Category Archives: Good News

I’m Truman, and I Approve This Message

Sure, at first he was a little jealous that nobody got HIM a fancy new ring, but then we gave him a cookie and he forgave us. At least he got to be there for the proposal, which was only fair, considering he WAS the chaperone for our first date. Also considering the fact that Truman actually prefers Wolf to me, I think the arrangement will be to his liking after all.

So now I have a full-time dog, the most excellent future husband in the history of man, and something sparkly for my leash hand:

Yay!

Teach Me Your Ways, O Truman

Many would say I’m witty and intelligent, and some might even find me interesting and perhaps even attractive. I have a good job, am involved in a variety of activities, service organizations and church groups, and I meet new people all the time here in Los Angeles — one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan areas in the nation. Despite my best efforts, I am still single.

And yet, not ten weeks into his earthly existence, my dog has a wealthy benefactor.

Great news: Truman is now a “sponsored puppy.” That means some generous person (in our case, a “Mr. R”) has donated money to GDA that will take care of the expenses involved in Truman’s puppy stage. That means, among other things, that we get reimbursed for an obedience course and receive several free bags of our expensive dog food, which is welcome news for my budget!

I suppose it’s rude of me to assume Mr. R is wealthy — but he is extremely generous. Truman is the seventh dog he has sponsored, and he has yet to see a graduate. (No pressure, little man….)

It’s an honor to be asked to raise a sponsored dog, because it comes with extra responsibility. It will be my joy and privilege to keep Mr. R updated as to Truman’s progress through photos and detailed quarterly reports which will surely exceed his page-count expectations.

The Truman Show Begins March 9th!

Lomax’s news had to come first, of course, because we have worked and I have prayed so hard for this day; he deserves his recognition.

But I thought you might also like to hear that on March 9th, I’ll be picking up little Truman, another male yellow Lab, who will be my next puppy-in-training for GDA.

And finally, to add to the joy of Lomax graduating with his brother Liam, I’m also thrilled to announce that I will once again be raising littermates with Liam’s raisers, my dear friends Matthew and Amy, who have started their own blog (“Growin’ Up Guide“). Truman and his brother Tai will no doubt be fast friends.

Stay tuned for the Truman Show!

Habemus PUPam!

I’ve been waiting a long time for my very own dog…and today, finally, I heard from the Puppy Department at GDA.

I thought I would be receiving an 8-week-old puppy at some point before Christmas, but as it turns out, there are other joyous, important things in store for me in my favorite area of community service. This new task will be a sacrifice for me in some ways, but a great joy in other ways. For one thing, the dog I’m getting is already old enough to be well behaved in most public places and will therefore make the already busy holiday season less stressful than would a curious sharp-toothed destruction machine with a tiny bladder.

Also, this gives me an opportunity to serve another person who is probably heartbroken about having to give up her dog sooner than she expected.

Today I am ecstatic to announce that sometime in the next couple of weeks, I will be taking over puppy raising duties from another terrific volunteer who unfortunately cannot complete the commitment. My new charge — and soon-to-be extension of my left arm, as it were — is a year-old male Yellow Labrador Retriever named Lomax.

The Dog Blog Begins

Welcome to my new blog! My name is Jenny, and I’m a volunteer puppy raiser for a terrific organization called Guide Dogs of America, which is located here in Southern California.

I have been involved with GDA since the spring of 2003. My employment situation at that time was such that I could not raise a puppy for the full 18-month commitment, so I have simply been a regular attender of group meetings and events, and an occasional “relief sitter” for other puppy raisers.

But patience and perseverance do triumph. My new bosses are very supportive and excited about their new “employee,” and I am now officially on the waiting list to receive the puppy who will accompany me to the office and (hopefully?) learn to behave like a gentleman in public. I intend to chronicle the joys and frustrations of the entire process here…dog farts and all. While I am still waiting for the arrival of my official charge, I’ll share with you a few of my puppysitting experiences and other relevant concerns.

Whether you’re a regular reader, an avid commenter, or just passing through, I hope you enjoy your time here. Bookmark me if you’d like to keep track of my journey with the four-legged beasties who will hopefully someday become guide dogs — beloved companions to and instruments of greater independence for people with visual impairment.