By Hannah KellyBy Hannah Kelly

The Girl Scouts of America’s definition The Girl Scouts of America’s definition of the Gold Award is this:of the Gold Award is this:

the gold award is the highest award in the gold award is the highest award in Girl Scouts. It focuses on 14 to 18 Girl Scouts. It focuses on 14 to 18 year-old Girl Scout's interests and year-old Girl Scout's interests and

personal journey through leadership personal journey through leadership skills, career explorations, self-skills, career explorations, self-

improvement, and service.improvement, and service.

Solve communal issues and improve lives.Recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award

are recognized by many state and local organizations

Creates assets for the community and the future.

College applications and scholarshipsHelps the girl develop leadership and

citizenship skills that will be useful throughout adulthood

As you know, I have been thinking quite a bit As you know, I have been thinking quite a bit about the subject matter of this service about the subject matter of this service

project. Out of all the things that I project. Out of all the things that I researched, I became very passionate researched, I became very passionate

about one in particular. (OK I am going to about one in particular. (OK I am going to confirm your fears) Yes, I have decided confirm your fears) Yes, I have decided

that the project that I want to peruse is…that the project that I want to peruse is…

***Drum Roll PLEASE******Drum Roll PLEASE***

RAISING A GUIDE DOG!!!RAISING A GUIDE DOG!!!

Okay, Okay! So I realize that there are Okay, Okay! So I realize that there are some protests protruding from the some protests protruding from the paternal region of this family, but I paternal region of this family, but I

am confident that I have solutions to am confident that I have solutions to all the obstacles that may arise all the obstacles that may arise throughout the course of this throughout the course of this

presentation. I ask of you only presentation. I ask of you only an an open mindopen mind, because you might just , because you might just find that “Houston has a problem”! find that “Houston has a problem”!

Before I even attempt to persuade further, I Before I even attempt to persuade further, I must address the obvious. must address the obvious. RESPONSIBILTYRESPONSIBILTY! ! It is something that you as a parent have It is something that you as a parent have drilled into my head since I was young. drilled into my head since I was young.

And at the risk of sounding cocky, I must And at the risk of sounding cocky, I must say that I believe myself to be fairly say that I believe myself to be fairly

mature and responsible for my age. But in mature and responsible for my age. But in case you do not feel as confident as I do, I case you do not feel as confident as I do, I

am willing to demonstrate my maturity am willing to demonstrate my maturity and responsibility. How I do this can be and responsibility. How I do this can be

determined by you, and whatever you see determined by you, and whatever you see to be fit. to be fit.

Now although “guide puppy raiser” Now although “guide puppy raiser” may seem to be self explanatory, I may seem to be self explanatory, I

have done my research and have done my research and homework, and would like to explain homework, and would like to explain

a little more in depth. a little more in depth. Technically I would be what is called a Technically I would be what is called a

“Puppy Raiser” which is a volunteer “Puppy Raiser” which is a volunteer who agree to welcome a future guide who agree to welcome a future guide

dog into their home. dog into their home.

The jobs of a puppy raiser can be divided The jobs of a puppy raiser can be divided into two basic components. into two basic components.

Learn Basic Obedience: Learn Basic Obedience: Puppy raisers are Puppy raisers are responsible for teaching basic commands responsible for teaching basic commands and correct behavior to the puppy and correct behavior to the puppy

Experience the World: Experience the World: to introduce the to introduce the puppy to all kinds of social situations. By puppy to all kinds of social situations. By taking the puppy to all environments, it taking the puppy to all environments, it prepares it for all sorts of circumstances prepares it for all sorts of circumstances that it could encounter as a working dog. that it could encounter as a working dog.

As I said before there are some objections to As I said before there are some objections to this service project (cause if there wasn’t this service project (cause if there wasn’t there wouldn’t be a PowerPoint there wouldn’t be a PowerPoint ). But I ). But I would like to respectively address the would like to respectively address the oppositions and provide solutions or oppositions and provide solutions or

compromises to them, in hopes that we compromises to them, in hopes that we stumble across some sort of common stumble across some sort of common

ground. ground. (All of the information that I am collecting (All of the information that I am collecting is from one particular program that in my is from one particular program that in my

research I decided was best for our research I decided was best for our circumstances.) circumstances.) Southeastern Guide DogsSoutheastern Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs equips Southeastern Guide Dogs equips puppy raiser families with training puppy raiser families with training

materials and support. Puppy raisers materials and support. Puppy raisers agree to attend two meetings each agree to attend two meetings each month with local area coordinators month with local area coordinators

who guide and mentor them, sharing who guide and mentor them, sharing the goal of raising a successful guide the goal of raising a successful guide

dog.dog.

Southeastern Guide Dogs pays for veterinary Southeastern Guide Dogs pays for veterinary medical care and provides monthly medical care and provides monthly heartworm medication. Raisers are heartworm medication. Raisers are

responsible for food, leash, collar, crate, responsible for food, leash, collar, crate, toys, and flea/tick prevention. These toys, and flea/tick prevention. These

expenses may be tax deductible. Also there expenses may be tax deductible. Also there are veterinarians that offer specific discount are veterinarians that offer specific discount

for this program. (there is a location in for this program. (there is a location in Houston that we would attend to receive Houston that we would attend to receive

this discount)this discount)

Puppies are ready to go to foster homesPuppies are ready to go to foster homesat about nine weeks.at about nine weeks.

Puppies return for formal harness training anywhere Puppies return for formal harness training anywhere from 14 to 20 months.from 14 to 20 months.

After this initial phase with the puppy raiser, the After this initial phase with the puppy raiser, the puppy will be put through an intensive guide dog puppy will be put through an intensive guide dog training, where its basic training will be tested as training, where its basic training will be tested as

it prepares for life as a working dog. it prepares for life as a working dog.

Puppies' house training has begun, but Puppies' house training has begun, but most puppies are experiencing a most puppies are experiencing a

mixture of success. But ultimately, this mixture of success. But ultimately, this is one of the duties of the puppy is one of the duties of the puppy

raiser.raiser.

The monthly classes that the raiser The monthly classes that the raiser attends will help with this issue, if any attends will help with this issue, if any

problems arise. problems arise.

the puppies have begun crate training the puppies have begun crate training in their early weeks. But they are still in their early weeks. But they are still

very young and may need special very young and may need special attention the first few nights home. attention the first few nights home.

The puppy should not be left alone for The puppy should not be left alone for more then 2 hours at the home, and more then 2 hours at the home, and are not to be cooped up in the crate. are not to be cooped up in the crate.

Each puppy in the program receives a blue "Puppy Each puppy in the program receives a blue "Puppy in Training" coat which enables puppy raisers to in Training" coat which enables puppy raisers to

expose the future guide dog to a variety of public expose the future guide dog to a variety of public environments and situations. The coat also environments and situations. The coat also prepares the puppy for the sensation of a prepares the puppy for the sensation of a

harness. This is a very important tool presented harness. This is a very important tool presented to the foster family, because it allows them to the foster family, because it allows them

freedom and not inhibit everyday life. But it is freedom and not inhibit everyday life. But it is also critical to the puppy’s training because they also critical to the puppy’s training because they

must be extremely comfortable in all social must be extremely comfortable in all social situation to be successful. situation to be successful.

There are puppy raiser groups There are puppy raiser groups throughout Florida, Georgia, North throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama,

TexasTexas, Mississippi, Louisiana, , Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, and Tennessee. Once an Virginia, and Tennessee. Once an

application is submitted, the application is submitted, the applicant is contacted by a local applicant is contacted by a local representative of the program.representative of the program.

Puppy raisers Puppy raisers may act as goodwill ambassadorsmay act as goodwill ambassadors to to promote public awareness and support for promote public awareness and support for

Southeastern Guide Dogs. Some puppy raisers Southeastern Guide Dogs. Some puppy raisers choose to participate in fundraising events, give choose to participate in fundraising events, give demonstrations, and speak at schools and public demonstrations, and speak at schools and public

meetings to promote the important work of meetings to promote the important work of Southeastern Guide Dogs.Southeastern Guide Dogs.

With this stated, I plan to use this to aide my gold With this stated, I plan to use this to aide my gold award. I would like to set up an awareness award. I would like to set up an awareness

booth/event at a local special needs convention. I booth/event at a local special needs convention. I could actually bring my puppy and demonstrate the could actually bring my puppy and demonstrate the

program first hand.program first hand.

All puppy raisers must be 18 years of All puppy raisers must be 18 years of age or older or have an adult apply age or older or have an adult apply for them. If the potential raiser is for them. If the potential raiser is under 18, they at least have to be under 18, they at least have to be

over the age of 8.over the age of 8.

Once they receive the application, Once they receive the application, Southeastern Guide Dogs will contact the Southeastern Guide Dogs will contact the nearest area coordinator who will invite nearest area coordinator who will invite

the impending raiser to a group meeting. the impending raiser to a group meeting. There the applicant be able to see There the applicant be able to see

firsthand what puppy raising is all about. firsthand what puppy raising is all about. Next, the area coordinator will conduct a Next, the area coordinator will conduct a

home visit and submit a recommendation. home visit and submit a recommendation. Upon approval, they will place the raiser Upon approval, they will place the raiser on our puppy waiting list. Wait time can on our puppy waiting list. Wait time can vary, but typically a six-month wait or vary, but typically a six-month wait or

longer is expected.longer is expected.

Now don’t make a decision right away…Now don’t make a decision right away…

Talk to your lovely wife, and caring mother Talk to your lovely wife, and caring mother

(General Website)(General Website)

http://www.guidedogs.org/http://www.guidedogs.org/

(Specific to Puppy Raisers)(Specific to Puppy Raisers)

http://www.guidedogs.org/index.php?page=puhttp://www.guidedogs.org/index.php?page=puppy-raisingppy-raising

**Copy and Paste into URL line to find websites****Copy and Paste into URL line to find websites**