Boone's Page

My husband Steve and I raised Boone, a black Labrador Retriever, for the North Carolina Puppy Raising Program of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. This page chronicles our experiences, answers some commonly asked questions, and shows off our beautiful boy!

Visit Boone's Diary, which contains more pictures of Boone.

[Boone at 20 weeks]

About Boone

Boone was born November 18, 1995
Boone is male
Boone was named after the town BOONE, NC which was named after Daniel Boone
Boone's vet sponsor was Parkway Animal Hospital, Cary NC
Boone's food sponsor was Pet Mania (Preston Corners) Cary, NC

Some of Boone's favorite things:

Eating
Wrestling with his brother (our Golden Retriever, Argus)
Eating
His evening walks
Playing in water
Did I mention eating?

What is expected of a puppy raiser?

Teach the puppy proper "house manners"
Socialize the puppy. Give him opportunities to explore new places
Keep the puppy safe from harm
Above all, love your puppy and let him be a puppy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn't it hard to give up the puppy?
We raisers love the puppies we raise very much, and miss them when they embark on their careers, but we get a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment in helping the puppy reach its full potential. We understand that we are taking an active part in helping blind people reach their full potential by aiding them as they strive for mobility and independence. This makes it all worthwhile.

What happens if a puppy doesn't make it as a guide dog?
GEB released dogs are often given the opportunity to have other careers, such as therapy dogs. Many return to their raisers or are adopted by people eager to have a pet to love. Whatever the situation, GEB strives to make sure the dogs are healthy and happy.

Does GEB only use Labs?
Mostly. The Labrador Retriever is such a versatile dog that it can be used in a wide range of situations. GEB also uses some German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.

What is a (food or vet) sponsor?
These are wonderful people who help our program be a success! A food sponsor is either an individual, company, or pet store that agrees to donate food for a puppy while it is being raised. A vet sponsor is a veterinarian who donates services such as vaccinations and basic health care while a puppy is being raised. Both types of sponsors help keep the cost of raising a dog to a minimum for the raiser, enabling a wide variety of people to raise a puppy for GEB.

mefine@mindspring.com