In the Beginning...

I have been officially associated with Guide Dogs of America since January 2008, but have known about the program for many years before that.  Actually, the first time I found out about the program, I was 10 years old. 

I never had a dog growing up.  For some reason or other, my Dad always said "no" when my sister and I asked for one.  Begged, bribed, promised good grades.  No matter what, the answer was always "no".  But at least I wasn't alone.  My best friend Michelle never had a dog of her own growing up either  But both of us being avid animal lovers, we always wanted one...or more.  So, when we were about 10, Michelle's mom told her she could get a dog.  but not just any dog, she had to be a puppy raiser.  "What's a puppy raiser?" I asked her.  "It's someone who raises a puppy for a service organization and then gives it back after 2 years" she said.  Well, of course being 10 years old, that was the worst thing possible for me.  So Michelle enrolled in the 4-H program and I went back to begging my parents for a dog.  As it turns out, Michelle never became a puppy raiser, her journey took her to raise livestock.  But she did get a dog.

Me?  Well... that's why I'm here.

Fast foreward a couple of years.  As I pursued my dream of getting a dog, I did everything but won one.  I read about them, went to dog shows, studied breeds and behavior.  One day I even went to the Orange County Pet Expo.  Wandering among the booths I saw isle after isle of pet products, beds, houses, collars, foods.  You name it, they had it.  Along with all those products, they had booth after booth of dogs.  Dog adoption, dog breeds, dog rescues, and service animals. 

It was the service animals that really intrigued me, especially the guide and mobility dogs.  What I think amazed me the most was listening to a man speak about his guide dog and the freedom she gave him to go out and live.  As he stood up on the platform and was speaking he removed the harness from his dog and  watched as she turned from stoic and well behaved guide into a playful almost puppy like dog.  It was almost magic how she transformed from one to the other with just the placement of her harness.  So I searched out the organizations and the booths they had. 

Guide Dogs of America and Guide Dogs for the Blind were both present.  As I talked with the puppy raisers from both organizations, they had the same goals and basic instructions for raising a puppy.  But with the Guide Dogs of America group, it was different.  I was welcomed into the booth very warmly and was told I could actually pet the dogs.  I think that was the biggest difference in the groups.  GDA allowed us to teach the dogs to continue to work in case someone pets them without the owner knowing.  They called it a "distraction".  But since it was towards the end of the day and things were closing up, I was invited to attend the upcoming Open House in Sylmar.  I was told it would give me a better understanding of what the program was about.  So, in June I attended my very first Guide Dogs of America Open House.  AMAZING!  Working guides, puppies in training, puppy trials and my personal favorite...the kissing booth!  Puppy kisses for $1.  Who could say no? 

And yet, I still was not able to have a pup of my own.  Finally after 4 years I was finally in a place to commit myself to the program.  I contacted Guide Dogs of America and was put in touch with the group leader for Orange County.  In January 2008, I attended my very first OCGDA meeting.  I can't remember what was discussed that day, but from the first time I walked into the room, I was hooked.  It was love at first sight of all those wagging tails.

It would be almost another 3 years before I would get a pup of my own, but that did not stop me from attending nearly every meeting, training class and event.  Building up my knowledge base for when my little guy comes home...

8 days and counting!