What you should know
- Saturday, December 11th at 10:30 a.m. (90 minutes)
- Zooming; please register beforehand
- Guide Dogs of America will return to personal training sessions in 2022; to learn more, write to PUPPY at 51555
Do you work with wonderful woofers, the furry bringers of joy that change people’s lives?
Participating with a pack of incredible puppies can leave a lasting impression on a person’s mind, attitude, and of course, the mind as well.
And this chance to help on December 11th, to give time, empathy and understanding and a lot of love, is offered thanks to a “puppy education” training session with Guide Dogs of America.
This is a virtual event via Zoom and the final online briefing before the face-to-face meetings return to Sylmar campus in 2022.
American couples guide dogs trained pups with “… blind / visually impaired individuals and service dogs for veterans and children with autism”, with dogs also being housed in “hospitals, schools and courtrooms.”
“Our highly qualified dogs become trustworthy companions who strengthen people’s self-confidence, mobility and independence. All programs and services, including transportation, personalized training, room / board and postgraduate support, are provided free of charge to the recipient, ”the organization states on its website.
And help the organization accomplish its mission?
Puppy Raisers, these dedicated volunteers who are among the first to know, trust and love a puppy in training.
If you are looking to get involved in this life changing role as a volunteer, there are a few initial considerations as well as things to think about.
A consideration? Where you live. You and the puppy you care for have to stop by the Sylmar campus from time to time and take part in both the monthly puppy group meetings and the “puppy kindergarten classes”.
The December 11th briefing will look at what to expect from meetings and courses, and what home life will be like with the future guide dog you raise.
Questions covered include the breeds and types of puppies the volunteer will raise, what to expect in relation to puppy testing, what the outlay might be, and how long the puppy will live in your home.
And yes, “(W) what happens when the dogs ‘go to college’ to begin formal training” is also a central theme of the session, as well as how dogs are mated to their eternal humans after graduation.
The word straight from Sylmar? “We ALWAYS need puppy educators,” says Stephanie Colman, the coordinator of the puppy program.
So even if you can’t attend the December Zoom, you can plan to attend a face-to-face briefing on the Guide Dogs of America campus in early 2022.
Could this be your New Years resolution?
By following the Guide Dogs of America social pages you will stay up to date on volunteer needs, training updates, and of course, super cute puppy pictures.
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