It is just another typical day in the life of a budding young student named Jane. She walks into the classroom, takes her seat, exchanges a few admiring looks with classmates; then like many other students, falls asleep shortly after the lecture begins. Jane, however, is a 15-month-old Labrador retriever. She is being trained and fostered by Georgia Southern University senior Deonte Watkins in the first step to becoming a guide dog for the Guide Dog Foundation (GDF) for the Blind in New York. Jane is one of a dozen labs or Golden retrievers being raised by students at Georgia Southern. \u201cJane gets a lot of attention, especially from girls. They will greet her before they even speak to me,\u201d said puppy raiser Watkins. The Jonesboro, Ga., general studies major is one of four University group leaders who oversees or mentors the other volunteers in the Statesboro, Ga., program.<\/p>\n
All of the male or female puppies were born in New York and placed in the homes of the student volunteers when they were about two months old. The puppies wear a bright yellow coat inscribed with the GDF logo that identifies them as future guide dogs. Not all puppies go to students. Most go to regular people with homes and jobs.<\/p>\n
Most of the student volunteers said they learned about the program by talking with other puppy raisers on campus. Before GDF approves them, volunteers must attend a couple of meetings and consent to a home interview to make sure their home is a suitable place for the animal. The caregivers are responsible for socializing the puppies for up to 18-months before they are returned to the Foundation for more training, so they can ultimately be paired with someone who is blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled.<\/p>\n
A college campus is considered the perfect place for puppies in training. \u201cThe exposure to bikes, daily bus rides, the large amount of people, the sights and sounds, sitting in a classroom; all make it a great place to grow a pup for guide dogs,\u2019\u2019said Deana Izzo, the southern-based field representative for the GDF. Izzo said the Foundation breeds mostly labs, some Golden retrievers, and a small number of poodles, collies and German shepherds.<\/p>\n
Junior Ariel Vipond has raised nine-month-old Molly since she was two-and-a half-months old and less than 20 pounds. \u201cIt is the most rewarding thing I have done in my entire life,\u201d she said. Besides giving their dogs loving attention, the students housebreak the puppies, teach them good manners and train them in basic commands, such as \u201csit,\u201d \u201cdown,\u201d \u201cstay,\u201d and \u201ccome.\u201d The animals are taught to go up and down stairs and to ride in elevators. Because the pups in training are protected by the Georgia law that allows certified dogs access to all public places, students take them to class, grocery stores, church and restaurants. For as long as they have the dogs, the puppy raisers are responsible for their food, toys and shampoo. GDF provides the collar, leash, crate, flea and tick medications, monthly heartworm medication and takes care of any vet bills. Although the students are not paid and do not receive college credit, they do accumulate hundreds of hours of volunteer service.<\/p>\n
At the end of their training period, they must return the dogs they have come to love. \u201cI will be inconsolable, but I knew coming in she would have to leave,\u201d said Vipond. Gideon, a 20-month-old Golden retriever, has been with senior Alyssa Zerbe since he was six weeks old. \u201cI have had him this long because male Goldens take the longest to get through the puppy stage,\u201d Zerbe explained. \u201cI received Gideon only a day after my mom passed away, so I look at him like a piece of her in a way, like she sent him to take care of me. It will definitely be hard when he leaves but it is for a great purpose.\u201d Watkins, too, agreed breaking the attachment will be difficult. \u201cShe is the best dog I have ever had. She is sweet and smart and I will definitely miss her. I will try to hold back the tears but it will be hard. Yet I know she will be a blessing to someone one day.\u201d<\/p>\n
– Sandra Bennett <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Student Volunteers Train Future Guide Dogs on Campus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1361,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[40],"class_list":["post-114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-spring-2013"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t