There is nothing as cute as a Labrador puppy. Their soulful eyes and soft ebony or yellow-gold coats make them irresistible to dog lovers.
It is a great challenge to obey the “Do Not Pet!” on the guide-dog-in-training vest. But these precious pups are preparing for their future careers and the puppy raiser holding the leash has accepted the responsibility of getting them ready.
That fuzzy, playful puppy will one day be a highly-skilled service animal, lauded by their owners as agents of freedom, security, and dedicated companionship. The puppy raiser plays an integral part in the process.
Cheryl got her first puppy through Southeastern Guide Dogs (now Dogs, Inc.) in 2016 shortly after losing her dog, Jake. She began raising puppies for SGD and “swore off” pet life, never wanting that heartache again. …But remember those soulful puppy eyes!
Georgie, her first assignment, was a slender, silky black female lab. At the time, Cheryl was a teacher at an all-boys middle school, so Georgie became an unofficial school mascot.
As new puppy raisers, Cheryl and her husband Dave were in training as well. They joined a group to learn new strategies for teaching the puppy basic commands and to acclimate Georgie to all possible environments and situations.
At the end of the year, puppies go In For Training (IFT) to determine what happens next. Cheryl learned that only 30% of puppies make it as a guide dog. The others become service dogs for veterans with PTSD, bomb, arson, or skilled companion dogs for Gold Star Families, children with vision loss, and sometimes adopted back to their raisers.
Regardless, the puppy raiser must say goodbye.
Many people ask Cheryl how she can give up a dog after a full year of connection.
“I never understand that question. How could I not?” says Cheryl. “It’s the opportunity to help another person get their life back. How lucky am I to be able to do that for someone AND get puppy kisses for a whole year?”
After Georgie came Frankie, Chenille, Sully, Hope, and Maggie. Each dog left a unique paw print on her heart, but she knew someone else needed them more than she did.
Only one of Cheryl’s pups made it through advanced seeing-eye dog training. Sully is now the proud companion of a visually impaired veteran.
Cheryl is beyond grateful to the veterans who sacrificed so much and raising these little superheroes is her way of saying, “thank you.”
Cheryl recently had a Zoom call with Chenille and her handler, a veteran.
“It was amazing!” said Cheryl, cheerfully. “There was no doubt they were meant to be together and together they will be unstoppable.”
Georgie, Frankie, and Hope all transitioned to therapy assignments.
Then along came Maggie. Sweet, sassy, smart. Cheryl was certain she would find the perfect career with someone.
Maggie had other plans. At the end of the year, she went IFT. She was released within a month after going to advanced training. Cheryl and Dave, now living in Kansas, decided to adopt Maggie.
Maggie is training to work with students in the school district. The couple will soon be raising puppies again, but this time with KSDS (Kansas Specialty Dog Service).
Many organizations need puppy raisers. Locally, Southeastern Guide Dogs, now Dogs, Inc., is the most well-known. If interested in becoming a puppy raiser, visit Dogs, Inc. and go to the “Get Involved” tab.