Welcome to the Website of El Dorado Second Sight Paws
for the Blind
Purpose
This website is designed to inform current puppy raisers,
familiarize potential raisers and provide general information about our guide
dog puppy raising club. It includes
stories by current raisers, pictures of our meetings and socialization outings
and a schedule of our activities for 2003. A link to Guide Dogs for the Blind,
Inc is provided for more information on puppy raising and the organization
itself. A link to
What is Puppy Raising?
Raising a Guide Dog puppy is a unique community service based experience. It is both a selfless and rewarding volunteer project. It is an opportunity to welcome an 8 week old puppy from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. into your home as a member of your family. The puppy will live in your house and you will incorporate him into every aspect of your lifestyle. The puppy will learn everything from you and your family. Puppy raisers are responsible for feeding, grooming and teaching their puppy good house manners. They also socialize their puppy by taking him out in public with them. Puppy raisers attend meetings, events and outings organized by our club as well as events sponsored by Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. and 4H.
The puppy stays with the raiser family for approximately
12-14 months and is then recalled to begin its formal training at the
What does our club do?
The club supports the puppy raisers. We have several adult leaders with various responsibilities. They include organization, education, socialization, training and communication. We have regular meetings and scheduled socialization outings. Attendance is required. Leaders pass on timely tips and information about puppy raising from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. Leaders are available to help raisers in every aspect of the raising process. Puppy sitting for raiser vacations can be arranged by the leaders.
As a 4H based club, we also have a board of youth leaders. This includes president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and reporter. The president runs the club meetings and the other officers are responsible for club business. Each youth officer works with an adult leader in their area of responsibility. As such, our club is an opportunity for youth leadership as well as its main function of puppy raising support.
Both adult and youth leaders function as supervisors, trainers and educators. The club functions as both a support network and an opportunity for raisers to be involved in their community and represent Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc in a positive manner
Geographical Location
Our club service puppy raisers living in the Western slope
region of
Composition
We currently have 23 members, 6 adult leaders, 5 youth leaders and 16 puppies in our club. Puppy raising experience in our club ranges from first time raisers to one member who has raised 42 puppies with 23 guide dogs graduates.
Time Commitment
We have monthly club meetings and socialization outings. We have optional obedience training sessions twice a month. We occasionally have special club, 4H and Guide Dogs for the Blind events. Check the calendar for dates and times of all scheduled events.
How to get involved
Call Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc at 1-800-295-4050 or
Links
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc: www.guidedogs.com