Guide Dog News
2008, Issue #3
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation
When we talk about the Guide Dog Family, we’re not kidding! Meet the next generation of Guide Dog
users, Guide Dog puppies and Guide Dog puppy raisers. People involved with our mission are so
passionate, they pass it on—their involvement exemplifies their core values. In this issue of Guide Dog
News, you’ll see some new faces from some strong lines.
Photos:
 Outreach Manager Aerial Gilbert chats with Cooper Alexander as he grooms her retired guide,
Hedda, at GDB’s youth summer camp.
 Cassidy Shuflin, with black Lab Madeline, gets a hula hoop workout at “Doo Wop Doggies,” the
50th anniversary of Fun Day at the California campus. Cassidy raised breeder dog Bingham, and
at the Fun Day puppy delivery, she received a new pup to raise: one of Bingham’s pups, Bracken!
 Meet the Crispins! Their family represents four generations of involvement with GDB. Pictured:
puppy raising leaders Andrea Crispin (far left) and her daughter Tawna, along with Tawna’s
family. Andrea’s mother, Audrey Hern, was a GDB graduate. Enjoy a video of their story at
www.guidedogs.com/crispin.
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation, continued
She was only 10 years old, but she had a dream. It was a simple dream, really. Little did she know that
close to 50 years later, that dream would touch the lives of so many.
Marybeth Hose was the oldest of the six children in her family. Her father was a 4-H community club
leader, so it was natural that his kids were involved in 4-H. But since they didn’t live in a rural area, raising
livestock was out of the question.
Marybeth learned about Guide Dogs’ Puppy Raising Program and she wanted to participate, but there
were a few hurdles: Her father secretly thought that with all the kids and chaos in their home, her
application would never be accepted. Her mom was afraid of German Shepherds. And then there was the
matter of paying for the dog food.
Mom finally relented, and the application was accepted! Excited, Marybeth approached her school
teacher who was the president of the Castro Valley Lions Club, made a presentation to the club and was
awarded $2,000 to cover the food. And so it was that a little black Lab named Letta came to be added to
the Hose family in 1962.
Her sister also got to raise a puppy, and then her brothers started to clamor for one, but Mom gave the
ultimatum: “More than two and you’ll have to choose between them or me!”
Letta became a Guide Dog and was the first of many Hose dogs to graduate. As Marybeth married,
changed her name to Hern and began a family of her own, she passed down the tradition of puppy raising
to her own sons, Seth and Brett.
A registered veterinary technician and high school agriculture science teacher in Lemoore, Calif.,
Marybeth hoped to find a way to marry her passion for Guide Dog puppy raising with her profession. She
created a curriculum to incorporate it as part of her school’s FFA Project (formerly Future Farmers of
America). FFA has an emphasis on volunteerism and youth leadership, so it was a natural collaboration.
Today, eight of her students are involved in Guide Dog puppy raising as a regular part of their school
curriculum. The project has an impact on all the students at the school, including some who are enrolled
in Special Education. “Even if a student can’t raise a dog, they can still participate,” she said. “I don’t like
to exclude a kid just because their parents won’t let them have a dog.”
Lemoore High School and the school district have been highly supportive. They have funded outdoor
kennel runs, indoor crates, dog bathing and grooming equipment, and other equipment as part of the
program.
The community has also embraced the project. “It’s great for the public to see high school kids doing
something for someone else,” Marybeth said. “I love to see the effect this experience has had on my
students and my sons. They show compassion for others. They have empathy. They have a greater
understanding of disability. And, they’re doing something for the sheer joy of doing it, rather than just to
make the almighty dollar.”
Puppy raising also provides a rare opportunity to develop emotional resiliency. There’s no denying that it’s
hard to send a puppy off to college. It’s an experience Marybeth admits she still hasn’t quite mastered.
But that hasn’t stopped her, either.
Drysdale, a dog she co-raised with her son Brett, graduated in June with Nancy Bezant of North Carolina.
Puppy number 33, Hamilton, is in training, and Marybeth is co-raising numbers 34 and 35 with a couple of
her students, taking the pups home every evening and bringing them to class each day.
She stays in touch with many of the people who have the dogs she and her raisers have nurtured. She
will soon be making a trip to Kentucky to visit GDB Alumnus Brett Morton who graduated last July with
Tao, one of the dogs she raised.
“Marybeth is a fantastic leader and advocate for GDB,” said GDB Community Field Representative Jim
Russell. “She has inspired many other FFA teachers around California to look into establishing similar
programs, and is helping to get new programs off the ground.”
As Marybeth looks wistfully back through her history, she sees a life that has been full of joy and love and
meaning. The dream of a 10-year-old girl has truly enriched the lives of generations of people, through
partnerships with our wonderful dogs and puppies. She is building a legacy of love.
Photos:
 Marybeth and her first pup Letta in 1962
 Marybeth and puppy Gus with her mom Rose Horn, friend John Zemcik, and sons Seth and Brett
 Marybeth with her puppy raisers in the Lemoore FFA at the California Fun Day.
President’s Message
Fun Days are an annual event on our campuses—it is a day we show our appreciation for all of the
wonderful work done by thousands of volunteers who raise our puppies.
This year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the event, and it was truly special.
For me, it was special in another way—I had the chance to experience one of those magical moments
that makes Guide Dogs for the Blind such a unique place! I was among eighteen people who got to
present a new puppy to a lucky puppy raiser. In my arms I snuggled a sweet 8-week-old black Lab
named Aretha.
You may remember in my last column, I wrote about my experience of being able to work with our
Breeding Department staff to facilitate the successful breeding of Audrey and Bond. I knew that Audrey
was expecting ten puppies. To my delight, Aretha turned out to be one of Audrey’s babies! How wonderful
it was for me to experience the process from conception to puppy to raiser. Now, I’m very excited to
continue to follow Aretha’s progress as she continues through all the phases of our program.
The joyous recipient of Aretha was Olga Lejeune, who has raised six other GDB pups with her husband,
Andre. Her face was glowing with happiness as she kissed Aretha’s head and thanked me over and over
again.
Olga is a member of the Diamonds in the Ruff puppy raising club. The club’s leader, Gwen Reimann, got
involved with GDB as a volunteer more than 40 years ago. She remembers the days when Board
President Norah Hamilton Straus was ever present on the campus, and when William Johns was the
Executive Director. Their work brought financial security and renown to Guide Dogs, and Gwen was in
awe of their commitment to the cause. When a move took Gwen to Southern California from Marin
County, she wanted to stay involved. So, she became a puppy raiser and eventually a leader. Her club
now has three generations of active puppy raisers, and collectively, has raised more than 50 puppies!
Olga, Andre and Gwen are shining examples of the dedication and passion of our puppy raisers. They are
the ones who are awakened by a whimpering pup at 3:00 a.m. who needs to go outside or just wants
some company. They are the ones who have their households turned upside down, their new shoes
destroyed, and their entire lives altered to accommodate the needs of our little balls of fur. They inevitably
fall head over heels in love with the puppies in their care. Yet when their pups are well-socialized and
well-behaved dogs, they willingly return them to Guide Dogs for their “university training.” And they do so
with well-deserved pride, because they fully understand the difference they are making for so many
people who are blind. We can’t thank them enough.
Our mission of creating a successful partnership between our wonderful dogs and our blind and visually
impaired students would be impossible without our puppy raisers. To each and every one of you, you
have our deepest respect and appreciation.
Nancy E. Gardner
President and CEO
Photos:
 President and CEO Nancy Gardner presents Aretha to the arms of puppy raiser Olga Lejeune.
 Nancy (second from left) chats with members of the Diamonds in the Ruff Puppy Raising Club,
including (l to r) Diane Harper, Carol Hodges and club leader Gwen Reimann.
Doo Wop Doggies!
GDB celebrated the 50th anniversary of Fun Day in retro fashion. Harking back to the 1950s when the
event began, the “Doo Wop Doggies” theme brought out the cool cats in all of our pups and raisers. View
a photo slideshow of all the festivities online at www.guidedogs.com/funday.
Pictured (top to bottom, l to r): Nicole Stucky with new black Lab puppy Bella; Bailey Jenks with yellow
Lab Olivia; Lauren Kutler with Golden Kaylee; Puppy Raising Community Field Representative Cathie
Laber (a.k.a. June Cleaver) at the “Puppy Knows Best” presentation; Board Member Mike Bragg and wife
Deena preparing to deliver new puppies at the Oregon campus puppy presentation; Connor and Tyler
Melone with Fenton; the Adkins Family with their new pup, yellow Lab Cara; Canine Community
Programs Director Brent Ruppel with mother/daughter puppy raising leaders, Ellen and Joelle Aguirre,
with German Shepherd pup Michener; Darren and Joshua Angle with their new black Lab pup, Glee.
2008 Holiday Cards—for sale now!
Summer may not yet be over, but it’s not too early to stock up on holiday gifts. Our Gift Shop has lots of
new items, as well as all of the favorites you’ve grown to love: holiday cards (pictured below), calendars,
plush puppies, notecards and more! ON SALE NOW: Stationery sets, only $8!
Shop online, by phone or by mail!
 Visit www.guidedogs.com/shop to purchase directly online or to download a mail-in order form.
 Call (800) 295-4050, ext. 4611, to place phone orders or request a mail-in order form.
Vet Tips for Your Pet
Courtesy of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. ®TM
Raising a Puppy? Start with Socialization, by Mark Brady, DVM, DACVECC
Puppy socialization is important in helping your pet grow up to be a confident, reliable and happy family
member. In terms of behavioral development, it prevents fearfulness, which can translate into aggression
as your pet matures. Socialization starts at about 3 weeks of age, around the time of weaning, and
continues through approximately 12-14 weeks of age. This time frame would be considered the “critical”
or “sensitive” period of development. It is paramount that a plan is established during this impressionable
time to help your puppy grow into a friendly and confident dog. Your puppy will grow up very quickly, and
it is much better to prevent behavioral problems with proper socialization than to try to resolve
temperament issues as an adult.
How do you go about properly socializing your new puppy?
Go to www.guidedogs.com/vettips to read the complete Vet Tip!
Summer + GDB = Camp!
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Black Lab puppy Harbor, from the L.A. Southwest Puppy Raising Club (leader Pat Whitehead),
gets some love from a camper at Camp Bloomfield in Malibu, Calif. The camp, hosted by the
Junior Blind of America in Los Angeles, gets regular visits from GDB dogs and puppies. This
year, nine puppy raisers are working at the camp as camp counselors.
This July, GDB hosted its first-ever youth camp on the California campus. Six teens came to
“Camp GDB”(three of whom are pictured here), where they stayed in the dormitory and got to
experience four days of the Guide Dog lifestyle. Activities included everything from grooming
dogs, playing with puppies and shadowing the vets, to working with actual guides.
New License
Congratulations to Megan Gutierres, our newest licensed instructor. Megan is from Ventura County, Calif.
She trained primates, birds of prey, cougars, wolves, and other large carnivores at a private zoo in San
Diego after graduating from America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. She then interned in the
Taronga Zoo’s Marine Mammal Department in Sydney, Australia. She said, “Before coming to Guide
Dogs, I had trained all types of exotic animals—but NEVER A DOG!” We’re pleased that she is rounding
out her experience with us.
Happenings
A Date with the Dogs
The inaugural “A Date with the Dogs” event in May was a huge success, raising $25,000 to support
veterinary care costs for our Guide Dogs and puppies-in-training in the Ventura County area. Guest
speakers Alice Garcia (puppy raiser) and Gail Paulson (GDB Alumna with Alton) entertained guests with
delightful dog “tails”! Thank you to all event sponsors, including Gold Sponsor Scott Drake Enterprises
Inc. and Silver Sponsors Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, and Karen and Bill Ingalls. Pictured (l to r): Event
co-chairs Alice and Brian Garcia with Garfield, Development Director Andy Eber, and event co-chair Linda
Heller with Boone.
Betty White to Honor Donors
Betty White, acclaimed actress, longtime GDB supporter, and Chair of the Norah Hamilton Straus Donors’
Circle (NHSDC), will be the featured speaker at a private reception honoring Circle members this
December. The reception will precede GDB’s Festive Holiday Luncheon at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in
San Francisco. The event, which is in its third year, will be the second time that Betty will have addressed
NHSDC reception attendees. Donors’ Circle members have each made annual contributions totaling
$1,000 or more; members will receive invitations to this reception soon. For more information, contact
Janet Benjamin at (800) 295-4050, ext. 4022.
Betty White and CEO Nancy Gardner with Betty’s career change dog, Pontiac.
Save the Date!
September 27 Support our Canine Heroes Wine Gala (Napa Valley, CA)
November 7
Oregon Fall Luncheon (Portland, OR)
November 16
December 10
Dogs with Hearts of Gold II (Reno, NV)
Festive Holiday Luncheon (San Francisco, CA)
Norah Hamilton Straus Donors’ Circle Donor Profile:
Greg and Linda Rice
“Although we had no family history of the disease, our daughter was diagnosed with diabetes at the age
of 4,” said Guide Dogs supporter and volunteer, Linda Rice of Novato, Calif. “Our family was vigilant
about her diet and insulin management, but we made a conscious decision not to raise her as a
Diabetic—she was going to be a normal kid who happened to have diabetes. As a result, she was a
competitive gymnast, a soccer player and a member of an award winning swim team during her teenage
years. As an adult, despite a very difficult pregnancy that brought on temporary retinopathy and partial
blindness, she and her husband happily presented us with our granddaughter last November.”
It was their knowledge of diabetic retinopathy, coupled with a strong desire to work with an organization
that involved animals and was of benefit to people, that inspired Linda and her husband Greg to become
active with Guide Dogs for the Blind.
“We have had wonderful experiences volunteering at Guide Dogs,” Linda said. “I have been a puppy
socializer for about three years. Every person in our Tuesday group is devoted to the mission of Guide
Dogs for the Blind and there is a personal bond among us that is remarkable. The support they offered
me during Jennifer’s pregnancy and their delight in Sydney’s healthy birth was invaluable to me.”
In 2007, Greg was asked to join the Board of Directors, and as part of his orientation, was invited to get a
taste of being in class while under blindfold for two days. “It was a powerful experience,” he said. “It gave
me a better understanding of blindness, Guide Dog training and the human/animal bond. I have been
most impressed by Guide Dogs’ staff, volunteers and contributors—their concern and dedication toward
building the best partnerships between person and dog. It is truly a gift to both of us to be a small part of
this wonderful mission.”
News of Our Graduates
Marlaina Lieberg of Seattle, Wash., with yellow Lab guide Aggie, had the surprise of her life this past
spring when she was joined in song by none other than Stevie Wonder. Marlaina was attempting to
entertain a crowd without amplification at a conference in Los Angeles put on by HumanWare (makers of
accessible electronic devices), of which Stevie is a regular attendee. She jokingly said, “Where’s Stevie
Wonder when you need him?” when suddenly he appeared by her side and started harmonizing to her
original tune. Needless to say, the crowd (and Aggie!) went crazy!
The Windy City Chapter of GDB’s Alumni Association held its second annual barbeque in June.
The group enjoyed a rare sunny Chicago spring day, mingling and catching up. Pictured (l to r): Terry
Sauermann and Tiffin, GDB Field Representative Lauren Ross and Ambassador Dog Narnia, Brian Austin
and retired guide Jethro, Jeani Cunningham, Kathy Austin and Solomon, Jack Cunningham and Kaplan,
Judy Peltier and Rennie, Roxanne Calibraro and Carnation, Sheila Vleck and Gunilla, Mary Kozy and
Shirley, Ken Kozy.
GDB’s Associate Planned Giving Director Bob Sonnenberg, along with his trusted black Lab Guide Nino,
were the stars of a Portland Beavers baseball game in June. Bob made us all proud by throwing out the
first pitch—a mean howitzer that went right over home plate.
Jack and Linda Middleton of Carson City, Nev., with Jack’s German Shepherd guide Gossett, took their
1911 Model T Ford to the Model T Ford Centennial Party in Richmond, Ind. They had the opportunity to
see Henry Ford III and his father, Edsel Ford. Their car is currently on display in the National Model T
Museum in Indiana.
GDB Board Member Morgan Watkins of Austin, Texas, recently delighted an appreciative crowd at the
California campus with stories of life with his two Golden Retriever Guide Dogs, Will and Phantom. You
can view or listen to his humorous and impactful presentation at:
www.guidedogs.com/morgan.
The Panda Fund for Retired Guide Dogs
The Panda Fund was established by GDB Volunteer and generous donor, Wallis Smith to financially
assist adopters of retired Guide Dogs who face extraordinary veterinary care costs for GDB approved
procedures that they are unable to afford. For more information contact GDB’s Veterinary Clinic: (800)
295-4050, extension 4089.
Charitable Gift Annuities: Give the gift that gives back!
Did you know that gift annuities offer you or a beneficiary payments for life? In addition, gift annuity
income is partially tax-free, and you get an income tax charitable donation at the time of the gift.
If you would like a free illustration of how a gift annuity would work for you, please complete and return
the form below.
Photo:
Legacy Society member Kathy Andre (left) and breeding stock custodian Cathy Gregory got into the spirit
of Fun Day at the Oregon campus where they participated in the new puppy delivery. The two pups they
presented, Flute and Faraja, are part of the “F Litter” featured on Guide Dogs’ blog, “No Bones About It.”
To read all of the pups’ adventures, please visit http://guidedogs.blogspot.com.
You Can Make a Difference!
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Send a donation today
To send a contribution of any type or amount, please use our special mailing address for
donations only: Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912-3950. You can
also donate at our secure website: www.guidedogs.com.
Make an Honor or Memorial gift
Honor a friend, relative or pet—we will send cards of celebration or sympathy in your name.
Create a Legacy in your estate plan
Make a lasting commitment by naming Guide Dogs for the Blind in your will, which we honor with
membership in our Legacy Society.
Help us match the Hart Challenge Grant to assist retired Breeders
The Hart Foundation of Reno, Nev., has offered a $70,000 challenge grant to the Duncan
Kattman Fund. The Fund offers financial assistance for retired GDB breeder dogs requiring
extraordinary veterinary procedures. To obtain the full grant, $70,000 must be raised in matching
donations by December 31, 2008. Contribute to this worthwhile cause AND double your gift.
For more information on any of these giving options, please contact our Development Department at
(800) 295-4050.
Photo:
Ed Daniels, a professional musician, says, “My Guide Dog gives me freedom!” He is pictured on GDB’s
new credit card. Learn more at www.guidedogs.com/visa. For every application, GDB will receive a $50
contribution. Sign up today!