[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

[Juanita Herrera]

I am new at being a guide dog handler, and my initial goal was to keep
in touch with my dog's puppy raisers because I understand the
significant role they play in a puppy's life. Therefore, I searched
for a school that would allow me to do so. I have had my guide for
almost six months now, and I still keep in touch with her raisers. I
would never even think of losing contact with them. I would think it
would be a devastating experience for them not to know of the puppy
that they've invested so much time and effort into. Is there a reason
why you don't want to continue raising?
Best,
Juanita and Anise

On 6/24/12, Anon. Y.mous <ay.mous at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am new here.  I am a long-time puppy raiser, my sister has RP and is a
> guide dog user, and I have RP so a guide might be in my future as well.
> When I first found this list about a month ago, I poked around for threads
> relating to me, and one term that I searched was "raiser."  One thing I
> found really disturbed me and has been nagging at me for the past month, so
> I figured I might as well throw it out to everyone before making any
> decisions.
>
> The "problem post" occurred in a Christmas poem posted several years ago.
> One of the stanzas was about puppy raisers:
>
> "Some man comes from nowhere with the purpose to tell, that he's 'trained'
> seven puppies as guide dogs, oh swell.  He badgers my handler, asking him
> why some blind folks get nasty when he stops them to pry.  'Don't you people
> know what we raisers give up?  We expend so much money and love raising your
> pup.  We clean up their messes all day and all night.  The least you blind
> people could do is to write.  I don't get a card or a letter to say that my
> baby is good or he's doing okay.' ... So don't let your big ego get in the
> way.  Blind handlers appreciate you just fine, okay?"
> I was in tears by the end of this (and I'm a pretty stoic person!).  I know
> it's supposed to be a kind of snarky poem about stereotypes of each "problem
> group," but this really hurt.  It's making fun of something that you just
> shouldn't make fun of, if that makes any sense.  I thought of my past
> puppies and the very real and very deep love I still have for each of them
> and how much I still miss them (even though I absolutely know they are not
> mine!).  I am hoping that their handlers don't view me this way, kind of
> minimizing the depth of the relationship I had with the dog.
>
>
> Ever since I read that, all of the enthusiasm and sparks I bring to my
> raising have been absent, and I've thus I'm toying with not raising again.
> You just can't raise a guide pup if your heart isn't in it.
>
>
> For the record, I'm definitely not somebody who thinks raising is this
> saintly selfless act -- I don't know any raisers who think that, actually.
> I get a ton out of it.  Still doesn't make turn-in any easier.
>
>
> I know each school has different policies and relationships with raisers,
> and each individual graduate does as well.  I know there are some raisers on
> this list -- does anybody have any reaction to this?  I'm not looking for
> opinions about school policies, rather thoughts of individual guide dog
> users.  My sister doesn't agree with the sentiment, but I guess I'm looking
> for opinions other than hers!
>
>
> Thanks so much in advance.  It may seem trivial to you, but this is really
> something I'm struggling with so I really appreciate any time people take to
> respond.
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