Meet our Puppy Raisers
Nancy Avery
I first learned about Service Dogs of Virginia when Peggy Law gave a presentation at a meeting at my church. She brought along some of the dogs she was training and I was fascinated by the variety and complexity of the tasks they were able to do. At the end of her presentation Peggy mentioned that she was in need of volunteers to be puppy raisers and that is when I started to consider being one.
I have a friend who uses a wheelchair to get around and is legally blind. Her service dog helps her maintain a much greater level of independence and quality of life than she would have otherwise. So I have seen first hand how valuable a service dog is in assisting someone with disabilities.
I considered what I have to offer the program: I have two mixed breed dogs of my own that have had basic obedience training, a large area of my yard is fenced in, and I am retired and would be able to be with a puppy most of the time. The benefit to me would be to learn much more about training dogs.
I thoroughly enjoy being a puppy raiser. I am not sure who has learned the most from the experience - me or the puppy. I look forward to the time when my puppy is placed with someone who needs her help. That will be my reward.
FROM NANCY: Twice a month I take Glory to Mountainside, an assisted living center where our church group gives a tea party for the residents. They tell me how well behaved she is and how they love having her there.
Heather Higgins
I’d had my first dog for about six months and was contemplating getting a second one when Peggy Law told me about the Service Dogs of Virginia puppy raiser program. I loved the idea of fostering a lab puppy who would later go on to make a huge, positive impact on a disabled person’s life. For me it was a way to make a worthwhile contribution of my time and love. I knew what a dramatic, quality-of-life improvement a service dog could make for someone with a mobility-related limitation such as Multiple Sclerosis which my step-father has. In a sense, being a puppy raiser was a gift from me to my stepfather. It was also a terrific way to learn positive behavior modification principles and techniques which I will use for a lifetime of dog training.
Indie was an awesome puppy! He was eager to please me and would give me his undivided attention from the moment we met. He was a joy to be with and took naturally to obedience training. He and my dog were best buddies and kept each other entertained. Miss Lottie used to run circles around Indie and give him a talking to whenever he stepped out of line, all of which only made him more devoted to her! We both missed his love, kisses, and buoyantly happy companionship when he moved out, but I know that I’d do it again in a minute. It was that rewarding!
I’ve kept in close touch with Indie and Service Dogs of Virginia ever since. It’s been gratifying to see him mature into a remarkably talented service dog with limitless patience and affection. I am proud to have contributed to his success and thankful for the opportunity. I highly recommend the puppy raiser program to anyone with the time and love to spare for a dog who will change someone’s life for the better.
Laurie Luck
Laurie Luck is known as the "girl with the dog" at the National Institute of Standards and Technology ( Gaithersburg, MD), where both she and her husband, Dana Defibaugh work. While some of the 3,000+ staff might not know the humans names, they sure do know each of the dogs' names that have gone through the program!
Laurie loves the 24 hour a day canine companionship that she gets being a puppy raiser. Laurie believes that she gets to spend as much time with the dogs in the short two years that she has them as most people do with their pet dogs in a lifetime. Because the dogs go with her everywhere, she gets to enjoy them in many more settings than most folks have the opportunity to with their pets.
Turn-in time is very difficult but she gets through it with lots (and LOTS) of tissues, frequent updates about "her" dog from Service Dogs of VA, the prospect of another puppy to raise, and most importantly, the fact that whoever gets the dogs that she raises will not only love them, but will need them as well. The dogs will be more than just companions for the people with whom they are placed. And that is what makes the temporary heartbreak worthwhile.
Laurie has raised three pups for SDV: Rocky, Lily and Tango. Laurie is a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT) and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Michelle McCarthy
I am rarely seen without a canine companion in my hometown of Chelsea Michigan. My love for dogs has developed into a professional career as a Trainer and Certified Therapy Animal Consultant. I have always wanted to be a puppy raiser for a Service Dog Organization and was thrilled to join the Service Dog of Virginia team.
We welcomed Polaris "Polar" into our home in April 2007. My husband John and children Rachel, Jacob and Joy along with our 5 year old black lab Leo are already smitten with our little "bundle of fun." Polar has become best buddies with Leo and is enjoying being part of our family. He is a bright, energetic, confident puppy who loves to learn. He has already made his first visit to a local hospital where he was a perfect gentleman and wowed everyone with his calm temprement.
It was a big decision to ask my children to make this committment, as they become very attached to the dogs we live with. But our family agreed that it would be a wonderful opportunity to help someone else. We know turn in time will be very difficult, but we look forward to the day we can attend Polars graduation ceremony.
Because we live outside of Virginia we will not be able to attend the weekly SDV classes that all puppy raisers participate in. Instead we will be sending video clips on a regular basis to keep everyone updated on Polars progress. We hope to encourage others in our area to raise a puppy for Service Dogs of Virginia.
FROM MICHELLE: As a professional trainer and behaviorist I have taken incredible care to introduce Polar to new and difficult situations very gradually. He has responded by being dependable and solid as a rock. However he has had moments of “Labradoritis” – he ate several keys off my husband’s laptop and later, an entire bar of soap. Was he trying to clean up his act?
Alice Scruby
I had fantasized as a child about raising seeing-eye dogs. What a great way to have a perpetual puppy! I had just about given up on that goal when I became aware of Service Dogs of Virginia and met Peggy and Harpo. I enthusiastically added my name to the list of potential puppy raisers. Time passed, paperwork was submitted and interviews conducted. Finally, in September of 2003, a precious black male Labrador became a part of our household. It had been several years since we had had a canine infant just 7 1⁄2 weeks old.
One quickly remembers just how much time and attention the little bugger requires. Things went smoothly and we realized what a quick study Twist is. His calm and steady disposition makes him a perfect candidate for this important and honorable job. He was my constant companion and I found that going to the bank, drugstore, Lowe’s or out to lunch was so much more fun with the company of my little prodigy! Twist is now 14 months old. Sadly, he was recently dismissed from the training program due to poor hip structure. The news of his dismissal was bittersweet to our family. Naturally, we adored Twist and enjoyed his delightful companionship. However, I had looked forward to the day when I could watch him add an incredible new dimension to the life of someone in need of a service dog.
Although Twist will not ultimately be a working service dog, I hope that he can continue to be an ambassador for Service Dogs of Virginia and other similar programs. In all the community service work that I have done, my involvement with this program has been the most fun and the most gratifying. Twist and I look forward to training another puppy, when the time is right.
David Smith
I am the chaplain, religious studies teacher, and cross country coach at Chatham Hall, an all girl’s boarding school in Chatham, Virginia. My wife Jane, along with our two children (Emma and Rebecca) and our two other dogs (Jake and Buddy) share our house with Jib. Though he lives with us, "Jib" is being raised by the entire school community. Jib enjoys long walks in the woods and fields, goes to work with me most days, and loves all the student's attention. Fortunately, everyone here understands when he is "working" and respects the boundaries necessary to assure positive socialization.
Before getting "Jib" my dog training experience was minimal. I always ad dogs, but never formally trained any of them. Fortunately, SDV changed all that! The weekly seminars with Peggy at the SDV training enter are wonderful and have given me all the tools necessary to teach "Jib" what he needs to know in order to become a great service dog.
Though the commitment to raise a puppy is significant, the reward is greater. Knowing the work will one day pay off and dramatically improve someone else's life is very satisfying. But, the joy this puppy brings to me while we are together is equally profound. Will it be difficult to give him up when the time comes? Absolutely! Will I raise another puppy if given the opportunity? Without a doubt!
Janet and Rich Trauger
An early interest in Service Animals on Janet’s part and a love of our own animals for Rich has combined to help us make the decision to become puppy raisers. We recently received into our household a bright, sweet little black lab puppy named Huckleberry. The transition is going well, although adding an eight week old baby into a small house with 2 other dogs and 4 cats does present its challenges.
It seems to me that puppy raising is a great way to have a puppy, since he comes with a full contingent of trainers and other puppy raisers to help with any problems that might arise.
We look forward to the fun of training Huck (and working with our other dogs along the way) and taking him with us through daily activities. Dogs add such joy to life, and knowing what this little guy will mean to someone in the future makes it so worthwhile to us.
Tom, Jude and Gusto
My wife and I got to know Service Dogs of Virginia when our daughter, who has Cerebral Palsy, began looking for a service dog about 4 years ago. Frustrated by the very long waits for nation-wide providers, her search led her right to our home town. We watched her go through the process and got to know everyone involved. We fell in love with her dog when they were paired up, and he became almost as big a part of our lives as he was of hers.
We began to realize how much of a difference her service dog could make when we went to Washington that spring to see the cherry blossoms. A person in a wheel chair can disappear in a crowd, become almost invisible. But everyone sees a beautiful yellow Lab. The crowds parted for her and it was quite a day.
When SDV approached us about raising a pup, we knew that being newly retired I had the time, and since our own dog had recently died, we had the room to do it. We know first hand the difference a Service Dog can make and we are delighted to be able to help in this way.
Wes, Johanna and Zara
Raising a puppy and a toddler at the same time is not for the faint of heart. We are very busy with the three ring circus at our house. At the same time we are really proud that we can model helping people, giving of ourselves and also enjoy the company of a bright, loving puppy in our household.
Carol, Anna and Petunia
Petunia has graced the halls of Baker Butler Elementary School since last January. Often you will find students on the floor reading a book to Petunia as she rests. I have seen children who have trouble caring for their peers, taking the time to help with Petunia’s needs and her training.
The Webster Family and Opus
People who hated middle school obviously didn’t have a Service Dog in training in their classroom. In just these few short months, Opus has become a beacon of light in my school. My students empathize with him- having to work hard, study and learn things. They always want to know whether he’s passed his tests. On the rare day that Opus doesn’t come to school, he is missed and his absence casts a noticeable pall over the classroom.
It has been amazing to see the effect he has had on students with special needs; Opus can calm a student with anxiety and lift up a child with depression. On a given day, the group of students who play with Opus is one of enormous diversity and he is the unifying factor.