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A Few Clouds Guide dogs ‘Hangout’ at South Baldwin Jewish Center
Sophie and Chip, 19-month-old sibling Black Labrador guide dogs in training from The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, stopped by Hangout One Happy Place at the South Baldwin Jewish Center on September 14.
The dogs, accompanied by their volunteer puppy raisers, were a big hit as they were put through their paces in this unique puppy class. Students of Hangout One Happy Place were invited to greet the dogs, walk them, and help them work on staying calm while presented with distractions. Some of the students danced, clapped, ran past the dogs, threw, and kicked balls into a net while Sophie and Chip’s raisers encouraged them to calmly watch what was going on.
Puppy raisers for the GDF receive their puppies at 8 weeks old and work with them for one year teaching the puppies basic obedience, house manners, and social skills. This lasts until the pups are called back to the foundation for formal training to become Guide Dogs, or Service Dogs for GDF sister company America’s VetDogs.
Sophie, Chip, their puppy raisers Bill Schneider and Marisa Tyd, and their Puppy Raiser Advisor, Sheila Doolan, who led the class, were grateful for the opportunity to hangout with the students and staff at Hangout One Happy Place.
In 1946, when the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was founded, its mission was to provide guide dogs and free training to people who were blind or have low vision.
“For more than 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide dogs and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to individuals who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities,” stated on GuideDog.org. “Once the decision is made to get a guide dog, applicants become part of the Foundations’ open and welcoming community and are supported with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, from highly empathetic and certified trainers, to a meticulously constructed curriculum.”
If you are interested in becoming a Puppy Raiser or finding out about other volunteer opportunities for The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, visit GuideDog.org or Hangout One Happy Place’s Facebook page.
