[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Mon Jun 25 02:03:33 UTC 2012

I wanted to be anonymous for this email because I felt really silly 
having to ask this question /grin/ I'll create a real account soon -- 
not only am I a raiser, but I am losing my sight and expect to be 
getting my own guide dog within the next five years or so. Maybe I can learn a thing or two from the people here who do both and give it a go myself.

Thanks for your help -- it really is illuminating.

________________________________
 From: Lyn Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 9:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Hey there, nameless puppy raiser!  Sorry but there was no name with your post.  Who are you?

I may have seen that post but didn't pay any attention to it.  From my viewpoint, and the views around my guide dog using friends, we do not make light of what you raisers do to create the fine guide dogs we enjoy.  We know about the hard work you do.  Even some of the guide dog users raise puppies for their program.

I wouldn't let a dumb poem stop you from raising a puppy.  I have no idea as to the author of that poem.  You have to know in your heart that raising a guide dog puppy is what you want to do.  You have to know in your heart that you are doing a good job.  Be open to suggestions from guide dog users because we are the ones who are out there day to day using these dogs.

Here in San Diego, our California Council of the Blind chapter hosts a Guide Dog Puppy Raiser appreciation Luncheon every year since 1990 to thank the local puppy raisers for the great job they do.  Many of us have had good friendships with them over the years.  Because my school does not allow contact between us and the people who raised our dogs, I find it very valuable to have this opportunity to get to know puppy raisers and what they do.  In turn, the puppy raisers get to know us and what our needs are as blind users of the guide dogs.  It is alot of fun!

HTH and you decide if raising another puppy is right for you.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- From: "Anon. Y.mous" <ay.mous at yahoo.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:07 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

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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