KINDNESS
DeeDee Haddad, left, is sight-impaired and found her perfect match, Wrigley, at Southeastern Guide Dogs.
19 November/December 2018 StPeteLifeMag.com
world around them. This can mean trips to stores and restaurants,
interaction with small children, or becoming acquainted with
the family cat – the familiarization will ultimately keep them less
distracted on the job.
“We couldn’t do what we do without our puppy raisers. It really does
take a village,” Lando said.
“The raisers have them for about two years and then bring them
“We visit places like University Town Center and downtown Tampa
and St. Petersburg. This way, they learn commands and safety in
Alexandria Young, manager of guest experiences.
After university, dogs are paired up with their perfect human
comfortable. “We teach eight guide dog classes and four service
dog classes a year where the pairs will actually live on-campus
together for weeks,” Young said.
applicants. “Dogs can be expensive but we want to make them
more accessible to those in need,” Young added.
A commencement ceremony is then held for each class, giving the
new owners the opportunity to share their stories and meet the
people who made their new partnerships possible.
“In the beginning, it was really intimidating, it took baby steps but I
was in awe at every facet. Everything I expected has exceeded that,”
said DeeDee Haddad, a St. Pete resident and mother of three who
the perfect dog, they take into account our walking rate, our size –
it’s like match.com but for dogs.”
Commencement is often emotional as owners recount how greatly
their lives have improved in such a short time. Veteran Vernon
Richmond stated: “I didn’t realize I would run into an animal more
intelligent than I am but, with Rubicon by my side, I think my life will
be so much easier.”
Spanning three decades, Southeastern Guide Dogs has successfully
paired over 3,000 humans and guide dogs across the 48 contiguous
states and the nine graduates from October’s commencement will
join the continuously growing ranks of alumni.
“Our goal is to create and nurture extraordinary partnerships
between people and guide dogs,” Herman said.
Join the Tour : Southeastern Guide Dogs
4210 77th St. East, Palmetto, FL 34221
www.guidedogs.org
For more information on the Behind Closed Doors tour, to volunteer or learn more
about eligibility requirements for a service dog, visit www.guidedogs.org. Tours are
goes directly into supporting the four-legged superheroes.
/match.com
/www.guidedogs.org