BY KATHLEEN QUANDT
Clarkston News Intern Writer
When Gina and Gerry Schmidt of Clarkston saw an article about leader dog volunteers, they decided their golden retriever Dakota could use a companion in his senior years.
Gerry signed up with Leader Dogs for the Blind, and in September, received a lab-retriever mix puppy. Volunteers receive puppies, 7-8 weeks old, and raise them for 10-12 months.
‘So, I’m expecting a seven week old dog to be really tiny. When he came out with Harley he was 12 ? pounds. And I thought he was just a fat ball of fur,? Gina said.
Puppy raisers have a chance to name their puppy. Gina named the puppy Harley because Gerry owned three of the motorcycles. He sold his last Harley a couple of years ago.
The Schmidts meet with a puppy counselor twice a month for 12 weeks. It is required that puppy raisers meet with puppy counselors once a month to follow up on the puppies.
Bev Blanchard, puppy program development manager, said ‘Our puppy raisers must attend a function that a puppy counselor puts on at least once a month. So, they may schedule that at a mall or they may have a training class or all different types of outings but that way it allows a volunteer that we’ve trained to look at his puppy every month and report back to us on how they’re doing.?
The Schmidts went on an outing last Dec. to the Rainforest Caf? with several other puppy raisers.
‘Just being around the other puppy raisers that have done this has really answered a lot of questions just about – what do you do about this or what’s going to happen the day you turn him in, how do you feel about that, how did you handle it ? that kind of thing,? Gina said.
After the application process for a puppy, Leader Dogs for the Blind provide puppy raisers with a DVD and manual for the dog, Blanchard said.
Instructions tell the puppy raisers what they can and can’t do with their puppy, specific commands to use, and places to take their puppy. The raisers are also asked to teach their dog basic house manners.
‘They’ve got this down to a science,? Gerry said about Leader Dogs for the Blind and taking care of Harley.
Veterinary care is provided by Leader Dogs for the Blind for people who live locally or they can choose to use their own veterinarian but at their cost,? said Blanchard. “Really what a volunteer is asked to be responsible for is the food for the puppy and any supplies it may need which equates out to $500 to $700 a year.?
The Schmidts take Harley to the veterinarian at Leader Dogs for the Blind.
‘So our only expense is puppy chow and whatever toys we buy him,? Gerry said.
Puppy raisers are expected to take their dog with them when they go places from day to day.
‘We ask them to take their puppies to as many different environments as possible. So, it really becomes an extension of you. A lot of our puppy raisers say it’s like taking their purse with them. Wherever they go the puppy goes,? Blanchard said.
Taking Harley out for a quick errand can turn a half hour into an hour and a half because people notice that Harley is from Leader Dogs for the Blind and they are interested and want to talk, said the Schmidts.
‘Basically take them through your life for the next year,? Gina said.
‘You socialize them and get them used to things,? Gerry said.
The Schmidt’s other dog, Dakota, is a 10 ?-year-old golden retriever. At first, Dakota didn’t want anything to do with Harley. But, they took a couple of days to get used to each other, Gerry said.
‘I give a huge amount of credit to Dakota because he helps wear him out and he’s a very good mentor,? said Gerry.
After they are finished raising Harley, they would like to do this again, Gina said.
‘He has a very calm temperament and likes just to be around people. Nothing fazes that dog.?
Each month, approximately 30, 1-year-old puppies are returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind to begin formal training.
‘He’s going to be really good for somebody,? Gerry said.
‘I sure enjoy having him around. It’s going to be hard to turn him back in,? Gina said.
If you are interested in volunteering for Leader Dogs for the Blind you can visit www.leaderdog.org or call 888-777-5332.