[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

[d m gina]

Hello,
I am waiting for a dog, and I know I won't be able to know who raised 
my dog from the school I am going to.
Even though I would love to know, I have had your experience, where I 
tried to be a friend to raisers and it went no where.
I am sorry this poem is hurting, and for this I can only say I am sorry.
I would love to know where you raise, but that wasn't your question.
I am also sorry you don't hear from the folks of the pups you raised.
I have watched my friends know their raisers, and the raisers would 
give them dog food and much more.
Now I am not saying this should happen, but it made me sad, because I 
wished someone would have taken interest in their dogs even to say I 
miss you my dear.
Hope that makes sense.
Original message:
> 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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-- 
--Dar
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every saint has a past
every sinner has a future