Carol Mosely: Guide Dog Shows the Way

On a shopping trip to Target several years ago, I saw a woman walking with a puppy in a little green jacket embellished with the words "Guide Dog Puppy in Training."

After a short conversation, I learned she was raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The goal was to have the puppy spend a year in a loving home where it would be socialized. This would help prepare it for its return to the Guide Dog's facility in San Rafael and the further training the dog would receive to begin life as a working guide.

After attending several Guide Dog meetings and going to a Guide Dog "graduation," we put in our application for a puppy. Our home was visited and scrutinized. Could we provide a suitable environment? We were thinking, "Gee, it was easier welcoming a new baby into our home than it was passing the Guide Dog screening!"

Nervously, we waited until the day we got the phone call declaring we had been approved and eight-week old Cunningham was welcomed into our home shortly thereafter. Life with our new puppy included weekly meetings or outings with the San Francisco-based club, Golden Gate Guides. We submitted monthly training reports and worked daily on obedience training, housebreaking and grooming.

Raising a puppy was going to be different than other dog experiences we'd had. A Guide Dog must be comfortable in a variety of situations around a lot of different types of people, learn to ignore other animals, remain calm in crowds, negotiate all types of stairs, surfaces and elevators and wait calmly for long periods of time. We were a little intimidated wondering whether we were up to the task and whether having a Guide Dog puppy was all work and no play.

Raising a Guide Dog puppy has been a wonderful experience. He brings much joy to our home. We wanted to do something for somebody else but were surprised at all that Cunningham did for us. All the love that we gave to him he gave back to us many times over. We have enjoyed watching our four boys respond to him with patience and nurturing. They have learned to be more responsible.

Cunningham accompanies us to many places and opens the door to interesting conversations. When we go shopping, he never asks me to buy him candy at the checkout stand, whines when he goes through the toy aisle or implores, "Are we done yet?" He just waits patiently and responds with a thumping tail to a pat on the head or some kind words.

As our youngest son Jimmy says, "Every morning is like a family reunion with Cunningham here," It is impossible not to respond to his enthusiasm, sweet personality and big brown eyes. Sadly, he is only with us for a few more days. We will miss him, but look forward with pride and anticipation to the day we stand on the stage with him at a Guide Dog graduation and present him to a visually impaired person.

Our hope is that our love, time and attention will translate into a dog that will provide many years of service to someone who deserves and appreciates him.

For more information about Guide Dogs for the Blind, call (800) 295-4050.