Thursday, December 29, 2011

Riding that K9 Buddy Train! Part 1

close up of yellow Lab -- mostly nose
Meet Natura!


This spunky yellow Lab decided not to become a Guide Dog after all -- (she didn't like air travel), so she followed her nose to a new career -- as a K9 Buddy. As luck would have it, she's going to live with a very special young boy -- and just in time!

In recent months, Zach Thibodeaux's eyesight has deteriorated rapidly, the result of a condition called cone-rod dystrophy that will leave him mostly or totally blind. The 9-year-old from Lewisville, Texas, has been preparing for life without vision by learning to walk with a cane. He and his family applied to Guide Dogs for the Blind to get a K9 Buddy dog. Zach is about to be surprised when he soon gets his wish.


yellow Lab
So, with Natura ready to become a K9 Buddy, and Zach needing one, the only problem became how to get her to Zach? GDB Community Field Representative Sandi Alsworth hatched a plan to create a “puppy train” of relay drivers (volunteer puppy raisers in several states) to transport the dog by car through each leg of her journey to Zach and his family. Thinking it would be a tough task, especially during the holidays, she was surprised by the outpouring of support from our puppy raising volunteers.


yellow Lab
This morning, December 29, Natura started her journey to Zach. She'll arrive to surprise him on Sunday, January 1. Can you keep a secret? If so, we'll continue to bring you updates along the way contributed by members of our GDB Family -- people brought together, as so often happens here, through the shared love of a dog.
yellow Lab

What is a K9 Buddy, you may ask? Find out! Watch this video to learn more!


yellow Lab

No comments:

Post a Comment