[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Mon Jun 25 02:09:13 UTC 2012

Greg, thanks so much for your encouragement.  It is just what I needed.  The 
only way I can possibly say goodbye to the pups is knowing that they 
will be loved as somebody's guide dog someday, and hearing how valuable 
these dogs are to you is certainly motivational.  I'm so glad you had such a wonderful experience with those raisers as well.

________________________________
 From: NCBootman <ncbootman at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

It is hard to comment on this poem since I assume you only gave us one stanza. Perhaps it is different as a whole. I do not appreciate this particular part of the poem. I don't think it reflects guide dog handlers at all. My roommate with whom I have walked sighted guide for years and years decided to get a veteran assistance dog. I realized that this is a good thing for him and that it permanently changes my place in his world. So, I started seriously thinking about a guide dog. I read some, and started learning. I was told of a puppy raiser in my area who was willing to come and speak to our vision impaired support group. I learned so much! I proceeded with much haste to begin the process of applying to a school. I have remained friends with this lady and know first hand how much the cards, letters, and phone calls mean. She brought in her picture book just like a proud Grandma shows off her grandchildren to our group. The amount of love and devotion
 just oozed from her and her husband.Without a doubt, it was the best program of the year for our group and I arrange them so only choose good ones. Friday, I met another puppy raiser. I was downtown with a friend and a lady who raises for the school I will probably attend spoke to me and asked me if I would mind meeting her puppy. She explained that he was persistently asking to be allowed to come up and meet me. That was the highlight of my afternoon! I have her card and will stay in touch. This is her 9th puppy.

The school I plan to attend has puppy raiser day where we can meet the raisers. They do ask us to not have contact for a period of 90 days to allow for bonding between handler and guide. But, that relationship can continue if both want for the rest of our lives!

Don't let a stanza of a poem discourage you. If you need to, take a little time off after this one and realize just how empty your world is (grin). We as handlers Need you and deeply appreciate the work you do. When the lady visited our group, I told her that the contribution she is making to the blindness community is huge. Professionals like social workers get a paycheck and go home at 5:00. Puppy raisers are there 24/7 with no breaks, no vacations, no time without that valuable puppy at their side. In fact, we need more puppy raisers just like you. It is ashame that when a visually impaired person decides to get a dog that they are then told it could be as much as a year before actually being paired! That needs fixing! This is not to mention all the puppy raisers we are gonna need for the Veteran Assistance dogs and other occupations for our furry friends. I see a desperate need not to far in the future.

Here is a hug to you and a reminder that you make a difference with every puppy and if I had my way, all schools would encourage contact between you and us unless there was some reason not to in a particular situation. Keep up your good work.

Greg

-----Original Message----- From: Anon. Y.mous
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 6:07 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
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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