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!

Not Just Eyes

Contributed by Erin Austin

On March 20th, Fresno’s puppy raising group, Puppies with a Plan, and Visalia’s puppy raising group, Tailwaggers, attended the 17th annual Blind Babies Beeper Egg Hunt. The Blind Babies Foundation helps families with blind or visually impaired children, providing services to help the child’s optimal growth and development. My group, Fresno’s Puppies with a Plan, has been attending the Egg Hunt for the past two years; we were invited in 2009 by the Tailwaggers.

When this year’s Egg Hunt came around I was really excited. I was unable to attend myself last year, but my puppy, Freya, went with our club's leader. I got a lot of pictures of Freya with the kids, and I couldn’t wait to take pictures myself this time around.

When we got there and met up with the Tailwaggers, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I currently don't have a puppy, so I took Tomales, a puppy from our group.

More than 1000 electronic eggs are donated free of charge by Carl Zeiss Meditec. The egg hunt, along with several fun activities including a petting zoo, cupcake decorating, bubbles, crafts and lunch, were enjoyed by more than 300 children and their families who traveled from throughout Northern California.

We were able to roam and mingle, so Tomales and I stayed with a few other members of my group and stopped whenever a child wanted to pet a puppy. One little kid really stands out in my mind. She petted one puppy and then went to another and another. She couldn’t stop laughing. Eventually she got down on the ground and one of the puppies licked her. She rolled around on the ground and laughed and laughed. She wasn’t the only kid who really loved the puppies.

It was there that I realized that no matter who Freya went to, she would bond with them. For some reason, seeing those kids smile when they put their hand on a puppy was all I needed to make the worries go away. I knew Freya would be fine because she wasn’t just going to be some person’s eyes. She was going to be their friend and, hopefully, whomever she is paired with will have the same smile on their face when she and her partner meet for the first time.

We've Got Mail: Birthday Milestone

Dear Friends -

It is Miss Pearline's 9th Birthday! It's amazing how time flies by; it was seven years ago when we became a team. She was 1 year and 9 months old and I could trust her with my life.

Miss Pearline has added so much independence to my life and what an ambassador she has been representing her alma mater, Guide Dogs for the Blind. And she proudly represents Hawaii.



Miss Pearline is a professional and dedicated to her occupation. She takes her job seriously and has actually saved me from being hit by cars, and she remembers where bus stops and stores are located. Pearline can find doors, elevators, and escalators. Her memory is so incredible, she remembers places we have been. For
example, when I go to the capital I get off the bus and I say, "Let's go to the capital," and she will take me right to the elevator. If I say, "Let's go to Queens Hospital," she will take me right to the door. I just have to say "take me to Safeway" or Longs, or Costco or her favorite - Pets Discount - she knows the difference and takes me to the right store. 

Miss Pearline is my Guardian Angel for sure. She is a true blessing from God.



Miss Pearline really is a little ray of sunshine and loves to socialize with people, especially the ones who always seem to have carrots for her. Miss Pearline has selected a few people that she has a special connection
with, so if she gives you her tummy, you know you are one of them.


Her favorite friend to play with is a tall, dark and real handsome young Doberman named Koa. However, when he gets out of hand, she gives him good scolding and stands her ground.

I told you her memory is amazing; well, she always reminds me when it is her feeding time and will not 
stop bugging me until I feed her. She has a internal alarm clock that goes off at 7:00 am and again at 4:00 pm.

We attend lots of meetings people do not even know she is there. Traveling is easy - she is a real jet setter. She has traveled to Kentucky twice, Florida, Washington state twice, Oregon, and California at least five times.

Miss Pearline loves the ocean; that's her thing for sure. She insist on daily play time with me and daily tummy rubs. We go on daily walks. Her vet says she does not know she is a senior - she acts like a puppy. Her eyes are bright and ready for whatever is next.

When people say hello to me, she expects to be greeted too. I love her, I enjoy everything about her. After all
she does for me, I am privileged to be the one to care for her. Miss Pearline is my dearest friend; we are a team. We work together, play together and enjoy the life our Lord has chosen for us. Miss Pearline is the best roommate I have ever had!

Hope I did not bore you but I just had to share with friends how special this day is.


Much Aloha,


Landa Phelan