppy breath and feel the softness of little puppy paws. Those which hadn’t yet walked on pavement, toughing them up.

Today she graduated from her formal harness training and will soon be guiding a blind man or women. She will be helping them to gain independence and the freedom to travel about in ways many of us take for granted. Today she became a Seeing Eye Dog.

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Remember adorable little Farah? This is her beautiful sister Fran.

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last local meeting before heading off for his offical Seeing Eye harness training ~

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Part of our job while raising Seeing Eye puppies is to exposure them to the world in which they will be working. Each year, between Christmas and New Years, our local group of raisers take our puppies on a train ride. B and I, still puppyless, borrowed this lovely lady, Zoe. She is 9 months old and behaved like a pro.

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B and I, although puppyless (insert sad face here) still enjoy attending the monthly Puppy Raiser meetings. Last evening, we celebrated the Christmas holiday with the Ocean County Puppy club. The festivities began with humans being blindfolded and asked to perform varies tasks such as counting out 42 cents from a pile of coins, tying a pair of shoes, putting lids on different size jars and harness, collar and leash a dog. I can assure you, these seemingly-simple tasks are considerably more difficult without the benefit of sight.

The puppies started the party when their gifts were lined up and one by one, starting with the youngest, they were paraded past the line. They sniffed and pawed at the gifts until each one had chosen the perfect gift for his or her holiday enjoyment from the softest of squeezy toys to the wackiest of wubbas. This adorable little girl was the star of show! After curiously inspecting each perfectly wrapped mystery package, she made her decision by swiftly grabbing her choice and dragging it across the floor until the paper wrapping yielded to the thrashing it was receiving.

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~ one step closer to being a guide ~

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It’s been a little over three weeks since Shyla ♥ returned to The Seeing Eye and I am puppyless at the moment. 

I do still attend the bi-monthly meeting of puppy raisers, if for nothing to get my fix of puppy kisses.

This evening was Zari’s last meeting before it’s her turn to join Shyla ♥ and prepare to be a guide.

 Marlene was happy to get a few last photos with “her” little girl.

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Once we receive official notice stating it is “recall time” for our puppy, we are emailed a lengthy report which is required to be filled out and submitted on the day of return. The form asks numerous questions in the hopes of giving the handlers and trainers at The Seeing Eye some insight into the puppy’s wants, needs and habits.

We are asked about the food, wet or dry, has the puppy had any recurring medical issues, do they empty on or off leash, what are their favorite toys and chew items, have they lived with other dogs, cats, or animals, were there children in the home, how do they react to heavy traffic and strangers? The questions circumference all areas of the puppy’s life.

With my prior 12 puppies, I have completed this questionnaire well in advance of the pick-up date. But for some reason, I find I am having a difficult time even opening this email containing Shyla’s final report. The Seeing Eye representative will be here Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.

Back when I was in high school a teacher gave his students, what I have found to be good advise. I don't remember much about his class but I do remember him saying, “ when a daunting task lays ahead and you don’t want to tackle it, just remember, once you have started it, you are half finished.” Perhaps it is time for me to open the email.

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This was waiting in my inbox this afternoon ~

"Dear Puppy Raisers,

It is never easy to get the email or call that your puppy is on the training list. A huge “thank you” goes out to you for all the time, patience, nurturing, exposure, dedication, and most of all, the love you have given to your pup as you helped it to develop into a confident, mature dog with a solid foundation.

I will start scheduling pups to come in for formal training beginning September 12. I have a few weeks to bring in all the pups in my area. It is preferred that the pup come in as soon as possible. I would like to schedule the following pups to come in together on the same day. Please see pairs below;

Rex & Roz
Robin & Shyla
Tootsie & Tori

Your pup will be picked up in the morning, Monday thru Thursday, no holidays.

I extend my heartfelt thanks for taking this special visitor into your home and your heart. Your kind act enables us to continue to accomplish The Seeing Eye’s mission: to assist people who are blind by enhancing their dignity, confidence, and independence through the use of a Seeing Eye dog, and giving them the ability to live their daily lives with a greater sense of freedom, mobility, and connection to the world around them."

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~ the dots/bumps on the heart read LOVE in braille ~

 

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A number of years ago, I had the chance to attend a gathering at The Seeing Eye. One of the activities they arranged for us, was to spell our names out in braille letter charms. We were given jute and beads to make a necklace. I have always been fascinated by braille and treasure this unique piece of jewelery.

join the Marco Monday fun over @ Lisa's Chaos

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Shyla ♥ celebrated her 13th month birthday on the 21st. She will only be with us for a few more months before returning for her evaluation and harness training.

At the bimonthly meeting on Wednesday evening, I put in a request for my next Seeing Eye puppy, my 14th. I did not request a certain breed. I only asked for a female. So when the newest little "baby girl" arrives I will be surprised as to the breed and B ... well, he's just be surprised! :-)

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While raising a Seeing Eye puppy it is the Raisers obligation to attend bi-monthly meetings. At these gatherings we review training and socialize the puppies to both other dogs and people. A representative from The Seeing Eye, also attends allowing her to check on progress the puppies are making and discuss any concerns we may be having. We talk over any outings and events we plan on taking. Any social exposure helps in preparing “our” puppies to be a guide for a blind individual. Last evening was our first February meeting. I always arrive with my camera in hand. After spending some time training, several pups decided it was naptime. 

13/352 ~ Decisions

A young girl walks a German Shepherd pass our home, I hear my dad say, “someday that dog will change someone’s life.” The year 1968, I was barely 10 years old and yet those words can still be heard echoing through my head. Dad was referring to a puppy being raised/fostered for The Seeing Eye.
One day that gallant shepherd would be guiding a visional impaired person through the streets of cities and the journeys of life.

I wanted to raise a puppy for them too. Dad refused insisting I would never be able to give the puppy back. It would break the hearts of each of my family members to have a dog be a part of our family for a year and a half only to be given up and never to be seen again. I knew one day, I could and would, raise one of these special puppies, a puppy with a purpose.

Fast forward to 1995, I am now married with 2 young sons, our family dog passes away and there is an quiet emptiness in our home. I reach out to my local 4-H program and weeks later an adorable, fuzzy, little, tail wagging, 7 week old puppy arrives on my door step. This puppy becomes part of my family, is loved and cared for as if one of our own. He is taken everywhere with us, he is being shown the world is a wonderful place to be and people are caring. 16 months later our phone rings and we are given the “recall date”. A reprehensive of The Seeing Eye arrived and with overwhelming sadness and tremendous joy, we return their puppy to them. He graduates from formal harness training college at their school and is paired with his person. This is one of the proudest days for my family. This dog has changed not only our lives but has help to provide independences and dignity to a blind individual.

Shyla ♥ is the “lucky” # 13th puppy which my family and I have raised. Her recall day will be sometime in April. Until that day she will grace us with her joy for life, her zest for chewing and her ability to love us unconditional.

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