The Final Countdown!!

Figured that now is as good a time as ever to have my first post on the blog!!! To open I'll introduce myself :).

My name is Meredith and I live in the great state of Michigan!!! I'm a full time college student and I'm about to embark on one of the greatest challenges to ever come into my life. I am about to take on the great task of raising a puppy for an organization called Leader Dogs for the Blind. In order to best understand what this whole situation is all about, perhaps we should have a brief history lesson (woh woh wohhhhh...) ......

Founded in 1939 by the Lions Club, Leader Dog is the second guide dog school in the United States. Located in Rochester,MI, Leader Dog provides services to those who are blind and/or visually impaired through the use of GPS systems and/or dogs. Applicants come from all across the world to learn through the Leader Dog program and there are over 3,000 graduates who have gone through the program. Of course this program has to start somewhere and of course why don't we start with.....puppies!!! Well most definatly we have to start with puppies. They are the beginning of the process that is involved in becoming a leader dog. And of course puppies need a raiser. Thats where me and several other hard working individuals come in.

The Leader Dog Puppy Raiser program is a program that allows people in the community to get involved with the organization and lend a hand in providing the independence to so many blind and visually impaired individuals internationally. Leader Dog breeds 3 types of dogs for use in their program: German Shepherd, Laborador Retriever, and Golden Retriever. Raisers are notified (after filling out an application) when a puppy is availible for pick up at the Rochester campus. Puppy raisers have the puppies for 12-15 months before they go back for formal training and [hopefully] placement at Leader Dog. As a raiser, they are responsible for the housetraining, socialization, obdeience training, and exposure to situations that the puppy may encounter during formal training.

Seems like alot to digest huh? That's exactly what I thought back in January when I submitted my interest application. Wasn't sure what was going to happen but I was positive it would be good. I mean, after all, I'm helping someone who will need it. Right?

So after much waiting, and six months of being out of state, I FINALLY have a puppy pick up date and time!! September 18th,2011 at 1PM. Everything is set and ready. Now all I have to do is put one foot in front of the other and begin on this journey.

So I invite all of you to sit back, relax, buckle up, and come along on this journey with me. You will see my ups,downs, conflicts, disappointments, and triumphs throughout the next 12-15 months. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Well that's all for now. Time to get down to the nitty gritty on that old fashioned thing they call homework! (homework? what's that? ;) ). More to come!