A new lease on life

Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 3:49 PM by Rina Raphael

By TODAY Correspondent Jill Rappaport

We all know what wonderful companions animals are, but doing this story on Guiding Eyes for the Blind reminded me just how miraculous dogs can be.

With a 50-year legacy, Guiding Eyes, a New York-based nonprofit guide dog school, provides blind and visually impaired individuals with superior dogs. In return, their owners get a new lease on life by getting back their independence. The dogs, mostly Labrador retrievers, are introduced into the program when they are puppies, 6 to 9 weeks old. The dogs go through extensive training, which requires incredible love and patience from the organization’s countless volunteers. A puppy is not born a guide dog, but created by the tireless dedication of this entire team of committed individuals. Their efforts result in the creation of some of the finest bred and trained guide dogs in the world, who become a priceless gift for their owners – and a best friend for life.

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Comments

Shame on you Jill. You of all people should know that you do not have to breed specific dogs as service dogs when millions die miserable deaths in shelters and puppy mills. What were you thinking?

Carol Westerdale, Topeka, Kansas (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 9:46 AM)

Thank you for this wonderful segment on guide dog puppies. We need more programs like this one which help take the mystery out of blindness and show us, the sighted, how the blind get their lives back as one lucky owner of a guide dog says in this wonderful
segment. Thanks again and please show us more about blind people succeeding in life!

Laura Castle (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 10:28 AM)

Yellow labs are absolutely brilliant. My dog detects fluctuations in my blood sugar (I'm Type 1) and starts sniffing my face to let me know if it is high or low. If I forget to give my shot after he alerts me, he increases his behavior. If I fall asleep, he rolls me over or lifts me up. He also will not let me stand in front of a window when it is thundering outside and will start barking if I am not watching a pot when it starts to boil. Every parent with a child with special needs should consider adding this remarkable animal to their family. Help me raise awareness! (By the way, he's never been to school!)

S Hayes, Houston, Texas (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:16 AM)

Wonderful story!! This story lets people know that dogs do have a purpose and can help people in so many ways. In this climate of Animal Rights groups getting on their high horse about breeding, this was a very educational story. Keep up the Good Work!

Judy (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:37 AM)

I just watched this story with great interest. Our family raised one of Alex's pups - Winston, who was born in August 2007. We live in Maine and have a dedicated group of Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy raisers here. It is not an easy job, requiring much more diligence than having a family pet, but is so rewarding. Guiding Eyes breeds these pups to be smart, gentle, confident and loving. Our Winston has now moved on to become a stud himself! We await word on his first 'date' and may raise one of his pups in the future. Thank you Today and Jamie for this wonderful story!

Cindy, Portland, Maine (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:48 AM)

My first guide dog (of five), was "Banjo", a male Yellow Lab, and I was grateful to Guiding Eyes for all their work. My next four dogs have been from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, CA., which is another wonderful organization dedicated to providing excellent guide dogs to help those who are blind or visually impaired. Kudos to Today for this story!

JR, Berkeley, CA (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:50 AM)

Wonderful story. A great reminder that dogs and humans have great relationships and that promoting the responsible breeding of dogs is the only means to continuing this way of life.

BK Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:59 AM)

Thank you for showing the public how careful, planned, breeding of dogs can enhance lives. Animal Rights Extremists would ban all such 'use' of dogs. Those of us who have devoted our lives to the care and nurture of dogs as human companions, salute you for telling the good side instead of exploiting and sensationalizing AR propaganda.
Current AR legislative proposals would criminalize the activities of many dog lovers who guard and protect their breeds because of the beneficial things that dogs and humans do for each other. Their legislative agenda would give unwarranted police powers to extreme fanatics and organizations like PETA and HSUS. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Ethel Lunde (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:00 PM)

Thank you for doing this wonderful story regarding the dedication of organizations like Guiding Eyes. Their mission of helping the disabled enjoy freedoms that otherwise would be limited without the aid of a service dog is worthy of universal admiration. Breeding healthy, temperamentally sound dogs for this and other canine assistance programs is a real science and like all dedicated breeders, Guiding Eyes is committed to continuing the wonderful bond between dogs and people. The story certainly dispels the myth perpetuated by animal rights organizations that all breeding dogs are kept isolated in filthy cages with little or no exercise and socialization.

D. Johnson, Northern California (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:23 PM)

This is a great feel good story! I am so grateful to these wonderful people who have shared these dogs not only with those who need them to function on a daily basis, but with those of us who strive to be the person our dogs think we are.

laura wagner (Sent Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:31 PM)

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