Raising puppies to be guides

Raising puppies to be guides
BY VALERIE TUCKER
Correspondent Morning Sentinel

PHILLIPS -- Carol Rogers is a foster mother for some cuddly canines, and she has to be tough, even when she wants to laugh out loud.

As one of Maine's volunteer puppy raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, she is training Cash, a five-month-old, energetic Labrador retriever.

"He's such a great dog, but he's easily distracted by everything," she said. "He's learning good manners, and he's growing up fast."

Rogers, who raised Cash's mother also, said his personality is very different from her last puppy, Ginny, a yellow Labrador retriever who came to live with her nearly two yeas ago. After 18 months, Ginny left Rogers for 'guide-dog college,' which provides more rigorous training at the organization's New York site. Ginny was matched with Cathy Milone, who had returned for her ninth guide dog. Milone recently retired from a 40-year career with the U. S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Milone's guide dogs have been with her through her working life, and now Ginny will be her retirement companion.

"My dogs have always bolstered my everyday strength and confidence," Milone said.

After Ginny left, Rogers took two dogs for extra training, and she brought Cash home in March. She works for the Mt. Blue Water District, and she and her dogs have been a familiar sight in the quiet town.

"I've been doing this for 9 years, and it's always fun and always a challenge," she said.

With good-natured cooperation from her husband, Rick, she has raised 12 dogs for the nonprofit guide-dog school. Rogers introduces her dogs to traffic, grocery stores, schools and other experiences, and she teaches basic obedience and good manners.

Although the trainers are not paid, Rogers said, Dr. Nancy Kessler, at Clearwater Veterinary Hospital in Industry, has been extremely generous.

"My dogs have to have all of the same shots and visits to the vet that any pet would, but Dr. Kessler doesn't charge me for these guide-dog puppies," Rogers said.

She and other Maine volunteers and dogs meet twice a month with area coordinators Pat Webber in Belfast or Nina Scribner in Yarmouth for training and socializing. Webber said she's continually inspired by the positive effect a single dog can have on so many lives.

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