Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Southeastern Guide Dogs


I am always looking for a way to incorporate volunteerism into our family. So today we spent a few hours at Southeastern Guide Dogs. An internationally accredited guide dog school, the largest and most successful in the country. They breed, raise and train canines for the visually impaired therapy, law enforcement and Paws for Patriots. A program that places dogs with disabled veterans and provides therapy dogs to encourage our soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

We began in the puppy building as puppy huggers helping 6- to 9-week-old puppies become comfortable with people.

Later we headed down to the kennel where the 1-2 year olds are housed. Matt and Sydney were given a yellow lab named Daphne. Andrew, Pam and I received Murphy, a black lab. Together we strolled around the beautiful 23 acre campus and practiced stopping and sitting at various the obstacles and crosswalks placed about to teach the base skills. Our students did very well. We finished up at the grooming station where our new friends got a good brushing and some hugs & kisses.

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