[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

[Chantel Cuddemi]

All,

I received my Pilot dog Motley in February and graduated after some extra
training. 

I hope to contact his raisers in September and thank them for an awesome
dog. 

Without them, Motley wouldn't be what he is today, an awesome, ,loving,
loyal faithful guide. 

It's puppy raisers like you that make everything possible for us. 

Please don't give that up because of a silly poem. 

All the best, 

Chantel and Pilot Dog Motley

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Hannah Chadwick
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 1:01 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

Greetings,
I received my dog in January of this year and graduated with her in early
February. My school does allow us students to get in touch with the puppy
raiser, but only after six months from graduation. For me, that will be in
August, and it is definitely one of the things I am looking forward to. I
want to let my puppy raiser know how truly grateful I am to have such an
amazing, beautiful, hard-working, loving dog I have because if it weren’t
for raisers like you, a lot of us wouldn't have the dogs we do. Please don't
let this poem get to you, and I hope that you do what is right for you.
All the best, Hannah and Poodle Princess

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Anon. Y.mous
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:07 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
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