A heaping dose of patience, a terrific sense of humour and a love of dogs are traits shared by the Volunteer Puppy Raisers for the BC Guide Dog Services.

Art and Sandy Raven have always had dogs. “It’s hardest when you lose your pet to illness and old age,” says Sandy. “It’s like losing a member of your family. Being first-time volunteer puppy raisers is a compromise for us. We get to enjoy our first pup, Victoria, for 18-months before she goes for more intensive training.”

From the beginning, puppies are trained to wear their “Guide Dog in Training” jackets, allowing them access wherever their volunteer puppy raiser goes. Victoria, a first generation golden lab/golden retriever cross, rides in the family car, travels the transit system, strolls through shopping malls, visits coffee shops and restaurants, attends Golden Rods and Reels meetings, has been to Sandy’s gym and experienced much more while wearing her jacket.

She is often on the family boat and once endured a horrendous hailstorm with the loudest thunder Art had ever heard. “Victoria just stood up in the boat, looked around with this expression of ‘What’s the big deal?’ before lying down again,” recalls Art.

Firmness and consistency are strictly followed when teaching basic commands to the puppies. “There are no puppy treats; no rewards - just lots of love, hugs and affection,” says Sandy.

Having owned several dogs, the Ravens agree that Victoria is unique. Art laughs as he recalls another incident. “Victoria learned to ring a set of bells hanging on the door every time she needs to go out. Initially, you ring the bell so that she associated ringing the bell with going outside. This worked well for toilet training. But then you get a dog with a bit of ‘spark.’ She sees me just relaxing, so she rings the bell. I get up to open the door. She’ll just sit there and gives you this mischievous look so you know she only wants to play. It’s amazing how she learned this by herself!”

Nancy Klinger, a retired schoolteacher, always loved dogs and felt volunteering as a puppy raiser would be a way to give back to her community. Chalmers is her third guide-dog puppy.

Like Victoria, Chalmers wears his jacket when he is ‘working,” accompanying Nancy on all her errands, appointments and social engagements. Both dogs are practising their guiding skills and adapting to different situations whenever they’re outside their homes. Guiding in malls is a challenge as they navigate through crowds including travelling on escalators and elevators.

Laughing, Nancy tells a story involving Finn, her second pup. “It was summer and as I left the mall, I put on my sunglasses to walk to the car. The old jackets the dogs wore had many sponsors written on it, so the words ‘in training’ weren’t easily seen,” recalls Nancy. “When we came to the car I said, ‘Find car door’ and Finn was to sit and wait until invited into the car.

Just as I gave the command, a bewildered voice behind me, in all seriousness, said, ‘Lady, if you tell me you are blind and you get into that car and drive away, I am absolutely going to lose it!’”

Cuddling her current pup, Nancy says, “Chalmers is a real character too. When he’s not working, Chalmers has his toys in his mouth and loves to lie on his back. If he catches your attention, he wags his tail and grins, with all four paws up in the air.”

A special breeding program in Vancouver use labs and golden retrievers as these dogs consistently prove to be gentle, loving, intelligent and hard workers.

The costs of the breeding program, the intensive training with a certified guide dog mobility instructor and the lifelong followups with volunteers and permanent owners averages to $37,000 per dog. While a small government grant helps, the major portion depends on private and public donations from individuals, clubs and organizations that keep the program going. This helps remove the barrier of financial hardship for clients who then pay a token “loonie” for their guide dog or autism support dog.

All the pups are initially trained as potential guide dogs. When they begin their final six-month intensive training, the guide dog mobility instructor decides if certain dogs respond better as autism support dogs. The training is then adjusted accordingly. A guide dog’s average working life is eight years.

Volunteer puppy raisers and volunteer boarders are always welcomed. At the moment, there is a minimum two-year wait for someone who wants a guide dog and a three-year wait for an autism support dog.

Manager of Development and Communication on Vancouver Island for BC Guide Dog Services Barbara Haley says, “This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for someone who has a house and fenced yard, has the time to commit for a short period, and is home yet still active and, of course, loves dogs.”

Nancy summarizes the Ravens and her feelings: “It is well worth all the cuddles, laughter and tears. Volunteer puppy raisers are giving a precious gift of independence to someone by opening a whole new world for them.”

For more information, visit www.bcguidedog.com or www.autismsupportdogs.org
To become a volunteer puppy raiser or a volunteer boarder, contact Barbara Haley 250-413-3095 or email: barbara.haley@bcguidedog.com

AUGUST 2011 SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE VANCOUVER ISLAND