by Marla Burns
I am a long time Guide Dog user. My first guide was Adagio. She was with me for about nine years. Then, I got Chaya, who was only with me for a short time. Adagio and Chaya were so funny! Chaya did her little dance first thing in the morning to wake me up with her small barking and moaning and her love of bananas. I would call her "Banana Anna." Adagio was just as bad as Chaya, with her little dances also and her milk bone face looks. Beloved Guide Dogs. We will truly miss them.
Chaya 12/28/2006-3/15/2011; Adagio 5/24/1997-12/14/2007
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Guide Dogs Baltic, CD, RN, CGC, TDIEVA
By Karen Saunders
Guide Dogs Baltic, CD, RN, CGC, TDIEVA
2-11-1998 - 3-13-2011
I was lucky enough to be the puppy raiser who received a ball of black fluff named Baltic on Easter of 1998. We worked hard on her puppy skills and quickly mastered sit, down, and stay as she visited every situation we could think of to help her on her way. She was recalled for “big dog training” at one year, but a few months later we got the call that she was being career changed, did we want to keep her? I have had three other German Shepherds, and although I would have preferred that Baltic be a guide to help someone else, if she couldn’t do that I wanted her back.
And so we started retraining Baltic and realizing her big heart and wonderful temperament needed to be used, not stay at home and not be able to go places with me. Baltic began her new life as an obedience and rally show dog and, more importantly, as a therapy dog. In her career of eight years as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International she made more than 460 visits.
Baltic visited nursing homes and hospitals; children read to her at the library; she visited schools and worked with children with Downs Syndrome, Autism, Spinal Bifida and a host of other problems. She was a bombproof dog--nothing ever worried or bothered her. A child screaming, jumping at her, fire engines with sirens...it was all just a matter of course. It was not unusual for her to be out visiting three times a week with either my husband or me. But her favorite work was at the Sycamores-Hathaway home for neglected and abused teenage boys.
For some of these teens, Baltic was the first living being they could give all their love to and have it returned. She never judged them. She never was repelled or upset by the things they quietly told her about their home life and growing up. She listened. Even if they said something mean to her, she still loved them.
Baltic has been credited many times with changing a boy’s emotional situation from being on suicide watch to being allowed to go out with her and a care taker. And as they hugged and talked to her, they were able to take control of their emotions and come down from their crisis, able to laugh and smile once more as they reached the mental state they needed to cope with their world. Baltic worked with unresponsive teenagers who could only curl into a fetal position, unable to talk or function. She burrowed her nose into their sweatshirt hoods and found their faces to lick them until they could uncurl and tell Baltic all their troubles. She never complained, she never whined or shied away. She was there for them.
I will miss her calming nature with people and other animals (she even got a panicked kitten to relax and go to sleep curled up next to her) and although I am crying I can only say I was lucky to have owned such a wonderful big-hearted dog as a member of our family. We all loved her.
The entire Saunders family will miss her. Thank you, GDB, for the privilege of puppy raising two of your dogs and for allowing us take our career changed dog back and help her reach her potential to help so many others.
Guide Dogs Baltic, CD, RN, CGC, TDIEVA
2-11-1998 - 3-13-2011
I was lucky enough to be the puppy raiser who received a ball of black fluff named Baltic on Easter of 1998. We worked hard on her puppy skills and quickly mastered sit, down, and stay as she visited every situation we could think of to help her on her way. She was recalled for “big dog training” at one year, but a few months later we got the call that she was being career changed, did we want to keep her? I have had three other German Shepherds, and although I would have preferred that Baltic be a guide to help someone else, if she couldn’t do that I wanted her back.
And so we started retraining Baltic and realizing her big heart and wonderful temperament needed to be used, not stay at home and not be able to go places with me. Baltic began her new life as an obedience and rally show dog and, more importantly, as a therapy dog. In her career of eight years as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International she made more than 460 visits.
Baltic visited nursing homes and hospitals; children read to her at the library; she visited schools and worked with children with Downs Syndrome, Autism, Spinal Bifida and a host of other problems. She was a bombproof dog--nothing ever worried or bothered her. A child screaming, jumping at her, fire engines with sirens...it was all just a matter of course. It was not unusual for her to be out visiting three times a week with either my husband or me. But her favorite work was at the Sycamores-Hathaway home for neglected and abused teenage boys.
For some of these teens, Baltic was the first living being they could give all their love to and have it returned. She never judged them. She never was repelled or upset by the things they quietly told her about their home life and growing up. She listened. Even if they said something mean to her, she still loved them.
Baltic has been credited many times with changing a boy’s emotional situation from being on suicide watch to being allowed to go out with her and a care taker. And as they hugged and talked to her, they were able to take control of their emotions and come down from their crisis, able to laugh and smile once more as they reached the mental state they needed to cope with their world. Baltic worked with unresponsive teenagers who could only curl into a fetal position, unable to talk or function. She burrowed her nose into their sweatshirt hoods and found their faces to lick them until they could uncurl and tell Baltic all their troubles. She never complained, she never whined or shied away. She was there for them.
I will miss her calming nature with people and other animals (she even got a panicked kitten to relax and go to sleep curled up next to her) and although I am crying I can only say I was lucky to have owned such a wonderful big-hearted dog as a member of our family. We all loved her.
The entire Saunders family will miss her. Thank you, GDB, for the privilege of puppy raising two of your dogs and for allowing us take our career changed dog back and help her reach her potential to help so many others.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Tribute to GDB Graduate Evelyn Burris
by Field Service Manager Emily Simone
Guide Dogs for the Blind has lost a wonderful friend this month. Modesto graduate Evelyn Burris graduated from our program in June of 2004 with her beautiful yellow Lab Colusa. I had the great fortune to have Evelyn in my field service territory and from the day she came home with her Guide Dog, it was Evelyn’s personal mission to give back to GDB in any way she could.
Evelyn embraced our Speakers Bureau and often gave presentations various social clubs and classrooms of school children all over the greater Modesto Area. She hosted a women’s golf tournament fundraiser for GDB which generated some generous donations. Evelyn was also a guide dog advocate and worked hard to get access at several challenging restaurants in the area. She loved to travel and she and her husband Rex regularly took cruises and relaxed on the beaches in Hawaii. She was a kind and compassionate woman who provided emotional support and generous friendship to other local GDB graduates in the area.
She called me regularly to sing praises about her beloved Colusa. She even had a t-shirt custom embroidered with her favorite quote: “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole”—Roger Caras. As a field manager, I learned some valuable lessons from Evelyn, about resilience, generosity and the joy of giving back. Evelyn Burris, you will be missed but never, ever, forgotten. Thank you for all you’ve done for us!
Guide Dogs for the Blind has lost a wonderful friend this month. Modesto graduate Evelyn Burris graduated from our program in June of 2004 with her beautiful yellow Lab Colusa. I had the great fortune to have Evelyn in my field service territory and from the day she came home with her Guide Dog, it was Evelyn’s personal mission to give back to GDB in any way she could.
Evelyn embraced our Speakers Bureau and often gave presentations various social clubs and classrooms of school children all over the greater Modesto Area. She hosted a women’s golf tournament fundraiser for GDB which generated some generous donations. Evelyn was also a guide dog advocate and worked hard to get access at several challenging restaurants in the area. She loved to travel and she and her husband Rex regularly took cruises and relaxed on the beaches in Hawaii. She was a kind and compassionate woman who provided emotional support and generous friendship to other local GDB graduates in the area.
She called me regularly to sing praises about her beloved Colusa. She even had a t-shirt custom embroidered with her favorite quote: “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole”—Roger Caras. As a field manager, I learned some valuable lessons from Evelyn, about resilience, generosity and the joy of giving back. Evelyn Burris, you will be missed but never, ever, forgotten. Thank you for all you’ve done for us!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Remembering Ferdie
by Scott Carlisle
On February 21, 2011, Ferdinand, yellow Lab Retired guide, Class 583R, CA joined his friends waiting for him on the "Rainbow Bridge."
Ferdie became my third guide in June 1998 and also took on the duael task of helping restore my confidence as a handler, as I had to retire my second guide after only eight months. Ferdie did both jobs admirably, for was a solid and loving partner for just shy of seven years.
He was retired the end of April 2005 and went to live with a dear friend Larry Robbins and his wife Colleen, who gave Ferdie exemplary love and care right up to the end.
Ferdie passed in Larry's arms, and will always be remembered and missed.
On February 21, 2011, Ferdinand, yellow Lab Retired guide, Class 583R, CA joined his friends waiting for him on the "Rainbow Bridge."
Ferdie became my third guide in June 1998 and also took on the duael task of helping restore my confidence as a handler, as I had to retire my second guide after only eight months. Ferdie did both jobs admirably, for was a solid and loving partner for just shy of seven years.
He was retired the end of April 2005 and went to live with a dear friend Larry Robbins and his wife Colleen, who gave Ferdie exemplary love and care right up to the end.
Ferdie passed in Larry's arms, and will always be remembered and missed.
Friday, February 18, 2011
In honor of Paka's service
A little bit about Paka, my Guide Dog who is retired.I received Paka October 17, 2001 and graduated November 10, 2001. She was an excellent guide for eight and a half years. Together we traveled coast to coast in Canada and I have a lot of praise about her behavior and guidework. Paka even walked with me in the Remembrance Day Parade. I do a lot of volunteer work and it was nice to have her by my side. She was a good friend and she comforted me when I was down. My husband Richard adopted Paka, so she will still be with us.
Vivian Berkeley
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
In Tribute to Sir George Shearing
by Joanne Ritter
A part of GDB history died today. George Shearing, internationally famous jazz pianist passed away of congestive heart failure at the age of 91. In addition to his incomparable musical talents, George was a delightful man with a keen sense of humor.
George had one Guide Dog, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Lee, whom he loved dearly. George and Lee traveled together for over ten years, until Lee’s death in 1975. He described Lee as, “a marvelous companion with a great temperament,” and wrote fondly about his experiences training with Lee in his book Lullaby of Birdland: “I’ll never forget the day I could feel the wind in my face as Lee and I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge together. What an exhilarating experience!”
George was a strong supporter of Guide Dogs for the Blind and traveled the country with Norah Hamilton Straus, helping to raise awareness and support through media interviews on radio and television. Norah related, “Between the three of us, it was hard to say who was the biggest scene stealer. I remember one radio show to which George had been invited primarily to play the piano. I was tagging along to put in a few words on behalf of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Well, every time George paused in his playing, I started talking about the school. I had so much to say and so little air time to say it! I guess it would be fair to say I got carried away. The announcer was very nice and let me do it. So did George Shearing. The only thing he was more devoted to than Lee, however, was his music. As we were leaving the radio station after the show, I turned to him nervously and asked how he thought it went. He gave me a good natured smile and said, ‘Next time, Norah, I’d like a little less Hamilton and a little more Shearing.’”
George and his wife, Ellie have supported Guide Dogs for the Blind for many years. He will be missed.
Read this piece in the Wall Street Journal's Remembrance section about George Shearing.
A part of GDB history died today. George Shearing, internationally famous jazz pianist passed away of congestive heart failure at the age of 91. In addition to his incomparable musical talents, George was a delightful man with a keen sense of humor.
George had one Guide Dog, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Lee, whom he loved dearly. George and Lee traveled together for over ten years, until Lee’s death in 1975. He described Lee as, “a marvelous companion with a great temperament,” and wrote fondly about his experiences training with Lee in his book Lullaby of Birdland: “I’ll never forget the day I could feel the wind in my face as Lee and I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge together. What an exhilarating experience!”
George was a strong supporter of Guide Dogs for the Blind and traveled the country with Norah Hamilton Straus, helping to raise awareness and support through media interviews on radio and television. Norah related, “Between the three of us, it was hard to say who was the biggest scene stealer. I remember one radio show to which George had been invited primarily to play the piano. I was tagging along to put in a few words on behalf of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Well, every time George paused in his playing, I started talking about the school. I had so much to say and so little air time to say it! I guess it would be fair to say I got carried away. The announcer was very nice and let me do it. So did George Shearing. The only thing he was more devoted to than Lee, however, was his music. As we were leaving the radio station after the show, I turned to him nervously and asked how he thought it went. He gave me a good natured smile and said, ‘Next time, Norah, I’d like a little less Hamilton and a little more Shearing.’”
George and his wife, Ellie have supported Guide Dogs for the Blind for many years. He will be missed.
Read this piece in the Wall Street Journal's Remembrance section about George Shearing.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Honoring the memory of GDB Alumnus Seth Webster
Seth Webster and his guide Bamboo were regulars on the California campus, giving tours, attending graduations and making friends for GDB in his easy-going way. He was a frequent contributor to our online community. He will be missed.
A video honoring his memory was produced by puppy raisers Matt and Amie Chapman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1-jPkCCug
A video honoring his memory was produced by puppy raisers Matt and Amie Chapman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1-jPkCCug
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)