Spring, 2004

Puppy Prints
North Carolina Puppy Raising Program Newsletter
Spring 2004
Farber Graduates from Guiding Eyes for the Blind!
Farber, a male black lab, raised by Devon Scott of Raleigh will graduate from
Guiding Eyes on April 20th. Farber is graduating as an “action dog.” Action
dogs go to persons who are skilled guide dog users. The student in this
program get accelerated training as part of the regular class rather than
waiting for the home training program, which has a long waiting list. After
graduation, Farber will be residing with Joanne in McLean, Virginia.
Congratulations to Devon and her Mom, Sue for doing such a great job raising
Farber. Farber’s vet sponsor was Bowman Animal Hospital in Raleigh and the
Scott family was Farber’s food sponsor. More information on Farber’s
graduation will be included in the next newsletter.
Meet NCPRP’s Newest Puppies!
Devon and Farber
Belinda, a female German Shepherd has recently joined the household of Brenda and Gerry Quesenberry. Her vet
sponsor will be Southampton Veterinary Clinic and Brenda and Gerry will be her food sponsors.
Jordan, a male black lab, has joined the Tanner household. Jordan is Rick and
Glynis’ 3rd GEB puppy. His vet sponsor will be determined soon and his food
sponsor will be the Tanners. Susan Piron and Joe Brown of Lake Gaston, NC will
be Jordan’s primary sitters.
Where are they now?
Dutchess, a female German Shepherd, raised by Sharon and Andy Cooke of
Cary, NC recently passed her in-for-training test. She was the Cooke’s 6th
puppy. Dutchess’ vet sponsor was Western Wake Veterinarian Services and
her food sponsor was Norma and Al Bergeron of Burlington, NC.
Fletcher, a black male lab raised by Trudy and Will Pendergraft of Chapel Hill,
NC passed his in-for-training test with flying colors in February. His vet
sponsor was Jordan Lake Animal Hospital of Pittsboro and his food sponsor was
Southern States of Carrboro.
Jordan
Hanley, a male black lab raised by Jim and Wendy Bierwirth of Raleigh,
NC is heading to New York for his in-for-training test at the end of this
month. Hanley’s vet sponsor was Pet Housecalls of Raleigh and his food
sponsor was the Bierwirth family.
Parish,a male black lab, raised by Melissa Mejia and Tony Moore of
Charlotte, NC, was released from training due to a health problem and he
has returned to live with Melissa and Tony. His vet sponsor was Animal
Medical Hospital of Charlotte and his food sponsor was Melissa and Tony.
Unix, a female black lab raised by Rick and Glynis Tanner of Carrboro, NC
passed her in-for-training test in March and is currently being evaluated
for the breeding program. Her vet sponsor was Timberlyne Animal
Hospital and Rick and Glynis were her food sponsors. Rick and Glynis
provided the following on Unix:
Dutchess
Unix was the delight in our life for 14 months with her enthusiasm, spunk, endearing big brown eyes,
and sweet face. She won the hearts of all who met her. She became a magnet for visitors to Rick's
cubicle at work; people he had never met heard of his dog and had to come to see her and several of his colleagues
came daily for their "puppy fix". One thing we noticed about Unix was how quickly she could settle down, and how
easily she played quietly with her toys. We wanted to see
her IFT ourselves as we suspected that she would not be
coming home with us. Unix had a great time catching
snowballs in the back-yard, and romping in the woods
behind the GEB guest house. I came back in from that
romp with ticks aboard; an immediate shower and
thorough washing of clothes and towels took care of the
little freeloaders. The staff at the Training Center
were a little surprised by Unix's tendency to leap
vertically as if on a pogo stick when she is very happy and
excited. Reports are that she became the favorite of
the center staff. Unix performed well on her Brood
Evaluation walks and is currently being sat by Carol and
Ed Benvenga while GEB awaits the results from training
of her siblings.
Fletcher on Ocracoke Island, NC
Caper, a female black lab raised by Brenda and Gerry Quesenberry of Franklin, VA recently passed her-in-for
training test. Her vet sponsor was Southampton Veterinary Clinic and Brenda and Gerry were her food sponsors.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Alamo
April 21, 1996 – April 7, 2004
Alamo, a black male lab, loved deeply by Ernest and Gae Boyette recently lost his battle with hemangiosarcoma.
Alamo started his life in the NCPRP and was raised by John and Sharon Hall of Waynesville. He was then adopted
by Gae and Ernest Boyette, who tearfully say, as we all know, that to know Alamo was to love him.
Attention all Puppy Raisers! Photos Needed!!
The Resource Dept. at Guiding Eyes for the Blind is
requesting great photos (electronic .jpg format only please)
of raiser's with their dogs. These photos may be used in
conjunction with many GEB public relations materials now
being developed (posters, brochures, web, etc) to our Puppy Raising
Program. Email to [email protected]. Deadline is April 30th so hurry!
Featured Photos
We’d love to see photos of your and/or your pups out and about and doing their favorite things! Please send in your
pictures to Will or Trudy Pendergraft ([email protected] or [email protected])
Madison with Miss Kay and her 3-4 year old preschool class at
Asbury Preschool in Raleigh
Gwen running in some snow in Etowah, NC
Attention: If you are receiving this newsletter in the mail and if you have an email address, please email
Will Pendergraft at [email protected] so that we can begin sending you the newsletter via email. We
would like to cut down on the costs of printing, mailing and other supplies as well as the time that
volunteers spend folding, labeling and stamping the newsletters. Many thanks!
Finding the
QUARTERLY EVALUATION REPORT and FINAL EVALUATION OF
DOG AND PROGRAM on the Breeding Center’s website, the BCWeb
Register at www.guidingeyesbcweb.org. Wait for authorization (max. 48 hours).
Log in using your email address and selected password. Go to General Information
and Forms & Applications.
Select your form, complete the information and click “Submit”. It’s that easy!
We Want YOU! At the Triangle-Area Puppy Classes!
Who:
When:
Where:
How:
Puppy Raisers, Puppy Sitters and Friends of GEB and potential volunteers
Wednesday evenings at 7PM
Variety of locations throughout the Triangle
E-mail Will Pendergraft at [email protected] to be added to the puppy class e-mail distribution
list to receive information about the dates, times and locations of upcoming puppy classes!
Sherry’s Corner
I want to make you aware of a wonderful charity that has been established. It is called U.S. Hogs for
Dogs, Inc. Funny name for a wonderful group!
I have known Blaine and Janet Parks and their terrific dogs, Max and Bailey, for about 10 years. Max
and Bailey are Golden Retrievers and are getting ready to accompany Blaine and Janet on a trip of a
lifetime. They are going on the 7 month 2004 Charity Ride Across America. This ride is to benefit the
assistance and guide dog community.
Hogs For Dogs is a volunteer-based, coalition charity dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and
the Assistance Dog community. This support comes in the form of partnering with select non-profit
organizations (one of which is Guiding Eyes For The Blind) to educate the public about their programs
and provide fundraising services on their behalf. They will be getting national media attention including
updates on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Today, Animal Planet, CNN, FoxNews,
etc.
U.S Hogs for Dogs is committed to making a sizeable difference in cities and towns across America. The
mission is to educate and encourage the public to understand and help the needs of individuals with
disabilities. The charity ride will feature a unique campaign approach. Golden Retrievers Max and Bailey
Parks riding in Harley-Davidson motorcycle sidecars through the back roads of America. Their message
will be shared face-to-face in small towns, big cities, and anywhere Americans come together.
Beginning from Raleigh, North Carolina on May 1st, the Hogs For Dogs team will travel more than 25,000
miles through each of the lower 48 states between April and November, 2004.
I want to assure everyone that this is a well-organized volunteer organization. Before getting involved
and lending my support through being on the General Board of Directors, I had to be totally convinced
that, first and foremost, Max and Bailey’s interests were paramount. I can assure everyone that every
detail of their care, comfort and safety has been meticulously examined and every contingency provided
for. Knowing how well Blaine and Janet care for their dogs, I was sure they would not put them in any
danger but they have thought of everything including not having them ride any more than four hours at a
time. They also will not travel during peak traffic times on busier roads. As I said, they have thought of
everything.
Blaine and Janet are great people who are taking a great deal of time out of their lives to help people
with disabilities “Get a New Leash On Life”. You can follow their progress and lend any support you
possibly can by going on line to www.hogsfordogs.org
Thanks so much!
EVALUATION SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, May 7th AND SATURDAY, May 8th, 2004
Waverly Place Shopping Center, Cary, NC
Friday 5/7
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
PUPPY
Cheyenne
Madison
RAISER
Shamblin
Echols
Saturday 5/8
PUPPY
RAISER
9:00 AM
Glacier
Jackson
9:30 AM
10:15 AM
11:15 AM
12:00 PM
New Pup*
New Pup*
Jules
---General Meeting
and Lunch--Meeting with Assts.
Belinda*
Gaston*
Debbie*
Camille
Gwen
Bierwirth
Tanner/Piron (sitter)
Shinn
Quesenberry
1:00
1:30
2:15
3:00
3:45
4:30
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
Quesenberry
Overcash
Schmidts
Gilleland
Gibbons
*Means that Raiser and Pup Need Photo Taken by Rick Tanner on Saturday Around General
Meeting Time or Friday by Sharon or Sherry.
Dinner on Saturday after the last evaluation
will be discussed at the General Meeting
Driving Directions to Waverly Place Shopping Center for Spring Evaluation:
From Interstate 40:
•
Exit 293 A onto Route 1 South/64 West
•
From Route 1 take Exit 98 A onto Tryon Road
•
At the second traffic light continue through the intersection where Kildaire Farm Road crosses Tryon Road.
•
Look to the right for the new Waverly Place street sign, which marks the second entrance to Waverly Place
shopping center.
•
Turn right onto New Waverly Place Drive and park in the 3rd parking area on the right, behind Waverly Place
Cinema.
•
You will see the open courtyard where the evaluations are taking place.
UPCOMING EVENTS – 2004
MISSION STATEMENT
May 7-8, 2004
Wavelry Place Shopping Center,
Cary, NC
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is dedicated to enriching
the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women
by providing them with the freedom to travel safely,
thereby assuring greater independence, dignity and
new horizons of opportunity.
August 13-14, 2004
Evaluation, TBD
November 5-6, 2004
Evaluation, TBD
CONTACT INFORMATION
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
North Carolina Puppy Raising Program
P.O. Box 37202, Raleigh, NC 27627
Raleigh Area: Sharon Cooke 919.677.8365
Charlotte Area: Richard Yercheck 704.296.0758
Julie Haynes 704.821.6521
Western Area: Mary Jane Gibbons 828.926.3501
Area Coordinators: Sherry&Don Dodson 919.642.0185
WEBSITES: www.guiding-eyes.org
www.mindspring.com/~mefine/ncprp
Special thanks to UPS Store and owner/operator Chris Derby of Chapel Hill, NC
for sponsoring to offset the printing charges for this newsletter.
North Carolina Puppy Raising Program
P.O Box 37202
Raleigh, NC 27627