Showing some future guide dogs the way

About 70 puppies visit Downtown Disney to face all sorts of distractions.

October 8, 2001

By COURTNEY PERKES
The Orange County Register

ANAHEIM -- Kristine Williams brought her 5-month-old puppy to Downtown Disney on Sunday for an important attraction - all the distractions.

Williams led Floris, a yellow Labrador training to become a guide dog for the blind, through the Rainforest Café to teach her to stay focused despite crowds, noise and lots of other puppies. Floris sniffed stuffed animals and perked her ears during a simulated thunder and lightning storm.

"She did great," said Williams, 49, of Riverside, one of dozens of people who volunteer to raise the dogs and help train them. "The last time we brought her in here, it was too overwhelming. We literally had to pick her up and carry her out."

About 70 German shepherds, Labradors and golden retrievers roamed the promenade of shops and restaurants during the exercise organized by Paws for Independence, an Orange County 4-H chapter. The dogs rode the Monorail, passed a roaring waterfall and strolled through the ESPN Zone and the Disneyland Hotel.

The dogs also practiced guiding their masters up and down stairs -- a skill that allowed Roselle, a yellow Labrador, to guide a blind sales manager to safety from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Danielle Shindler's 6-month-old German shepherd aced the stair climbing despite blaring football and video games.

"She didn't let anything bother her," said Shindler, 15, of Irvine.

George Cassell, 53, of Orange brought along his guide dog to meet the puppies in training and show his appreciation for the volunteers, who raise them until they head off for training school. Cassell, who is blind, said his dog, Mickey, keeps him safe and navigates him wherever he needs to go.

"We are literally placing our lives in these dogs' paws, and we can do it confidently," Cassell said.