[NFBOH-Cleveland] The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter, Introduce Opera, A 5-year-old guide dog, Celebrating Guide Dog Awareness

[Carolyn Peters]

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 10, 2019, at 5:34 PM, Suzanne Turner <smturner.234 at gmail.com> wrote:

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter
Introduce Opera, A 5-year-old guide dog
In Celebration of Guide Dog Awareness
 
Hi, I’m Opera, Debbie Baker’s 5-year-old guide dog. Yes, you have already probably read about my 8-month old puppy friend Duman who is learning to guide Marianne Denning. Sometimes I probably play rather roughly with him, knowing that he will experience the school of hard knocks as he learns to guide.
 
I trained at The Seeing Eye for Debbie, working as my trainer walked with a support cane as Debbie does since she has cerebral palsy. There is a special balance piece on the back strap of her harness in case she needs to use it to step up on high curves or to help herself up if she falls. I have never been startled by that cane. It is just an extra mobility tool for her. I guide carefully, never having a bathroom accident on travel route. During the almost three years that Debbie and I have been a team, I have shown no distracting fears of loud noises, etc.
 
My puppy raiser thought that it was cute when I carried a toy around almost constantly, except when I was eating or sleeping. Now, as an adult dog, I do the same. My favorite toy is a stuffed red ring that contains four squeakers
 
By the way, I am a black lab. When people see my name, and my coat color, they often call me Oprah!  Debbie tells them that if I were to make Oprah’s money, that would be permissible!
 
I am Opera, a Federationist in the movement
 
Live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back!
 Opera is an amazing guy dog. She is beautiful.
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