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breeding center in Patterson, N.Y., not all of their pups have what it takes to become guide dogs. The testing starts early on and a pup can be released at any time if it becomes apparent to the evaluators or trainers that the dog lacks the necessary traits to be a successful and safe guide dog. In fact, only about half of the pups make it!
GEB first offers the released dogs back to their raisers. If the raisers are unable to take the dog, they are then adopted out. The waiting list is long (three to four years), the price is high and the conditions are strict, but these dogs are in very high demand as pets both because of their careful breeding and the loving training they’ve received all along.
The same holds true of the retired guide dogs. If their owner is not able to keep them as a retired pet, they are offered back to their raisers or adopted out to another long list of hopeful dog-lovers with homes to share. GEB keeps track of all its dogs, from birth through death. Such careful record keeping ensures that they will be able to breed the finest possible traits into future litters of potential guide dogs.
GEB has a nice web site, www.guiding-eye8.org, that has lots of information about what they do and about puppy raising. They are always looking for new puppy raisers to give their dogs a good start. Anyone with a love of dogs can do it. And yes, it’s hard to give them up. Very hard. But when you see a team working together, and see the joy and trust they give each other, you’ll know it was well worth it.
Nina Shepardaon
Flint Hill
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