Last night we had the opportunity to go visit the Paws with a Purpose Puppy Raising Club. Picture a room full of people (and adorable puppies on the floor) who are all committed to raising a puppy and then saying good bye to help someone like me and perhaps you can understand why I started to say --
you are a group of my heroes and the tears came! A puppy raiser has such a core of kindness, love and a desire to serve someone else. It is incredible to me, and I think about it when I am taking Cricket out to do business and she quickly goes and I think how hard that is to train a puppy to do so... the list goes on of all the hard work of raising these sweet little puppies that I know aren't always sweet! I can't thank each of them enough for what they are doing ... there were 12 puppies(I think that was the final # that came in) with their raisers. There is something so endearing about a little puppy and realizing their potential whether they become a guide, another career, or educate while they are in training and become a special pet. Cricket and cute little black lab Chad learned they are both going to the Lion King Performance this Fall. I think Cricket is cheering him on and saying ... keep up the good work. She was so happy and seemed to remember puppy raiser meetings.
10 comments:
A puppy raiser is doing such a selfless service. It is hard to imagine - constant love, training and care and then off the loved puppy goes on the "Puppy Truck" back to San Rafael or Boring. But oh the joy to see them help someone like our dear Becky. Thank you so much - what a blessing Pantera and Cricket have been in our lives.
Dad and Mom
Oh Becky - thank you for that post! We also had a puppy meeting last night and it was hard for me as a leader. Met early with a family going through tough stuff and trying to fit their puppy in around it. We have 6 pups under 6 months, 3 new families and more pups overall than we have had in a while. And my asst leader is taking a break from raising, so it is all me doing the work. I came home exhausted and overwhelmed by it all and in need of the mental power to draft multiple emails to my cfr about puppies.
I wouldn't say that I was down on the program - it is at the heart of who I am. But my sense of joy for these puppies and families was waning. Your post brought tears to my eyes and a great reminder to my heart. Thanks! And thanks for loving our babies when they are away from us. As much as I hope for my pups to be awesome guides, my greater hope for them is to be caught in a continuous stream of love from whoever thery end up with.
As a past raiser of 2 pups, I know how hard it is to say goodbye & to release them out of my care. However, knowing you & seeing with my own eyes, how much you love & depend on Cricket makes me so proud to be a small part of this great family of GDB.
Being on my third puppy now, I have seen how my first dog has influenced his partner so much, in so many ways! It is so great to hear the stories! My second dog is well on his way at becoming the best Guide dog he can be :) I want to tell you thank you! Thank you for taking care of the dogs that were once ours and bonding with them so they soon know that YOU are the one they were supposed to be with all along, not the raisers, not the trainers, but YOU.
Thank you Becky! Thank you soo much :) I will continue raising knowing that people with such great hearts, like you, are out there.
From a raiser's perspective...what can I say but thank YOU for that post? :) Makes it all worthwhile...and every working team truly represents a group effort all the way from breeders, to raisers, to trainers, not to mention the schools and clients themselves. Beautiful!
You, and others like you, make it all so worthwhile! What a treat for that puppy raising group to have you and Cricket there.
Becky,
As leader of Paws with a Purpose, I would like to say thank you again to you and your family for coming to see us last night. I know we all had a very enjoyable time listening to your stories and experiences.
Your spirit and willingness to be such an advocate for GDB is a huge benefit for everyone around you and all those you come into contact with.
Cassie is right, sometimes as leaders you can lose a little of why you raised that first puppy, but to meet someone like yourself reminds us all of why we do it.
Thanks again
Sally
I'm sure that all the puppy-raisers love meeting people like you, to remind them of why they are doing what they do. It would hard letting the puppies go, but so worth it in the end.
Thank you so much, as a puppy raiser knowing that you appreciate and need the guides so much, makes the giving back a little easier. Our currant puppy Dublin, is 9 mo. old now, and I keep thinking we will only have him for another 3-5 months, it goes so fast, from the time we picked him up as a tiny little 8 week old puppy.
Thank you so much for that post. It reminds me why I do this, even when things get a little tough with a 9 month old "puppy" going through his teenage phase. So glad to be reminded of the amazing outcome that puppy raising is!
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