Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Erie Region Newsletter

 
 Spring 2006

 

Help Along the Way

 

When a puppy is released from training, the raiser must make a decision that affects their life and the future life of their puppy. The decision will be different for each individual, but it takes courage to make the right decision. If the raiser decides not to take the puppy back, the adoption process at GEB assures that the puppy is placed in a loving home with a family who has waited years to adopt a puppy.  But, can someone else really love the puppy as much as the raiser did?  Will someone else give the puppy the life he deserves? The following letter answers these questions with certainty. A family living in Keswick, Virginia who adopted the handsome black lab Bruno, sent the following heart felt letter to the raiser Denise.  The letter was written by Dawn, the mom in the family.

       “It’s hard to describe how Bruno has changed our lives. When Bruno arrived, our 12-year-old Shitz

Tsu, Chloe, was overwhelmed by his energy and excitement.  Chloe has perked up to a good 5 years

younger and Bruno has acquired a wise respect for her. Every morning Bruno and Bob, my husband,

attend playgroup where the neighbors gather in a field with their dogs. The people drink coffee and

‘dog gossip’ while the dogs have the best time together.  Back at the house, Bruno follows behind Bob

until he leaves for work.  Now, Bruno spends time with my sister Linda and her 11-year-old daughter

Caroline.  At the faintest sound of Caroline’s voice, his ears perk up and he dashes to find her.  He

belongs to her now and he often plays with her and her friends who all adore him.  Caroline’s sleep

fears have disappeared since Bruno arrived.  For the first time, she sleeps through the night with Bruno

nearby.  We no longer worry about Caroline upstairs in bed alone.  Bruno has a very important job, one

that he really enjoys!

Our older daughters came home from college recently only to exclaim that Bruno was one more extra

their younger sister has that they never did - the perfect dog!  Well, I’m afraid it’s true.  Bruno showed

them that he has room in his heart for them too.  When he climbed onto my daughter Elizabeth’s bed,
snuggling next to her while she was sleeping - well she’ll never be the same.  None of us will.  Bruno

has touched all of us in a very special way.

Bruno and I have an eye-to-eye kind of love affair.  I look at him and whisper to him hoping Chloe

doesn’t mind.  I think he can read my heart.  I treat them equally but when Chloe is sleeping, I rush to

cuddle with Bruno because there is no greater feeling in the world. Between all this activity, Bruno likes

his naps particularly with his head on a pillow.  So, lots more pillows have been added to the couch. 

The family tries to fit around him because it feels so good to lie next to him.

We went out to dinner recently and for the first 45 minutes we talked about the funny things Bruno did

 that day.  He is the most beloved member of our family. I don’t know how we got so lucky.  I can only

say that we are eternally grateful that you had the heart to give him up for adoption.  A sincere thanks

to all those who helped him along the way to be the perfect dog.         

 

 

Local Heroes

Comings & Goings of our Puppies

 

Best Wishes go out to the following dogs and their proud raisers.  Congratulations for a job well done!

§          Chandler said good-bye to his raisers Russ & Audrey. Chandler is their 11th puppy.

§          Gomez gave Laura a big hug as he said good-bye.  He is Laura’s 1st puppy.

§          Cathy and Diane gave lots of hugs to Julie.  She is Cathy’s 17th puppy and Diane’s 4th  puppy.

§          Jack said good-bye to Laura.  Jack is her 2nd puppy.

§          Donna said good-bye to Vargo.  He is Donna’s 14th puppy.

 

Welcome to the newest members of our region:

§         Hildy was welcomed into the home of Laura. She is Laura’s 2nd puppy. Jody & Merlin gave Hildy a wonderful start.

§         Hans, Diane’s 5th puppy, is getting a great start by Sue.  Sue volunteered to help while Diane recovers from surgery.

§         Wade, Audrey & Russ’ 12th puppy was hugged and kissed all the way home from GEB.

§         Winona, being welcomed by Carol before the end of April, is her first puppy.

§         Alec, Ron and Kathy’s 9th puppy, was started in the loving home of Jody & Merlin.

§         Iggie was welcomed into the home of Jody & Merlin. He is their 4th puppy.

     

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

    April 17 - April 30               Vidler’s window display - Main Street in East Aurora

    April 22                             Observance of IGDD * at McKinley Mall from 10 AM - 5 PM

    April 23                             Buffalo Greyhound Association Expo from 11 AM - 5 PM in the Grange Building on the Hamburg Fairgrounds

    April 26                             Boston Lions Presentation at 7 PM at the Boston Hotel

    April 29                             Observance of IGDD* at Eastern Hills Mall from 10 AM - 5 PM

    May 5                               New York State Lions Convention

    May 19                             Westfield School Presentation - 3rd graders

 

* IGDD – International Guide Dog Day, Wednesday, April 26, 2006

 

Please stop by to lend your support at these events! However, unless you and your puppy

are scheduled to work at an event, please refrain from bringing your puppy with you.

                 

 

 

WNED Volunteer Fair

 

This is the first year our region participated in the WNED Volunteer Fair hosted annually by the non-profit media enterprise WNED, the local public broadcasting station.  Approximately forty organizations participated in this community resource event held on Saturday April 1st at the station’s studio in downtown Buffalo.  Participants included PTA groups, churches, colleges and other organizations that promote community service and volunteerism.  The event was open to the public and admission was free.  Our region’s impressive display drew a great deal of interest from attendees. In addition, initial contact was made with representatives from the Digital Department at the University of New York at Buffalo.  Possible future plans include the use of the university’s studio and equipment for the development of video CD/DVD training material for puppy raisers.   

 

 

 

        Happy 1st Birthday

 

                                        Puppy’s Name             DOB         

 

                                  Sam                           3/6/05               

                                  Able                           3/24/05              

                                  Emery                        4/15/05              

 

 

 

Web Wise

 

Have you logged on to the CDC website recently?  Two new navigational features are now available.  An Expanding & Collapsing left navigation plus a Hover & Dropdown in the top navigation helps you find everything you’re looking for with less searching level by level.

 

 

Puppy Jeopardy

 

Want to win a Bonus Bone?  Below is the Puppy Jeopardy answer in the Erie Region Website category.  The first class participant to provide the correct question at the next class wrap-up earns a Bonus Bone.  Good Luck! 

 

The name(s) of the two puppies on the Core Values page.