Guide Dog U for June 2012

Post by Karen Hamilton

Here are a few pictures from the IFT day and a few recent professional pictures that we will cherish.  

Photo of Bob, Justice (a yellow lab female) and Karen all lying down.

Photo of Justice sitting and looking up at the camera.

Our day started off with Justice knowing something was up.  She didn't eat her food that morning and that was highly unusual.  As with most labs, it is eaten in about 30 seconds. Bob thinks it was because she could sense my anxiety.  This was our first Guide Dog U and WOW.....what an experience.  Far different from the days when you dropped your puppy off at the office, had to beg to puppy hug, and cried the entire way back across the Sunshine Bridge.  I was restrained and didn't cry the entire trip to school until we turned in to the parking lot and saw the row of puppy pictures and names.......that's when I lost it and the first wave of tears starting coming out.  When we went to take a picture in front of the Guide Dog U Freshman Orientation sign, I saw a carbon copy of Justice.  

Bob and Karen kneeling by Justice's Guide Dog U sign with Justice sitting in the middle.

I asked the raisers if she donated to the school and what was her date of birth and quickly confirmed it was Justice's sister AJ.  We found out that AJ's photo is on the Southeastern Guide Dog's  puppy raiser website as well as many brochures, and the flags at the school also feature AJ's picture.  When I first saw the puppy's picture I thought "wow that looks like Justice" and now I know why.  

Justice and AJ (a yellow lab) sitting by AJ's Guide Dog U sign.

The second wave of tears started when they were calling the puppies up one by one and handing them off to the trainers.  A total of 26 puppies were turned in that day and I think I shed tears for every one.  There was one particular golden retriever named Sarge, that really got me going. All of the other puppies trotted off happily but Sarge didn't want to go. He wasn't cooperating with the collar switch and turned around and anxiously looked for his people several times on the way back to the kennel.  

Bob and Karen with AJ's puppy raisers.

 

After this we went to puppy hugging in two groups.  Our group had five playful black lab puppies who put the smile back on all of our faces.  

Photo of some of the children from the puppy raiser families with some black lab puppies.

We were then taken to the kennels but were behind schedule so we received the condensed version without a tour.  Then we were presented with the presidential award by Titus, Karen Mersereau gave us the scoop on what happens to our pups from the time we turn them in to the time they are matched.  This talk was very informative and took a lot of the mystery out of what happens with your puppy after they are turned in.  Then, the most touching part of the day was when a guide dog user (and I am terrible at names but I think it is Susan Willoughby - she was the kennel manager but has another job at school) told us how her dog Carson changed her life.  She also told us about a technique used in the veterans assistance program for PTSD anxiety attacks.  We teach our dogs not to jump on anyone but these dogs are taught to give "hugs" during an attack.  She also spoke about how a recent graduate was on 11 different medications and lived apart from his family, but since getting his dog, is no longer taking medication and lives back with his family.  I needed about 100 tissues by the time she was done speaking.  

 
Prior to the ceremony I was selfishly hoping Justice would be a breeder and we could get her back.   After the ceremony I was hoping she could make a difference in someone's life and her story could be told to a future group at Guide Dog U Freshman Orientation.

Photo of Justice lying down, paws crossed in front and smiling for the camera.