Laura
09-07-2010, 06:31 PM
from The NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html
Nonprofit Guide Dog Foundation trains puppies to become perfect companions for the blind
BY Amy Sacks
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Sunday, September 5th 2010, 4:00 AM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/05/alg_guide_dog.jpg
Hagen for NewsLucas Matthiessen, who gradually lost his vision to a degenerative eye disease, with his guide dog Goose.
While Lucas Matthiessen enjoyed a Hawaiian honeymoon with his new wife last week, his well-tempered Labrador/golden retriever mix, named Goose, remained hard at work.
The 3-year-old guide dog is a constant companion to the Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, resident, a social worker who gradually lost his vision to a condition known as retinitis-pigmentosa.
"Without him my life would cease to be enjoyable on so many levels," said Matthiessen of Goose, the third guide dog donated to him by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, a nonprofit guide dog school based in Smithtown, L.I.
"These dogs have given me back my independence, my mobility and my dignity."
With Goose by his side, Matthiessen, 57, is confident to travel by subway to the five mental health clinics he oversees in Queens and Brooklyn.
Goose works hard, but when his harness comes off he's just a regular dog that enjoys running with his pals during off-leash hours at Prospect Park.
Matthiessen says he owes his freedom to Goose's puppy raisers - volunteers who help socialize and teach the young dog basic obedience.
Little does Goose know he had a star-studded puppyhood.
Friends and fellow actresses Isabella Rosellini and Linda Larkin worked together to raise Goose to become the perfect companion.
"Living in Manhattan is one big puppy class," said Larkin, best known as the voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin."
The city's noisy traffic, endless construction sites and other myriad obstacles provide the dog with every possible situation it will face as a working dog.
Since 2001, Larkin and her husband, Yul, have raised nine puppies as volunteers for the Guide Dog Foundation.
Rosellini also works as a puppy raiser and recently helped a litter of future guide dog puppies in her Manhattan apartment.
Puppy raisers begin training dogs at 8 weeks of age and raise their charge until it's about 18 months. After more training, dogs are partnered with a blind person.
Larkin's current puppy, Sweetie, is about to return to the Guide Dog Foundation to continue her training. She admits that giving the puppies up is the hardest part.
"When I see that puppy as a grown up dog guiding a blind person it makes it possible," she said.
Guide dogs are donated to their partner, but raising one is pricey: Between $45,000 and $55,000, said Guide Dog Foundation spokesperson William Krol.
For info on how to become a puppy raiser, go to www.guidedog.org.
September is National Guide Dog Month and it's a great time to help the various nonprofit groups throughout the country that raise and donate service dogs to people in need.
Next Sunday, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind will host the 21st Annual Second Sight Bike-A-Thon Freedom Ride along Long Island's North Shore. Register at www.tinyurl.com/GDFBike.
Also next Sunday, sommelier Amy Dixon and her guide dog Elvis will host a wine tasting event at The Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in Tarrytown, Westchester County. For ticket info, call (914) 243-2211 or email nlothrop@guidingeyes.org.
Sept. 20, local comedian Brian Fischler and his guide dog Nash will host Laugh for Site 5 at Gotham Comedy Club, NYC. The benefit will feature John Oliver of "The Daily Show," plus Robert Klein and Dave Attel, among other comics. For tickets go to www.laughforsight.com.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html#ixzz0ysxqwbI3
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html#ixzz0ysxW7H1j
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html
Nonprofit Guide Dog Foundation trains puppies to become perfect companions for the blind
BY Amy Sacks
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Sunday, September 5th 2010, 4:00 AM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/05/alg_guide_dog.jpg
Hagen for NewsLucas Matthiessen, who gradually lost his vision to a degenerative eye disease, with his guide dog Goose.
While Lucas Matthiessen enjoyed a Hawaiian honeymoon with his new wife last week, his well-tempered Labrador/golden retriever mix, named Goose, remained hard at work.
The 3-year-old guide dog is a constant companion to the Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, resident, a social worker who gradually lost his vision to a condition known as retinitis-pigmentosa.
"Without him my life would cease to be enjoyable on so many levels," said Matthiessen of Goose, the third guide dog donated to him by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, a nonprofit guide dog school based in Smithtown, L.I.
"These dogs have given me back my independence, my mobility and my dignity."
With Goose by his side, Matthiessen, 57, is confident to travel by subway to the five mental health clinics he oversees in Queens and Brooklyn.
Goose works hard, but when his harness comes off he's just a regular dog that enjoys running with his pals during off-leash hours at Prospect Park.
Matthiessen says he owes his freedom to Goose's puppy raisers - volunteers who help socialize and teach the young dog basic obedience.
Little does Goose know he had a star-studded puppyhood.
Friends and fellow actresses Isabella Rosellini and Linda Larkin worked together to raise Goose to become the perfect companion.
"Living in Manhattan is one big puppy class," said Larkin, best known as the voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin."
The city's noisy traffic, endless construction sites and other myriad obstacles provide the dog with every possible situation it will face as a working dog.
Since 2001, Larkin and her husband, Yul, have raised nine puppies as volunteers for the Guide Dog Foundation.
Rosellini also works as a puppy raiser and recently helped a litter of future guide dog puppies in her Manhattan apartment.
Puppy raisers begin training dogs at 8 weeks of age and raise their charge until it's about 18 months. After more training, dogs are partnered with a blind person.
Larkin's current puppy, Sweetie, is about to return to the Guide Dog Foundation to continue her training. She admits that giving the puppies up is the hardest part.
"When I see that puppy as a grown up dog guiding a blind person it makes it possible," she said.
Guide dogs are donated to their partner, but raising one is pricey: Between $45,000 and $55,000, said Guide Dog Foundation spokesperson William Krol.
For info on how to become a puppy raiser, go to www.guidedog.org.
September is National Guide Dog Month and it's a great time to help the various nonprofit groups throughout the country that raise and donate service dogs to people in need.
Next Sunday, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind will host the 21st Annual Second Sight Bike-A-Thon Freedom Ride along Long Island's North Shore. Register at www.tinyurl.com/GDFBike.
Also next Sunday, sommelier Amy Dixon and her guide dog Elvis will host a wine tasting event at The Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in Tarrytown, Westchester County. For ticket info, call (914) 243-2211 or email nlothrop@guidingeyes.org.
Sept. 20, local comedian Brian Fischler and his guide dog Nash will host Laugh for Site 5 at Gotham Comedy Club, NYC. The benefit will feature John Oliver of "The Daily Show," plus Robert Klein and Dave Attel, among other comics. For tickets go to www.laughforsight.com.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html#ixzz0ysxqwbI3
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_guides_to_a_better_life_nonprofit_raises_dogs_t o_donate_to_the_blind.html#ixzz0ysxW7H1j