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Show 2W The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, October 5, 1985 Potential guide dogs start life with By Nam y Hobbs Tribune Lifestyle Writer Ron and Nancy Hudson braced themselves for the day they would have to give up Velda Despite the knowledge that their caring and love would be temporary, the separation was difficult Their consolation was knowing that the young golden reti lever might serve a life of giving She was on her San Raway back to her birthplace fael, Calif , the locale of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc Velda one 0 several dozen year-ol- d pups bred by the institution, is a future guide dog candidate The Hudsons acquired Velda when she was 12 weeks old For a year, they devoted time, energy and love to teaching her basic obedience and so cialization skills When she left for San Rafael a few weeks ago, Velda had beeo on a bus, through stores and introduced to as many chaotic or possibly frightening situations as they could imagine The experiences were encountered alone or with other puppies and foster owners enrolled in the Guide Dog Project Guide Dogs for the Blind, which operates the puppy project in eight Western states, has discovered that dogs raised through their puppy-hoo- d m a lovfng, social family situation are superior to those raised in kennels Keep Dogs One Year Families or individuals involved in the program provide care and basic training for a puppy for 12 to 15 months At the end of that time, they agree to return the dog to San Rafael for professional training and preparation as a guide dog The program is mutually advantageous, said Margaret Precup, leader of the Salt Lake puppy club Guide Dogs for the Blind, a nonprofit charitable organization providing highly trained dogs for members of the blind community, places puppies specifically bred as guide dogs in comfortable, caring home situations When the dogs are returned a year later, they are socialized and trained h well enough to begin a intensive schooling period before leaving the institution with a blind mas4-- 4-- five-mont- ter Foster owners," children over 11 or adults, have the opportunity to raise a dog carefully bred for intelligence, good conformation and disposition That they are training the dog in hopes it will become a guide dog is a rewarding challenge requiring much responsibility, Ms Precup said Room additions KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) - Ameri- cans spend more money annually on room additions than on any other home remodeling projects, according to Payless Cashways The firm, a building materials retailer headquartered here, says, "A room addition is a major investment, costing from $20,000 to $40,000 on the average, but it can pay for itself in increased value when the home is eventually sold It cited a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders that predicts consumers will spend $71 billion on residential alterations and repairs m 85, up 12 7 percent from $63 billion m 1984 For the younger owners, the pio gram helps develop public speaking skills, as they are encouraged to make presentations about their dog and the puppy program at regular meetings, at school and at libraries It's easy for them to talk about because theres nothing in the world they love more than their dog Ms Precup said You also see the kids grow and become more responsible Club members meet weekly for training sessions, field trips or educational presentations When the dogs are old enough to return to San Rafael, the local club gives a graduation party Such was the occasion recently as the Hudsons and Velda prepared for her trip West Michelle Foulger, a blind student at the University cf Utah, came to the celebration with Namu, the guide dog she received from San Rafael last year Also there were Ms Precup and husband Mark with 12 week-olpuppy Gracie", the Von Christensen family and "Henry, a German shepherd pup, the Chuck Keilman family and female golden retriever Westa, and the Leon Henriehsen family who received word they would receive a yellow Labrador puppy within weeks Difficult to Give Up Foster owners agreed that after several hours working with and caring for the dogs, they become part of the family The prospect of giving the dog up after a year isnt easy, but the owners children and adults know the dog may serve an important role as the eyes enabling a blind person to become more mobile and independent Pven before puppies are distributed to foster homes, between ages 10 and 12 weeks, they are tested for intelligence, curiosity and courage, Ms Precup explained of the culling process for guide dogs Dogs judged too timid are rejected even at that early age h The intensive training period that begins once a dog is returned to San Rafael is so demanding, only 50 percent of those that have made it thus far will graduate as guide dogs, Ms Precup explained Foster owners who have worked long and hard to see their dogs become guide dogs are warned of those odds prior to entering the program As long as the dog is in professional training, however, his early owners can monitor his progress by calling for report cards from San Rafael every Monday The owner can even offer professional trainers assistance by submitting a journal when the dog is returned The journal, kept through the dogs first year, includes notations of what things the dog may find especially frightening or distracting The trainer can then work with the dog on fears that overcoming those fears may otherwise be a stumbling block in success In the last month of intensive train mg, guide dog students are carefully matched with blind students Together, dog and master learn to adapt as a team Graduation Ceremonies The natural high point to the preparation and training is graduation. Ms Precup said If the dog is accepted for graduation, the foster owner is notified and invited to attend the ceremonies The foster owner finishes" families 4-- H gel Hf or she will be producing fu lure guide dogs, Ms Precup said If prospective guide dogs are rejected during the intensive training for any reason, the foster owners are given priority in acquiring their dog as a pet If they decide not to take the dog however, they can rest assured that the pet will have a family A waiting list of hundreds has accumud lated for the well bred, dogs determined unsuitable as guide dogs Among the foster ow ners, the prospect of being able to keep their best friend if it doesn't graduate causes mixed emotions Owners joke about how they hope their dog fails so it can But their goal come back home and commitment to see the dog excel wins out over more selfish emotions Besides, Ms Precup pointed out, once the dog is returned to San Rafael, the foster pw ners start over with a new puppy As Debbie Keilman, 12, explained date to about the return Westa, Yea, well miss her, but once we get our new puppy, we ll get used to the fact shes gone And she'll be helping someone else " Many Success Stories We really had it in our minds all along that we were sort of foster parents, Ron Hudson said of Velda Youre doing this for a purpose, you want to see your dog succeed A lot of Utahns can be proud of the efforts theyve put forth in the 4 H puppy program There are 12 guide dog clubs in Utah, with 18 leaders and 33 adolescents and 41 members eight adults Of the dogs whose first homes were Utah, 36 are now working guide dogs, Tune are breeding well-traine- d his commitment by presenting the new guide dog to its blind master There have been people who have raised a pup, found it particularly difficult to give up after one year and decided not to ask for another, Ms Precup said Until graduation Then the early owners see the re wards of their care and love When it comes to the real heart of it youre rooting for your dog to make it When the hard moments come when you give up your dog its for your sake that you cry, not the dogs The dogs are bred for adaptability You want to see yours succeed as a guide dog There are dogs returned to San Ra fael chosen to serve a purpose other than guide dog If a deg has an especially nice conformation and little susceptibility to hip dysplasia, a hereditary condition disabling larger dogs, it may be selected for breeding Although you hope your dog will be helping a blind person Ibeing selected as a bitch or stud is, in a way, the best compliment your dog can dogs And, in addition to Miss Foulgr, there are 41 blind people in Utah wrho enjoy and depend on the companionship of San Rafael guide dogs dogs that got their start in someones caring home five-mont- NOT Celestial Bodies to achieve perfect size and BODY Durham GAIN BABY WEIGHT Mrs, Terry Durham mother of 3 as a client of Celestial Bodies achieved 20 inch thigha from 25 inches and size- - 5 from sic 12 in just b'z weeks Then can achieve this success the wav t all today for a complimentary oi lentation Celestial Bodies is sponsoring Dr Alan T Rappleyi OBGYN in a free lecture Novemlier 5th As often discussed as a legular guest on TV 5 s ( lood Friends I )r Rappleve will again address Dealing with Success, Worm n s Stress and PMS ( all lot personal mvitat ions Bv reser-- v 5 ou loo ( LaRene main becoming tamed this inch loss by continuing the complete Celestial Bodies exercise throughout pregnancy Stic gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Aug 22 1485 Congratulations to LaReru and baby Matthew pro-pra- ? monM being patented!!! Dre-nata- l, 7 its thighs! So effective WEIGHT LriKern is the only way picgncnf Watch v ideas m oui studio o) LaRene and other clients on talk shows like TV 20s Weekday and TV 5V Spotlight 5 elestial Bodies at ion only Celestial Bodies 272 - 8695 We suggest Satan stripes Voilo pantyhose Si 2 Sherling boor by Andrew Geller S98 Topaz Cinch by Yves Saint Laurent $65 Exclusively the Madeleine de Madeleine padume $15 $45 European Com belt S38 Palizzto s gold and rhinestone shell purse $75 LaPrairte makeup from Switzerland exclusively at the Chalk Garden Collection of animal bracelets Si 75 French pump by Robert Oergerie Si 45 RJ Grazianno jewelry collection bracelet with coins and stones S65 necklace Si 75 Kenneth J Lane rhinestone earrings $48 and ring $45 and the fine yarn crewel work on Carol Horn s blazer $196 uff liffin ilirrirWEiHifill-h-CT- |