Newshounds: Guide Dogs for the Blind in the News!

Real Simple Feature: The Intrepid (Mommies with Guides)  – http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/seeing-impaired-mothers-group-00100000119851/

The BARk magazine: Guide Dogs for the Blind's Training Methods –  http://thebark.com/content/guide-dogs-blind

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences/The Oscars Video "There's Not Much To See: How Blind People Enjoy Movies" Featuring GDB Graduate Melissa Hudson – https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?v=10152174401071406&fref=nf

Bay Area Guide Dog Puppy Raisers Club: Information Video – http://vimeo.com/89060824

GDB graduate and U.S. Paralympic Skier Danelle Umstead – http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28752409&nid=

GDB Guide Dog Puppy Leanne AT&T Commercial – http://www.business.att.com/content/speeches/day-in-the-life.mp4

Guide Dog Glendale Wins Purple Paw Award – http://www.greatfallstribune.com/media/cinematic/video/7868537/guide-dog-wins-purple-paw-award/

Past GDB graduate Kristina Blum on the Katie Couric Show (first legally blind contestant with the genetic condition albinism to compete in the Miss California USA Pageant and ended up winning the Miss Congeniality Award) – http://katiecouric.com/videos/woman-with-albinism-redefines-beauty/

GDB Career Change Dog is Now a Certified Hearing Dog Helping Cedar Point Woman Find Freedom – http://www.jdnews.com/features/neighbors/new-leash-on-life-1.288761

Saying Goodbye to Tiki: Eighth Grader Max Angel Raises His First Guide Dog Puppy – http://ktvl.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/ktvl_vid_12386.shtml

Residents in Portland Metro Area and Surrounding Regions Benefit from New Partnership – http://www.dovelewis.org/news-events/media-releases/residents-in-portland-metro-area-and-surrounding-regions-benefit-from-new/8336

GDB graduate Nancy Stevens featured in Ruffwear’s Video “My Dog is My” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8daoZQVwY

Five Houston Area Families Train Future Guide Dogs – http://www.khou.com/community/5-Houston-area-families-train-future-guide-dogs-246471491.html

GDB Career Change Dog Pauletta is Now a Therapy Dog –  http://www.news10.net/story/news/nation/2014/03/18/how-a-dog-is-making-a-big-difference-in-a-second-career-at-a-hospital/6566637/

Silicon Valley Bank and Guide Dogs for the Blind Team Up – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v-7JjPO4j8

GDB graduate Nancy Shugart’s TED Talk “Be the One to make it Happen” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9QghVlreno

GDB Career Change Dog Pesto Now a Therapy Dog Who Helped Change the Lives of Two Brothers – http://www.9news.com/rss/story.aspx?storyid=378728

South County Safari Featuring the O.C. Coastal Puppy Raisers – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRlKTZixtT4&feature=share

GDB’s Collaboration with DoveLewis: Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams (PACTT) – http://www.oregonlive.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_to_independence_therapy.html

GDB graduate Wayne Heidle Gives Inspiring Lecture with Guide Dog Poncho  – http://optometryadmissions.com/2014/03/06/pre-optometry-students-inspired-by-low-vision-rehab-assistant-professor-wayne-heidle/

GDB Program Dog Teton is a Newly Trained Therapy Dog Working with Veterans – http://www.garthstein.com/news/index.php#45

Volunteers Play Critical Role in Helping Train Service Dogs – http://tdn.com/news/local/volunteers-play-critical-role-in-helping-train-service-dogs/article_e62c1620-b7ce-11e3-a279-001a4bcf887a.html
 

 

Bonnie's Gifts

By: The Neff Family

We first saw her as she checked out the exercise area at Guide Dogs for the Blind. We sent a looping three tone whistle and a cheerful "Bonnie, come" and she was ours!
 

Achoo! Achoo! Allergies and ear infections were what kept Bonnie from guide dog service. Instead she would be there to give her new owner John, the much needed encouragement that would eventually be needed. With the best traits of a Golden/Lab Retriever, Bonnie through the years has given more than an accountant could score!

 

Twice daily walks stopped while John underwent hospitalization, recovery, and therapy for a serious spine infection. During a long course of rehabilitation, a major factor in his recovery was a strong desire to “walk with Bonnie.”  Once home, the leash waited until one day, Bonnie brought it to John and they had their first steps together in months.

Being curled asleep by his shoes, Bonnie encouraged John to bend over and pet his friend. If John were to fall outside, Bonnie, twirling and with little sounds coming from her throat, would race indoors to seek help.

The gentle, wet nose on his arm would say, "I am awake, how about you?" Waiting at each doorway, Bonnie seemed to say, "You go first - I am right behind you." As John exercised each day, she seemed to tell him, “I AM HERE, YOU CAN DO IT.” From her long held innate traits, she knew that they must continue their former activities – and today they do.

 

Gifts given; love exchanged.  Companions meant to be!

Dog Placement and On Campus Care with GDB's Canine Welfare Technicians

By Kathy Featherstone, Dog Placement Coordinator

The matching process between career change dogs and adopters is a team effort for those of us in GDB's Dog Placement Department who are finding forever homes for these dogs. As we are entrusted to make the best match possible, we look at a range of placement options, including:

• other service organizations
• pet companions for people who are blind
• therapy dog programs
• as the ultimate pet and best friend for a family

A vital step in this process is the care and commitment provided by members of GDB's Training Department, the canine welfare technicians (CWTs).

Each CWT has a project dog and will work on a specific behavior plan created by the CWT manager or a Dog Placement staff member. This behavior plan is unique to the individual dog's needs as well as keeping the dog healthy and happy on a daily basis. Outside of daily grooming, walks and supervised playtime with other career change dogs, each CWT is tasked to assess their project dog's behavior and use positive training techniques with clicker and food rewards for such behaviors as:

• eye contact
• polite greeting 
• walking on a loose leash
• basic obedience
• recall, etc.   

As Senior CWT Shannon Del Buono said, “I find it very rewarding to work with a dog and seeing them progress when I’ve taught them a new skill/behavior that will help them get adopted.”

The CWTs insightful observations, canine knowledge and handling skills enables those of us in Dog Placement additional insight into determining the best match for each individual dog.

We are all appreciative of the commitment by the puppy raisers to the special dog that they have raised.  We want to ensure that each career change dog transitioned into our temporary care is valued, nurtured and continually learning new skills while on campus and awaiting their adoptive home.

Responding to Sandy

GDB career change-turned Northwest Disaster Search Dog, Luau, and her handler Sue Bonney (pictured above) have been deployed to help with the crisis caused by Hurricane Sandy. Sue reports that Luau has taken to Search and Rescue like a pro and has found her niche in life. "I can see her smiling while in training!" Sue said. Luau is a 42 pound ball of yellow Labrador energy and this is the team's first deployment. Sue is a member of her local GDB puppy raising group, Guide Puppies of Seattle, and is currently raising a pup named Sparky.

Luau is in good company. Another GDB career change dog, Lani, with her handler John Stewart, is also a search and rescue dog with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Lani and John, from Sarasota Springs, Calif., are also currently at a staging area in Long Island, readying equipment and discussing potential search strategies so they can respond as efficiently as possible. If deployed, their job will be to find people trapped in structures destroyed during the massive storms.

Kudos to these amazing GDB career change dogs and their handlers!

Will GDB Dog Dean Win the Hero Dog Awards?

Dean is a 2-year-old hero to many children. He is also a Pet Ambassador for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

I received Dean when he was 10 weeks old, to raise him for Guide Dogs for the Blind. He was career changed at 15 months old, and became part of our forever family.

In December 2011, he was asked to become a mascot and voice for the Douglas C.A.R.E.S Penguin Plunge "Save a Child" event, which is a non-profit that raises awareness and helps children of abuse. He was the only dog in the event with many people, and raised the most money as a individual. He was awarded with special recognition for volunteering "Above and Beyond".

We feel each puppy from Guide Dogs for the Blind, working as a guide for someone visually impaired or career changed as a family pet, has a calling to do something special in helping and serving others. Dean has found a way and will continue to do just that.

Help him in helping Guide Dogs for the Blind, to bring and train more amazing dogs into this world that will help, serve and bring more than smiles to so many. Thank you for considering making Dean your Hero Dog,too! -- Sandi Justis of Roseburg, Oregon

Will GDB Dog Dean win the Hero Dog Awards? Only if you vote! Vote every day and be sure to share!

Change of Careers for Olympic Guide Dog

Carole Aubrey, now a member of the Rogue Valley (Oregon) Kennel Club, and adopter of “career change” male yellow Labrador retriever, “Olympic”, recently updated GDB about her dog’s new job: “Olympic now has his therapy dog certificate through Therapy Dogs Incorporated, and he proudly wears a little red heart on his collar when he does his very important work in the community: On Mondays Olympic (we call him “Oly” for short) goes to the Lincoln Elementary School in Grants Pass, Oregon, and second graders read to him --- each child for twenty minutes --- three children over a one-hour time period. Then every Tuesday Oly goes to the Josephine County library (also in Grant’s Pass) to participate in the K9 Reading Buddy Program --- children of all ages read to him.” (For people who may not be familiar with these reading programs, the idea behind them is that many children can learn to read aloud better when they read to an always attentive, never critical, furry canine listener --- as opposed to reading to teachers, or to classmates who may seem less interested and less tolerant of a reader’s performance than the dog is.)

Per Carol, “Other days Oly goes to schools, rest homes, and assisted living centers around our town to educate the public, produce smiles, and participate in programs that teach people about dogs, their work, and all the goodness that they can share. He is so well suited for this new job! He loves it --- and it is a giant source of enjoyment for me as you might expect! I just love him every day! “

Guide Dogs for the Blind Wishes You a Happy Easter!

Dakota, Desmond and Culver say, "You can see on our faces we're egg-cited to wish you a tail waggin' Happy Easter!" Want more cuteness in your life? Become a Facebook fan of Guide Dogs for the Blind (www.facebook.com/guidedogsfortheblindfans)

Career Change Therapy Dogs Touch Many Lives

by Kathy Featherstone, GDB Dog Placement Coordinator

As a Dog Placement Coordinator, I really enjoy the process of matching each career change dog's needs with that of an adopter. Some of our dogs have a great aptitude for another career such as therapy work.

Atlas, Shep, Hope, Arlo and Tansy are five wonderful examples of career change dogs that have created new friendships within their own communities in collaboration with their adopters. As Atlas’s adopter Mary said, ”We strongly believe that Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds their dogs to be of service and that if they can’t guide then they should have another job! We knew that we would be looking into therapy work when we adopted Atlas.”

Atlas (shown above, photo by Ron Webb)

Atlas is a yellow Lab that is the second career change dog adopted by Mary and Tom. He joined his new family while he was still recuperating from surgery and continuing with physical therapy. The family as well as their first career change dog, Tenaya welcomed him into their lives and their therapy volunteer work. Atlas is certified through Therapy Dogs International and is an active member in the local #220 Fresno Chapter. He has volunteered for the past four years and participates in multiple jobs from reading programs with young children to visiting nursing homes and Alzheimer’s patients. Atlas primarily works with young children in the “Tail Waggin Tutor” program, and the Fresno Library Reading program. He lies on his blanket and the children sit around him. One student said, “I like to read to him and he listens. I like to pet him.” Mary added, “Atlas provides a friendly, furry, cuddly and patient, non-judgmental listener with the purpose of encouraging the child to read out loud and gain confidence in his or her reading skills. He is accessible to all to pet and he seems to make it a point to turn so that he spends time with each child! It’s amazing!” Promoting literacy to students is a gift that Atlas and Mary are happy to share with children.

Shep

Black Lab Shep has been accompanying his adopter Tammie at her place of work, an assisted living community for seniors. Tammie says Shep’s job description includes ”providing comfort to residents, staff and families; providing in-room visits with residents; being the walking group leader, listener, community greeter, welcome committee chairman and foot warmer.” Tammie remembers one resident who spoke little and did not participate in activities. As she passed Tammie’s office, “Shep poked his head out and a large smile spread across the woman's face as she reached out to pet him. Shep moved closer and he promptly sat on her feet. To everyone’s surprise, she spoke up and said, "You can warm my feet every day!" A new friendship was formed. Tammie feels fortunate to share her job with Shep and believes that he is happy to have a job that he can go to daily and form new friendships. “With Shep at my side, I feel like I can accomplish even more for my residents.”

Hope

Hope, a yellow Lab, now lives in Nevada and works a few times a month at a long-term care facility. Melinda, Hope’s adopter, describes the purpose of Hope’s visits as: “to promote physical and emotional benefits to residents. Hope participates in meet-and-greet activities with large groups and individual visits with residents at long term care, spending between 5 to 30 minutes with each individual.” One resident loves to hold her leash while being pushed in a wheelchair as they walk around the facility. She loves to whisper to Hope as they share this one-on-one time together. Both are content and happy. Another resident loves seeing Hope and scratching her behind her ears because she reminds him of his dogs back in his cowboy days. Hope has made many friends over the past year, and residents look forward to her visits. As Melinda said,“When the residents smile at Hope, I know she’s made a difference in someone’s life."

Arlo

Another dog with a new career is black Lab Arlo, now living in the East Bay (east of San Francisco). His adopter, Denise, said,“Since adopting Arlo, we have been involved with The Friendship Foundation, making 17-18 visits each month to various facilities including skilled nursing facilities, senior homes, adult and adolescent acute psychiatric facilities, and others." Denise spoke of a recent visit to a youth center in which “Arlo was taking treats from the kids, but one young girl was afraid. She was encouraged to try to give Arlo a treat but remained hesitant. After more encouragement from the staff, she was able to give Arlo a treat. The young girl was overjoyed with her achievement!” Denise’s next adventure with Arlo is with K-9s for Care, an outreach program for seniors at a neighborhood church.

Tansy

Tansy is a Golden Retriever now living in Montana and going to work full-time with her adopter Carly to a long term care facility. Carly said,"The first thing that is noticeable when Tansy comes to work is that everyone instantly smiles." Pearl, a former school teacher said, "Tansy is the best dog I ever met! She is just wonderful….so loving.” These words may seem ordinary – but the love on Pearl’s face and the contentment in her eyes when she is petting Tansy is wonderful beyond words or description. Pearl is 102 years young.

Carly also shared a particularly poignant day at work:“One day, Joanie, a resident, had a serious and rapid decline. Tansy went into Joanie’s room on her own and put her head up on Joanie’s hand – for several minutes, and then laid at the side of her bed. Joanie really liked Tansy and Tansy visited her often – but this last visit truly touched each staff member and gave us an appreciation of Tansy’s depth and complexity. Tansy is a tribute to herself and all those who helped her become her best.

Atlas, Shep, Hope, Arlo and Tansy’s adopters are so grateful to the puppy raisers for allowing them the gift of a career change dog with the capacity to enrich their communities.

Christmas Love

by Warren and Claudia Wish, GDB puppy raising club leaders


Dogs and puppies from Guide Dogs for the Blind bring holiday cheer to children with special needs.

“Tis the season to be jolly….”

All puppy raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) know that nothing brings a smile to a person’s face faster than when a Guide Dog puppy enters the room. The puppies have a way of making hospital patients feel better and leave senior citizens with pleasant memories. Young children respond in amazement as the puppies in green jackets walk into a store. Whether young or old, all respond the same way – with smiles and cheer.

The puppies seem to be able to break through to people who are severely developmentally disabled . While most of the time, these are people seem locked inside, unable to communicate or respond to the world around them, something wonderous takes place in the presence of a Guide Dog puppy.

For the past 12 years during the holiday season, GDB puppy raisers in Carson City, Nevada, have taken their pups to visit a residential facility for people with severe mental retardation. We go to sing Christmas carols and to bring puppy cheer.

Even though most of us can’t carry a tune, we go each year just to watch the way our puppies respond to these special people and the way the residents respond back. You can see a slight awareness as a resident’s hand touches a puppy’s fur. A puppy kiss brings a reaction that can only be described as magical.

Some of the club’s career changed dogs, now certified as therapy dogs, also attend. Together puppy raisers and Guide Dog puppies are bringing the spirit of the holidays to a group of very special people.

A Traveling Guide

Raisers Tim and Betsy Hardie with Devon (GDB career change Golden), Mike Carpenter, black Lab Reese and Debi Mc Naughton

Guide Dog Reese is 11 1/2 years old and he still loves to travel! He lives in British Columbia with his partner Mike Carpenter. They recently traveled to Graeagle, California with Debi Mc Naughton to visit Reese's raisers, Tim and Betsy Hardie. Reese loves to cruise and has gone to Alaska and Mexico as well on many trips up island for hikes.

Despite his age, he's always ready to go!

Delivering Warmth and Comfort to Veterans

by Cathy Gregory

It has been a wonderful ride living with Christine, our our 8-year-old retired breeder. After giving birth to many Guide Dog pups, some of whom later graduated as Guide Dogs, she is still serving, by visiting veterans in lock down care at the Veterans Administration hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.

On a recent Thursday afternoon, we were doing our normal visit with her good pal Daisy, a 12-year-old (very light) yellow Lab. The staff refer to the two dogs as twins. When Daisy, Christine and I walked the south corridor, we came upon a crowd of around 12 people -- several doctors, staff and family members --surrounding a patient. Their mood seemed resigned, and I wondered if they were perhaps acknowledging the patient's last hours.

The three of us moved on along the corridor to do our visits, and when we came back to this same room, only one staff nurse remained with him. I asked her if we could go in. She said, "Yes," and then mentioned needing to get some morphine to help ease the patient's pain. I asked Christine to jump on the bed and lie next to the man. He was on a breathing tube for oxygen, but was otherwise unencumbered.

Christine settled parallel to his body with her head next to his. Although, according to the nurse, he had not shown any movement for days, he opened his hand to hold Christine's paw and his face immediately relaxed. We watched the interaction of his fingers and her paw. She remained next to him until I called her down, saying it was time to move along.

I had dreams about this guy, and how Christine helped him move to his next phase. The following week, on our visit to the ward, I asked the nurse about the patient. She said he had moved on -- to a geriatric ward. He was still alive!

Giving Back to a Veteran

Meet Stanley, a GDB puppy whose career path took him on a very different journey than most of our puppies. He was donated to an organization called Paws'itive Teams and matched with the perfect partner -- an active duty Marine who lost both of his legs during his duty in Afghanistan and will be receiving his formal discharge this coming year.

Stanley is a great match -- friendly, dedicated and eager to please. He's learned to fetch and deliver objects, open doors and much more. Check out this short video, showing the team working during transition training.

Nice job, Stanley! And thank you to this Marine and all our veterans for your sacrifices.

Newshounds

Members of Solano Puppy Raisers Laurie Vidt, with Elko, Nora Salet, with Kip, and Diana Wilson, with Toga, left to right, help expose their dogs to new sights and sounds as part of their training. (Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic)

Puppies in Salinas Become Guide Dogs. Cover story!

Roselle, WTC Angel, wins first place in the American Humane Hero Dog Award and won $15K for GDB! Be sure to tune in on November 11 on the Hallmark Channel! Marin IJ, Novato Patch, Huffington Post, Dream Dogs, Daily Pilot, Pet Tales, Animal Fair and Illuminating the World in Six Dots.

Atticus takes third! Heroes, all! The handsome yellow Lab is the partner of Jim Hogan, a Vietnam Veteran. Atticus was named Grand Marshal Dog for the event. He and Jim attend numerous veterans' conventions and ceremonies.

Clark Roberts says, "The real difference between a cane and a [guide] dog is a brain..."

GDB Career Change Dog goes on to new career in search and rescue

Teacher's Guide Dog Attacked by Rottweillers: Why it's important to keep pet dogs under control...

A GDB Graduate takes to the skies!

Puppy Love with a Purpose

In the December 2011 issue of DogFancy Magazine, there's a wonderful article and photo of our good friend Betty White and her GDB career change Golden, Pontiac.

GDB Alumnus Elliot Aronson wins distinguished emeriti award from University of California at Santa Cruz

Polar Vision crew set to go to Antarctica to raise support for GDB!

GDB Alumnus Larry Marcum says that "Life is Better with a Guide Dog".

Lemore, CA, raisers win award for innovation. Model of Innovation awards are given in three divisions: student development, chapter development and community development to FFA members.

Finding Homes for Retired Guide Dogs

by Steve Grunow, GDB Dog Placement Coordinator

Just as we humans retire at different ages and often have second careers, Guide Dogs are retired at a variety of ages, and they often take on significant new roles in their adoptive homes and new families.

Following are the stories of some retired guides that the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) Dog Placement Program has matched up with carefully chosen adopters during the past year. The names of the dogs have been changed here to protect the privacy of their people --- though the dogs themselves probably don’t care a lot about privacy as long as good food, interesting toys, regular walks, and lots of attention and petting are being provided!

1. Carmela, a female black Labrador Retriever, was retired at 4 years of age because her vision-impaired GDB graduate was experiencing health issues that prevented her from continuing to use Carmela as a Guide Dog. After an evaluation at GDB, Carmela was matched with a local middle-aged woman and her adult daughter. Carmela now benefits from the dog- savvy which the daughter had learned previously by being a volunteer with a local dog rescue organization in San Francisco. Because Carmela loves other dogs (not all dogs do) this family was chosen for her, also, partly because the family already had a resident 10-year-old pet male Labrador retriever. One of Carmela’s new “jobs” is to play with the family’s senior Lab to help keep him feeling and acting younger.

2. Flora, a female yellow Labrador Retriever, was retired at 6 years of age when her GDB graduate passed away. An older local woman who has special needs was selected to be Flora’s new mistress due to the adopter’s long term commitment to GDB, her past experience of having successfully owned a previous “career change” dog from GDB until that dog’s natural death and because she planned to take Flora on visits to a nearby medical facility to bring smiles to the faces of patients there.

3. Amity is a female yellow Labrador Retriever who was retired at 2 years of age because Amity seemed unduly stressed by being out in the big world doing guidework. Amity had been raised with children and she is unusually calm and well behaved for her young age. So, Amity was paired with a family that includes two small children, a dad and a mom, in Los Angeles. The dad is a volunteer at a Southern California organization for blind people. Per an email from the adopters, “Amity is doing great and she is adapting very well to her new home and family. She is great with the kids (and with adults, too) and we are all very much enjoying her. … Thank you for matching her up with our family. We couldn’t be happier.”

4. Holly, a female yellow Labrador Retriever, was retired at 3 years old after about a year of guidework. Per Holly’s GDB retirement paperwork: “Holly… while capable of working at an exceptionally high level, has a persistent interest in other dogs that is high enough to end Holly’s career as a guide…” Ironically, Holly had also been described as “a little intolerant with other dogs” when she was running with a group of other dogs in community run at GDB (ironic, since she was so interested in other dogs while she was working and was supposed to be ignoring them). During her stint as a Guide Dog, Holly had also developed expert skills in “counter surfing” (snagging forbidden food off counters). Again, per Holly’s retirement paperwork, “Preventive measures (keeping the counters clear) have improved the situation somewhat, but in new situations Holly will still look for the opportunity.” Because of Holly’s tendency to steal food, and her discomfort with some other dogs, Holly was placed with a middle aged woman who currently had no other dogs in her home in California’s Central Valley, but she had previously happily coped with a less-than-angelic GDB “career change” dog which she had cared for until that dog’s natural demise. So she had already learned coping skills and tolerance for living with a less-than-perfect canine. The adopter’s adult son and his two children live nearby and they spend a lot of time with Holly and her new caretaker. Per an email from Holly’s new person, “Even though I haven’t had her long, I already love Holly and I am so glad to have her with me. She is very sweet and loving and quickly became popular with the whole family… Thank you so much for placing her with me.” (No mention of whether Holly has yet had an opportunity to display her counter surfing talents to her new folks...)

5. Huntly, a male black Labrador Retriever, was retired as a 2 year old after a brief guidework career due to his being too highly distractible and too active for optimal guidework. Because Huntly had been raised with a child, and has a high energy level, he put into an active family in Santa Barbara, California, where his current “duties” involve “doing a lot of hiking and cuddling with the kids” per the adopters.

6. Mikette, a female yellow Labrador Retriever, guided a GDB graduate briefly, then was retired as a 2 year old because, though she was well trained, her high energy level proved to be incompatible with optimal guidework. (While Mikette was at GDB awaiting adoptive placement, a GDB employee quipped that while she was fully trained as a working Guide Dog, “Mikette didn’t seem to be able to completely envision herself being in that role!”) Coincidentally, around the time of Mikette’s retirement, a middle-aged blind lady who lives alone in Southern California was sadly anticipating that her own elderly long-term companion, a (non-GDB) female black Lab, was not going to be around much longer, and the lady applied for a companion (not a working guide) from GDB. Since Mikette had actually been a Guide Dog, albeit only for a short time, her training and experience made her a good candidate to be a canine friend for this vision-impaired woman. A brief month after this applicant had adopted Mikette in April, she emailed to GDB: “I could not have received Mikette at a better time, as on May 31 I had to have my old dog put to sleep.”

Our thanks to the many people who help our retired Guide Dog heroes enjoy their remaining years.



Do you have stories to tell about your older dog? You can show your love for your dog and support for GDB by making a tribute or memorial gift in his or her name.

Human “Angels” Who Adopt Senior Retired Dogs

by Steve Grunow, GDB Dog Placement Coordinator

Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) really appreciates ALL of the people who adopt the “career change” dogs and retired Guide Dogs. There is a special place in the hearts of all the staff in the Dog Placement Program for those individuals and families who choose to provide homes for the elderly retired guides.

GDB’s dogs tend to live about 10 to 14 years. Senior dogs often have age-related veterinary issues and need to be given medications. Some canine oldsters have trouble climbing stairs. They usually physically cannot jog, hike, go bicycling or play games of fetch with their people --- abilities which many potential adopters require in the dogs that they want to adopt. Some geriatric dogs are not the specimens of doggy attractiveness that they were in their youths. Probably most significantly, adopting a dog “of a certain age” means knowing and accepting that the pooch has only a limited portion of its lifespan left, despite the bond that will be developed, and that there is bound to be some grief in the end.

Fortunately for GDB and its lucky elder former guides, there are some brave and “saintly” adopters who are content to see the dog-adoption glass as being half FULL with their furry "AARP members". The dogs are usually much calmer, easier to control, don’t require as much exercise and are better behaved than most young dogs.

Following are some stories of older retired Guide Dogs the GDB Dog Placement Program has matched with very accommodating and cherished adopters over the past year. The dogs’ names have been changed here to ensure privacy for the people involved.

1. Allure, a female German Shepherd, one of the last few of GDB’s guides of that breed, was retired at 10 years old due to having a mast cell tumor (which had been successfully removed, but could recur). Allure also had a torn cruciate ligament, which was not causing serious problems, but was incompatible with Allure’s continuing to work as a guide. After some veterinary care at GDB, including extensive physical therapy, it seemed best for all involved that Allure would go to Arizona to grace the home of a middle-aged couple, whose past experience with raising German Shepherd puppies for GDB had given them important insights into caring optimally for this sometimes- sensitive breed. Allure now attends the meetings of the current GDB puppy raisers and their pups in her county, and she demonstrates good behavior for those young "whippersnappers" there that are currently being educated as future working dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

2. Ginny, a female Golden Retriever, was retired at 10 years old due to normal age-related slowing of her pace. She also has some eye abnormalities that need to be monitored, so she was lucky to be adopted by --- a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye doctor)! The adopter wrote,”… as long as Ginny doesn’t mind my cats and other dogs, she can have a forever home with me.” Great for Ginny herself, and great for Ginny’s eyes!

3. Orion, a male yellow Labrador/Golden crossbred, was retired at 10 years of age when his GDB graduate passed away. Orion’s adoptive family in California’s Central Valley consists of a middle-aged mom and dad, two adult daughters (one of whom has a serious medical condition and Orion can be a comfort to her), two very old other dogs, horses, and a cat. The adopters had gained a lot of dog savvy by raising a puppy for GDB a number of years ago. Their prior dog knowledge is a help in caring for Orion. They have reported that Orion is doing well, and that they are really enjoying providing Orion with a “ vacation retirement home” to reward him for his prior eight- years of service as a working Guide Dog.



4. Lindy, a female black Labrador Retriever was retired at 10 years old and with a tumor in her leg. After successful surgery through GDB, Lindy was offered to an elderly woman with limited mobility who has generously previously taken in a number of previous GDB dogs, both young and old, with special needs. She and her family have lots of knowledge about dogs and experience with dealing with lots of canine medical and behavioral issues. Lindy is doing fine, has received radiation therapy to hopefully prevent the regrowth of her tumor ---and she is coping gracefully with having gone from being a “princess” of a former only- dog in her former GDB graduate’s home to sharing her new human “mom” with a pack of several other dogs in this home.

5. Carrot, a female yellow Labrador, has had a unique and multi-faceted life! She was retired from guidework as a 4-year-old because her GDB graduate’s wife had passed away and the man was no longer using a Carrot as a guide. Carrot then was still quite young for a retiree. So after an evaluation at GDB, Carrot entered training with a hearing dog program (hearing dogs are trained --- with food treats --- to alert their deaf human partners to sound). Carrot aced hearing dog training (most Labradors are overjoyed with any activity involving food treats). She then had a successful eight-year career as a hearing dog with a woman in Colorado. By Colorado law, a hearing dog can go just about everywhere with its human, just as a working guide dog can. Then Carrot’s hearing dog partner very sadly had to return Carrot to GDB because the woman’s deteriorating health prevented her from continuing to care for the dog. Carrot has now become the constant companion of an older man and woman who were selected for Carrot because they had previously successfully owned two other older retired Guide Dogs until those dogs’ natural deaths --- and they had then signed up again to take in yet another oldster. The new family has acreage in both California and Texas. Per a GDB employee who knows the adopters, “They are all getting along famously. Carrot follows them everywhere and they adore her. They are inseparable!” So Carrot’s life experiences have ranged from Guide Dog to hearing dog to ranch dog and remarkably tuned-in companion --- quite a canine resume!

6. Dane, a male yellow Labrador/Golden crossbred, was retired at 11 years old due to normal geriatric conditions. While he was at GDB awaiting placement, he was often referred to as “the old gentleman”. He was offered to a middle-aged couple who have purposely chosen to repeatedly take on older retired guides as their way to actively help support the work of Guide Dogs for the Blind. There is another former Guide Dog currently in their home, and these adopters have also previously taken in several other senior retired guides and cared for them until those dogs’ natural deaths.

There are not many adopters who will take on an aging dog that may be relatively close to its demise, happily care for, and love that dog until it passes on --- then do that again, and again, and again! For a few hardy and unusual souls, often senior citizens themselves, welcoming these animals into their homes seems to be more about what they can offer the dogs than about what the dogs can do for the people --- and these “human angels” seem to be OK with that. GDB really thanks those people who thrive on provide comfy retirement homes for GDB’s "geezers" and "geezerettes".

Understandably, there is usually some grief at the end --- but these “angels” have not complained or expressed any regrets.




Do you have stories to tell about your favorite "geezer" or "geezerette"? What life lessons have they taught you?

You can show your love for your dog and support for GDB by making a tribute or memorial gift in his or her name.

Smile Delivery II

Michael Weinberg, 20, above, is starting his junior year at UC Santa Barbara this fall. He and his father, Leland take their GDB career change dog Ruby to visit the patients and staff at the Spinal Injury Unit and Community Living Center at Long Beach Veterans Medical Center (LBVA) each month, bringing smiles to all they meet.



Although Ruby is over 14, she is in good health, though she walks a bit slower now. Leland writes: "When she sees people, she lifts her head, smiles, wags her tail -- we can tell she loves people. We truly believe that Ruby is blessed with longevity and good health and of course she is a blessing from GDB because she continues to serve, especially veterans in need. We hope that she will attend the JDRF Walk with Mazda in November. We always pray and hope that Ruby can continue to perform therapy visits, in particular to the veterans and the LBVA staff who have reacted in such a positive manner to Ruby’s visits."





It's National Guide Dog Month -- time to deliver some smiles by making new friends for GDB!

Smile Delivery

Lira is the career change dog of GDB volunteer Sally Blake. She has a new career -- as a therapy dog. The following is from Sally's blog, which also includes audio:

Lillie went home today. I have watched this very sick little 5-year-old Hispanic beauty live at the hospital for the last couple of months. I have watched hospital staff treat her like one of their own taking her on wagon rides around the ward, teaching her one English word a day (one day, the word was "glamorous" to go with her princess motif) and letting her just hang out at the nurses' station with them for hours. These nurses are angels in my mind and heart.

Imagine this… a little girl sitting cross-legged on the bed attached to a multitude of tubes, petting Lira who is on the bed with her. Her hair done perfectly by her mother: two little shoulder-length pony tails with different colored rubber bands every couple of inches. Whenever she saw Lira she would smile from ear to ear framing chubby cheeks. This smile can only be described as a joyful brightening of our world. A tiny youngster who understandably was cranky some days and a precious little girl who definitely always knew exactly what she wanted.

What a blessing it was to happen to walk in as she and her family were preparing with the hospital staff to go home. What a joy it was to see this kind of happiness shining through every pore of her being.

Snap Happy!

Hey, thanks everyone for sending us so many great photos! You've obviously been busy.



Check out these photos!



And don't forget these...!





Now, we want to see photos from all of you who came to our Fun Days... How about it? Submit to our Flickr site.

What's Goin' On

Seems like Guide Dogs and Guide Dog puppies (like little Lab Kirkland) are making the scene everywhere these days! Here's just a taste of what's goin' on this summer:



Kirkland's San Diego club also visited visually impaired children.

Music major Chenier Derrick with his yellow Lab guide Galen graduated California State University at Fresno.



The lovely ladies of the Portland Rose Festival Court attended a June graduation at our Oregon campus.



GDB's Colorado Alumni Chapter, area puppy raisers and their dogs and puppies enjoyed a reunion in July.



What are you up to this summer?

GDB Career Change Dog Deployed to Japan

GDB Career Change dog Cadillac (now working for the Search Dog Foundation), a male black Labrador Retriever, is among the U.S. search and rescue teams deployed to Japan. The job of Cadillac and the other search dogs is to find live victims, conscious or unconscious, in the debris left by the earthquake and tsunami. All rescue personnel will be awaiting a “Bark Alert” from the dogs, letting them know there is someone in need of rescue. Cadillac and his handler were also part of the rescue efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.