Over the Labor Day weekend, SDV’s most recent recruits  have arrived at their new puppy raiser homes. We are delighted that our veteran puppy raisers, Nancy Avery, and Carol Baber and her family, have taken on their next pup. In addition, we welcome Ruth Chase to our puppy raiser ranks.

Nancy has become one of our invaluable volunteers since she came on board to raise her first puppy, that was 3 dogs ago. This summer she has volunteered training the advanced dogs, housed Gusto, and helped with the diabetic alert program. She is always available to puppy sit for other raisers when they are out of town, and has assisted with miscellaneous projects from sewing to creating treat dispensers for clients.

Nelson, Nancy’s 3rd dog, is now in for advanced training. With his sweet disposition, he will make someone a very special dog. Glory was placed with an autistic child and his family this last year, and is doing very well. We are excited to work with Nancy and her new blond boy, named Sandpiper, this upcoming year. She already has him scheduled to be going to school for the READ program.

Carol and Rick Baber, with help from their daughter, Anna, have raised 2 dogs for SDV. Petunia, lovingly known as Tuna, has just gone to her new person over the summer. And at the same time as Tuna was being placed, Banjo was also placed as SDV’s first hearing dog. Carol has put in many hours working with Jo, learning to alert to the sounds he needed for his new job.  Both her dogs are off to a good start with their new people.

Carol will be taking her puppy, Finch, with her to her job at Baker-Butler Elementary School. I’m sure all the kids will be as excited about meeting her new black labrador boy as they were with Tuna and Jo.  We hear lots of great reports coming from our dogs at Baker-Butler, and want to thank the school staff, teachers and kids for making our dogs so welcome there!

We are also happy to introduce our latest puppy raiser, Ruth Chase,  from Elkridge, Maryland. Ruth is a dog trainer at the Coventry School (for dogs) where she teaches classes, offers private sessions, and has a doggy day camp among many other things. Check out the Coventry School’s website at www.thecoventryschool.com

Raven is Ruth’s puppy, he is a black labrador and brother to Finch. All of our latest puppies are from breeder Kim Maddox and Ravenwood Farm Labradors in Keswick VA.