Hello

Hello All,

I will be keeping everyone up to date on my travels to get my newest and third dog from Guiding Eyes For the Blind, which is the school that I have chosen to receive all of my guide dogs.  To give you a little background, I received my first dog, Candia, I called her Andi, from the school in 2002 between my junior and senior years of college.  Randall, the dog that most of you know and love came to me in the Summer of 2005 right after I graduated from grad school.  I chose guiding eyes because of it’s; small classes, usually around twelve people, it’s family feel, and due to the fact that their dogs receive at least some of their training in New York City, my logic being, that if a dog can work safely and calmly in that crazy place that it can keep up with my crazy schedule and varied locations. 

Andi retired after being with me for two and a half years.  I have had Randall for five and a half years.  Why am I telling you this?  The answer is simple, one of the most common questions that I hear is why do dogs retire and the answer varies and is dog dependent.  In Andy’s case, she retired because the stress of working through Oakland, PA and really the greater Pittsburgh area was too stressful for her.  In Randall’s case, he has just become sick of the whole business.  As those of you who have dogs know, a bond develops between a dog and it’s owner…  You often know, for example, when your dog needs more water, or needs to “use the facilities/back yard”  Randall has been telling me for months that guide work is not his favorite thing anymore.  He is not a bad dog, it is just not safe for me to place my life in the paws and in the care of this guy anymore. 

Where is he going?  Randall will be retiring into an awesome home, a home that he knows and loves.  On the weekend of the 12 he will be moving to Pennsylvania, in with my Mom and Dad.  They are happy to welcome him.  In addition he will be joining his best friend, Bella, the cat.  Additionally, I will be able to see him in the summer and over the holidays, which is very cool. 

That’s all we’ve got for today…  Check back for more regular communication on the 15th.