A Family Contributing Time & Love For a Canine In Training

Trabuco Canyon News

May 2005

Lisa Lake, A Trabuco Canyon resident, and her family are contributing time and love in raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Harley is a 5-month old yellow lab. Lake will raise Harley for 16-18 months before he will be returned to the Guide Dog campus for formal guide work training with licensed instructors. Following the completion of training, the dogs are matched with blind students that will complete an intensive in-residence course. If Harley passes all his training Lake and her family will formally present the dog to the dog’s new partner who is blind.

Harley goes everywhere with Lake. He can be seen at Gold’s Gym, around the RSM Lake and at local stores and restaurants. Harley attends puppy training meetings at least twice a month. The local Guide Dog group has about 20 members and the people in the group provide loving and caring training to the puppies and raisers.

The most often questions asked are “May I pet your dog?” Lake responds with a smile and “I would prefer not, when he is wearing his vest he is working. Harley needs to learn to stay calm and attentive to his partner.” Harley gets a lot of love and praise on and off the job. Lake is also asked, “Won’t it be hard to give him up?” The Lake’s took on this job knowing that Harley was not their pet. Harley will hopefully graduate to be a working guide dog who will allow a blind person to move about more safely and provide a wonderful companion. “Will there be tears?” You bet!

For more information visit Guide Dogs for the Blind’s website at www.guidedogs.com