[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Mon Jun 25 14:29:39 UTC 2012

Remember too that the writer of this poem has a right to express himself or herself. Maybe the poem was written after a bad encounter with a raiser.  Maybe the writer feels differently after a different experience.

It's like music.  Some of the best love songs were written by people who are no longer in the musician's lives. Come Monday is one example. So is Annie's Song.

Keep in mind the perspective of when the poem was written and what may be going on in the author's life and head during that time.

To the raiser who is thinking of no longer raising puppies based on this poem, I'd urge you again to think about why this prompted such a response.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steven Johnson
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 8:40 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Greg, nicely stated.

>From what I understand, this Christmas Poem has gone around for quite some
time and modified and changed, but was originally simply someone trying to
be cute.  I wouldn't consider it a personal attack on puppy raisers, but
maybe rather the short-sightedness of one particular handler who just
happened to write this poem.  Not all handlers truly understand the
importance that volunteer puppy-raisers have in the whole scheme of things
with dog guide training programs.  I just met my Bennett's puppy raiser, who
just happened to be the first after 4 guides from the same school  I did
correspond with one other, but never knew or learned who trained #1 & #3.
Regardless, I do understand, do appreciate and do salute all puppy raisers
for all service dog programs as their commitment and dedication to raise
what will hopefully be the eyes, ears, legs or signaling mechanism for our
peers who choose to better their lives through the use of a service dog.
99.9 % of us support all raisers, and without you, the training programs
would not be in existence.  Thank you for the puppies you did raise, and who
knows, maybe you raised one of mine:)

Kind regards,

Steve Johnson and Leader Dog, Bennett

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of NCBootman
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 6:47 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
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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