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.

Raising a Guide Dog Puppy in College

by Ashley Carroll

Ever since I was in sixth grade, all I can remember is going to school with a dog almost every day. When I was a senior in high school, I told myself that I would wait till my third year of college before raising again. Needless to say that thought did not last very long.

In March of 2010, I got Medford. He’s three-quarters Golden and one-quarter Lab. He is my seventh puppy, but the first I’ve raised alone. When I got Medford, I was still living in the college dorms. My parents were great and agreed to watch him for a whole month until school was out. My Fresno puppy club leader, Mary Harris, was also offered to watch him for a week. With their help, Medford learned to behave well enough to start the fall semester with me in August.

It is not easy raising a Guide Dog puppy while in college. I have to balance schoolwork, working with Medford, and spending time with friends. I have been blessed so far -- all my teachers and the students at Fresno State have been very supportive of what I am doing. Medford and I have become very well known around campus. He has been nicknamed “Bear” because he sort of looks like a bear cub. He does great in class, as he goes right to sleep and doesn’t get up until he is told.

I keep a blog called “Life with a Guide Dog in Training in College” that talks about my adventure of raising a Guide Dog puppy while going to college. In my blog I talk about the ups and downs Medford and I face together. Medford is 15 months old now and could be recalled for formal training by GDB at any time.

Luckily, I just received my new puppy, Polaris, who will join me next school year. He’s seven-eighths Golden and one eighth Lab. For now, Polaris is staying with my parents. I will document my adventures with him on my blog, as well. I’d like to thank my parents, my Fresno and Bakersfield group, Mary Harris, Margaret Baker, and Guide Dogs for the Blind for helping me and allowing me to raise a puppy while in college.

Thank You for the New Puppy Coats and Toys!

Our puppies are sporting new green coats thanks to our sponsors, Natural Balance Pet Food, Inc. and Petco.

Speaking of new – our kennels are a lot brighter these days with colorful new toys for the puppies to play. Thank you to the many donors, puppy raising clubs and corporate supporters who have helped us replace needed puppy toys. Special thanks to Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., Central Pet, Nylabone, and JW Pet.

We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you Conner and Troup 160!

By Jeannine May

An Eagle Scout, Conner House (with his parents alongside), and other scouts from Troop 160 volunteered at the GDB campus in Oregon for a beautification project. They put down bark dust, cut blackberry bushes, and made clean up bag stands for the relieving areas.

Thank you Conner and Troup 160 for all of your hard work. The campus looks GREAT!

An Open Letter to the Thousands of GDB Volunteers

Too often, we don’t even realize just how powerful the touch of a volunteer can be. Sixteen years ago, I made the phone call that changed my life.

I had grown tired of finding trash cans with my white cane, coffee tables with my shins, and tree branches with my face. I was weary of navigating convention centers and trying to make new business connections with people I could not spot in a crowd. A cane is such a poor conversation starter.

Although my growing blindness never bothered me, I did aspire to the freedom I used to enjoy when I could race between gates in an airport or zip quietly down hallways at work. Sixteen years ago, I called Guide Dogs for the Blind. However, if it had not been for one volunteer, I might have never made that call. As my vision continued to fail over the years, I occasionally thought of how useful a guide dog might be. I had seen blind men and women, with their guide dogs, moving quickly through buildings and on sidewalks. As far as I knew, I would have to lose the remainder of my vision, to be totally blind, before I could partner with a guide dog. I didn’t know just how little I knew.

Before that fateful phone call, while on a business trip in Northern California, a good friend who worked in Silicon Valley asked me if I’d like to meet her family. I had heard wonderful things about her parents, how after their own children had grown, they had adopted many young children, all with significant disabilities. Her parents wanted to share their good life with some special kids. I went with her to her parents home and got to meet some truly extraordinary people. While there, I also met the mother’s sister. My friend’s aunt showed up with a puppy and I was intrigued by her story as well.

Her aunt was raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. I learned about how volunteers made these puppies very special, giving them the early love, respect, and social skills to enable their future training at this West Coast school. I had never heard of Guide Dogs for the Blind, but I fell in love with the program as I listened to this volunteer share her story, her puppy’s story, and the story of GDB. That very special puppy raiser changed my life. Had we never met, I might have waited another decade to get a Guide Dog. Had we not talked, I might not have come to our school. Because of one puppy raiser, I took a chance, came to San Rafael, and discovered that I could see again through the eyes of my first guide, Fantom.

To all of you, during National Volunteer Week, I want to thank you for your dedication to a mission that makes a huge difference in the lives of so many blind men and women. Because of your volunteer spirit, we have phenomenal foster care providers, dedicated dog walkers, and wonderful puppy testers and socializers.

Because you give of yourselves, we benefit from your efforts at the gift shops, the telephone console, on our Board, and in the Accounting Office. Because of you, we have great docents giving tours, safe drivers taking our students to churches and synagogues on the weekends, and the best breeder custodians and puppy raisers in the world. Because of all our volunteers, thousands of blind men and women have enjoyed greater freedom and independence.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for supporting this mission. Thank you for your gift of self. And, to a very special Aunt Barbara, thank you for bringing me to GDB.

Warm personal wishes,
Morgan and Will

G. Morgan Watkins
Acting President and CEO Guide Dogs for the Blind

Reading with Chiffon

By Puppy Raisers Sue and Jim Mooney


It doesn't seem possible our second Guide Dog puppy, Chiffon, has just celebrated her first birthday. She is a calm, delightful little black Labrador Retriever, and every day with her is a treasure. I am a substitute teacher and volunteer at our neighborhood school.

Most Tuesday mornings, Chiffon and I visit Mrs. Hanson's third grade classroom at Needham Elementary School and work with reading groups. The students are delighted with their furry visitor, and she loves being with them. Our time together has come to be known as "Reading with Chiffon."

When it's time to head over to the classroom, Chiffon instantly knows what I mean when I say, "Let's go to school and see the kids." These students all knew Peppermint, our first Guide Dog puppy, who is now a working Guide Dog in British Columbia. The children love hearing about her latest adventures and look forward to hearing about Chiffon's future endeavors.

Puppies at Work

By Beth Adams, Lone Star Puppy Raisers

Melville is a 9-month old black Lab puppy being raised by Lindsey Amos from the Lone Star Puppy Raisers in Texas. As a puppy in training he gets to go to work with Lindsey every day, which means Melville’s 8 am to 5 pm is spent as an “unofficial employee” for Wasp Barcode Technologies.


Community service projects and charity work are an integral part of the beliefs and values of Wasp. Wasp believes in corporate social responsibility and the value of charity work and is a proud supporter of Melville and Guide Dogs for the Blind. At the end of 2010, Wasp shared a holiday e-card with its customers, choosing to make a donation to Guide Dogs for the Blind instead of sending a traditional printed Christmas card.

More recently, Wasp is a Communitas Award applicant for supporting and donating to Guide Dogs for the Blind and incorporating Guide Dog puppies in training into the office life at Wasp. Communitas Awards honor companies and individuals that are changing the way they do business to benefit their employees, communities, and environment. Training Guide Dog puppies in a work place is essential, because it simulates a real-life situation that a visually impaired person might encounter on a daily basis. Melville does everything from attending meetings and business lunches to accompanying Lindsey everywhere she goes to ensure that he is prepared for his mission in life.

Click here to watch the Wasp Barcode/Guide Dogs for the Blind Video.

Great Day in Texas!

From Beth Adams of the Lone Star Puppy Raising Club

Recently, the Lone Star Puppy Club participated in the "Greet the Troops" program at the Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport. It was a huge honor for all people and puppies involved!

We marked the one-millionth soldier to pass through the airport to begin his/her two weeks of R&R. We do many outings as a puppy club but greeting soldiers returning home or seeing them off to Iraq, was a very special occasion for us.

I can't even describe the emotions I felt witnessing a soldier land on American soil after a long deployment and head directly over to hug one of our Guide Dog puppies. It was equally heartfelt observing smiling soldiers talking with and petting our puppies, prior to their departure to Iraq.

The puppies greeted many soldiers including Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey, Jr. This was a tail-wagging homecoming that will be remembered for years to come.

Thankful for Our Volunteers

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, we received this tribute to one of GDB's most dedicated and long-standing volunteers. At this time of year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for ALL of our volunteers, whether they've been with us for 5 months or 50 years. Without you, we couldn't provide our free services and make a difference in the lives of so many. So to all of our volunteers this holiday season, thank you. And to Gwen Reimann, congratulations on nearly 50 years as a member of our family.

By puppy raiser Mary Ann Epstein

Gwen Reimann, leader of “Diamonds in the Ruff” puppy raisers of Los Angeles County, was the guest of honor at a surprise celebration earlier this month to honor her many years of service as a GDB volunteer. The celebration was held in Sycamore Canyon Park in Diamond Bar, Calif., and Gwen’s GDB friends and fellow puppy raisers, past and current, contributed pages and photos to make a huge scrapbook of GDB puppy memories. Known for her sunny disposition and outgoing, friendly personality, Gwen was thanked for her dedication, patience, guidance, encouragement and helpfulness.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Gwen was introduced to Guide Dogs for the Blind by a childhood friend. Later, when Gwen and her husband Jack moved to San Rafael, within walking distance of GDB's California campus, it was just natural that she would volunteer. Of course like most campus volunteers, she yearned for the coveted job of puppy tester! But there was a long waiting list because there was (and still is) rarely an opening. In the meantime, Gwen accepted any job GDB gave her, including stuffing envelopes. She was around so much and got to know everyone; the first of the many guided tours she gave of the campus came one day when she had to wing it and do the job in a pinch. As the story goes, she excelled at the task, and there was no looking back. Eventually, she was rewarded with that special job of puppy testing. It was a sad day years later when she announced to GDB that her husband was being transferred to Los Angeles and she couldn’t volunteer for on campus anymore.

She learned, however, that she could still volunteer for GDB while in Los Angeles, but under the auspices of 4-H which was responsible for the youth puppy raising program at the time. When Jack and Gwen settled in Diamond Bar in 1970, Gwen contacted Connie Henry of Los Angeles puppy raisers and volunteered. She also met and helped out with the puppy station wagon (now the puppy truck) when it came south to deliver pups. Eventually she was asked to be a leader of Pomona Valley 4-H puppy raisers. For a long time the group was affectionately known as “Gwen’s Group” which met in Diamond Bar. Then in the late 90s the group adopted the name “Diamonds in the Ruff” suggested by Dan Wheeler.

2010 marks Gwen’s 40th anniversary of volunteering for 4-H in Los Angeles County and near 50 years of volunteering for GDB.

Above and Beyond

By Rebecca Hornick

GDB's California Campus Foster Care Program Coordinator

We all know that our volunteer foster care providers serve a great purpose each year when there is need to put dogs into temporary homes for a variety of reasons. But I bet you didn’t know just how far above and beyond the normal call of duty some of these amazing volunteers will go. As a group, the foster care providers at our California campus have volunteered more than 37,000 hours fostering more than 400 dogs since July 2009, which translates to more than 3,000 hours per month. There’s no question that their homes have provided great comfort to many of our dogs over the years. But some dogs need even more.

When it comes to dogs needing physical therapy before or after corrective surgery for orthopedic problems, here at the California campus we always call on volunteer Carol Mack. After she gets special instruction from our clinic’s physical therapy specialist, Kristen Hagler, about how to perform various physical manipulations several times a day, Carol also provides transport for these dogs to and from a vet clinic 30 minutes north to receive hydrotherapy sessions as well. We think the world of her and thank her for going the extra miles, literally!

Another special shout-out goes to volunteers Dottie, John and Cooper Jacob. (Cooper is pictured above and at right.) Not only have they provided help and foster care for orthopedically challenged dogs, but they don’t stop there: puppies, dogs in training, boarding guides, breeders, career change dogs, medically challenged dogs, elderly dogs... you name it, they'll care for them! They even happily take more than one dog at a time, and have been known to call us on their way home from vacation to see which dog needs them next. Their desire to help whenever and however possible is a blessing to the foster care program.

Also on the list of folks who always have a foster dog in their home are Mike Duigou and Lucy Greco; Lucy’s Guide Dog, Pecan, is never lonely for company! (Lucy is pictured with a foster pup, left.) They have taken in some of the most medically challenged young career change pups, and on many occasions, Mike has offered to transport dogs to and from local veterinary specialists and even UC Davis for surgeries or follow up care. They then provide the weeks or months of aftercare required to get the pup stable and healthy enough to be adopted into a permanent home. As you can imagine, young pups need the benefit of home life and whatever socialization they can be offered to be the best dogs they can be. Mike and Lucy’s efforts give these pups an extra “leg up” thanks to their contribution to the foster care program.

Whether it’s leaky little puppies or infirm elder dogs, Jeff Cannizzaro is another volunteer always ready to lend a hand. After raising GDB puppies Viva and Rora (Rora graduated as a guide from the Oregon campus last year), Jeff decided to help out with foster care. I like to call him one of my “teddy bears of foster care” because he is there for the dogs who need comforting the most. Jeff and his wife, Lauren Kenney (a staff member in our training department), provide care to all sorts of dogs that come through the foster care program. In their home, many young dogs have thrived, but they have even been there giving love and comfort to elderly dogs who have needed to live out their last days in foster homes as well.

One of my favorite things to hear is, “I just dropped off a dog. Who needs me now?” Fortunately I hear this frequently from volunteers Bob and Liz Patterson (pictured above). If they are in town, they’ll take a foster dog. Unlike some people who need a break after having a canine visitor, these folks are always game for a new dog. I know for a fact that our dogs have single handedly turned Bob into a serious dog lover. He hadn’t had a lot of dog experience the couple decided to join the foster care team back in July of 2007, but by now they have fostered more than 50 dogs. With almost every dog he says, “This was one of our favorites!” I don’t know who makes who happier, Bob or the dogs!

When the requests are tough and the dog’s needs aren’t easy, I call on these fine folks to save the day. Time after time, they have been there for our most challenging charges and if you ask them, they wouldn’t have it any other way. These amazing volunteers get our highest praise for always being willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for our foster dogs. We feel so very lucky they are part of the Guide Dogs Team!

Celebrating a Leader

At the Manhattan Beach, Calif., city council meeting last week, Mayor Mitch Ward proclaimed Pat Whitehead, Los Angeles Southwest Guide Dog Raisers Leader, his Person of the Month for the month of May. Pat was honored for her more than 40 years as a community service volunteer with special focus given to her work for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Pat's puppy raising group was there to provide support and were included in the photo with members of Manhattan Beach City Council (naturally, the council members specifically asked that the puppies be a part of the photo!). Of course, all in attendance were wowed by the excellent behavior of the canine participants during the meeting, including 4 month-old Khaki, the youngest puppy in the group.

The plaque presented to Pat reads:

The City Council of the City of Manhattan Beach does hereby proudly recognize Pat Whitehead for her distinguished service to the community and designate her as the Person of the Month. Dated this 4th day of May, 2010. Signed, Mayor Mitch Ward.

Kudos Pat!

Photos by Scott Whitehead

Buffed and Polished: Campus Cleanup Courtesy of Kiwanis

Baecky Sintek of the Sandy Kiwanis Club,

with retired guide Hector.

The wonderful folks from the Sandy Kiwanis Club (with a few members of the Sandy Optimist Club thrown in for good measure) descended on our Oregon campus earlier this month to help make our grounds a little spiffier, a little more polished in celebration of the International Kiwanis Club’s “One Day” event where Kiwanis volunteers give of their time and energy in service of others.

The team of volunteers descended like a hive of busy bees – power-washing the kennel areas, pulling blackberry bushes, polishing windows and generally making our campus shine like a new penny. Once their tasks were complete, the volunteers stayed to witness a graduation ceremony, where six student-dog teams were celebrated for the hard work they had accomplished over the previous two weeks.

Thank you Sandy Kiwanis Club - we hope to see you back again next year!

Angels in Foster Care

By Rebecca Hornick

Dog Placement Coordinator

It takes all kinds of folks to take on all kinds of dogs that need temporary foster homes each year. Here at GDB, our volunteers have taken in pups, breeders, training dogs, boarding guides and dogs awaiting placement - just to name a few. We are extremely fortunate to have a remarkable pool of people that make up our group of volunteer Foster Care Providers.

Most foster needs are relatively short in duration - just a few days or a few weeks at time. Some dogs pose more behavioral or physical challenges, so we try to match each dog with an ideal caretaker, while still respecting the needs of both the dog and the volunteer. But one particular need stands out in our minds and gives us reason to acknowledge and celebrate a small group of particularly brave souls: the special volunteers who provide end of life care for our terminally ill or elderly dogs.

Thankfully, the need for fostering dogs at the end of their lives is rare since most of our dogs happily live out their lives in the homes they have already known for years. But the need does come up from time to time and it is comforting to know we can provide these dogs the love and care they deserve because of the effort of these dedicated volunteers.

Understandably, most foster care volunteers are reluctant to take on this kind of potentially heartbreaking task - and who can blame them? We know how hard it is for our volunteer raisers to give up their pups after a year of life together. Similarly, we know how difficult it is to take in a dog you don’t even know and care for him/her through all the challenges that accompany age or terminal illness.

These folks have physically carried dogs outside for relieving, or in and out of vehicles; cleaned up all kinds of accidents; spent hours in the vet clinic for exams and tests; and watched daily for the eventual signs that reveal the end is near. When given the choice if they want to be with the dog when the vet has to put them to sleep, all of these amazing caretakers have chosen to be there, providing comfort and a familiar face so the dogs can be as peaceful as possible. The amazing clinic staff is always there to support the volunteer and of course, the dog, through this difficult process, making a hard task much easier.

When a young dog in training came into the clinic with some odd symptoms recently, we were all devastated to learn he had developed melanoma and his condition was terminal. It was so far along, that no medicine or cancer treatment could stop the inevitable speedy progression of his disease. The doctors felt he had just a few weeks before he would start to suffer from pain caused by the tumors. But this bubbly, silly, happy-go-lucky Labrador made it quite clear that he had a lot of joy left in him. So it was determined that he should enjoy his final days in the home of a local loving foster care provider.

It was no surprise that foster care volunteers Larry and Diane Rich stepped up to the plate and took this young boy home to enjoy the rest of his short life with them. They had fostered many dogs over the years, but two of their previous dogs were elderly and needed a place to call home before the end of their lives as well. Retired breeder German Shepherd Daily and career change German Shepherd Neon enjoyed their final days in the Rich’s home, and Larry and Diane were happy to have been there for them.

Another example of our foster care heroes is Heidi Sanders, who cared for retired guide Fallbrook (the two are pictured, above). Fallbrook outlived everyone’s expectations following a cancer diagnosis in August 2004. In her good care, he went on to live five more years and became a treasured member of her family, and a doggy super hero here at Guide Dogs.

And finally, we'd like to recognize sisters Linda and Suzanne Ryan. When they met retired guide Haley in January 2008, they said they’d be happy to help foster this elderly dog for a while, but end of life care would be too hard for them. As it turned out, Haley had other ideas and convinced them she had found her final home in their good care. She remained happily with them until she passed at the ripe old age of 15 and her longevity can certainly be attributed to their attentive, doting care (she is pictured below at her 13th birthday party).

It can be hard to think about losing a pet, especially one you have known for all of its life. But it takes an incredible person to take in an unknown elderly or infirm dog and show them the love and devotion they deserve, as if the dog had been a part of their lives all along. We are forever grateful to the kindness and selflessness these volunteers have shown our dogs at the end of their lives. The gift of their time and love deserves the highest praise and we salute them for this heroic effort.

Hitting All the High Notes

A “Golden Note Award” is a community award honoring volunteers who have really made a difference; people who have hit the high notes. We are lucky to have many “golden note” volunteers around the nation, but recently one of our Oregon campus volunteers, Tammy Glen, received a Golden Note Award from the Gresham Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy and her career change ambassador dog, Toshi, speak on behalf of Guide Dogs to dozens of groups each year. In addition to being a public face, she also can be frequently seen on the Oregon campus giving tours, providing rides for people and dogs, or serving dinner to our students (her favorite volunteer job of all). She has provided a temporary home and given love to numerous foster dogs as they have awaited adoption. We are so thankful that Tammy is not an exception but just one of many volunteers who deserve this award – for this moment though we honor Tammy Glenn and give her our thanks. Congratulations!

Viva La Volunteers!

Our 30th annual California campus Volunteer Recognition Luncheon was a success! Despite of some questionable weather, about 200 volunteers came out to celebrate another year of tremendous volunteer contributions. Of special note, we celebrated Evelyn Hoffman's 45th year as a volunteer puppy tester (Evelyn is pictured above, with Campus Volunteers/Guest Relations Manager Jennifer Bernstein-Lewis). What an amazing milestone! Thank you to all of our volunteers; we couldn't do it without you! Too see all of the pictures from the event, please visit our Flickr site.