A recent commencement at Guide Dogs of the Desert (GDD) held particular sentiment to leaders of the Auen Foundation, which has supported the nonprofit organization for greater than a decade.
This explicit commencement was vital to Sherrie Auen, trustee of the Auen Foundation, and Catharine Reed, its senior program officer, as a result of one among their namesake puppies graduated with a visually impaired human companion.
In recognition of their generosity, the Auen-Reed household was given the honour of naming the puppies after they have been born within the Sanford J. Reed (Sandy) Nursery at GDD, which was devoted in reminiscence of Sandy in June 2021.
“This commencement was very particular to us as a result of Reed is the primary puppy we have now named that’s going into information canine service,” mentioned Catharine. “The proven fact that he was born within the nursery named in honor of Sandy is very significant, after which for him to discover a serendipitous match with a young man like Dallas is joyous in essentially the most profound manner.”
The dedication of the nursery was additionally puppy hand-out day at GDD. The litter of 8-week-old commonplace poodles, which included Reed, was prepared to maneuver to houses of volunteer puppy raisers for 18-24 months. After that, the dogs within the litter acquired six to eight months of specialised information canine coaching from information canine mobility instructors.
Additionally, the dogs needed to go intensive medical examinations earlier than assembly the {qualifications} of a information canine. GDD trainers then labored to seek out the very best match handler for every.
As for Reed, GDD notified Dallas Matamoros that they’d chosen a canine to suit his wants. Then Matamoros got here to GDD’s Whitewater campus, the place he and the canine spent 4 weeks coaching collectively.
“Guide Dogs of the Desert is actually wonderful as a result of Reed actually is the very best match for me,” mentioned Matamoros, who misplaced full imaginative and prescient after a traumatic mind damage attributable to a automobile accident. “I’m grateful for everybody at this faculty for the unbelievable work they do to assist others, like me.”
Not solely has Reed given Matamoros extra freedom and mobility, he additionally gives emotional help that fuels his confidence. Since Reed has been by his facet, Matamoros mentioned earlier debilitating complications have subsided.
Matamoros and Reed are within the winter 2024 class of graduates at GDD, which is an accredited information canine faculty by the International Guide Dog Federation. Since 1972, a whole lot of client-dog groups have graduated from GDD. Clients incur no cost to obtain and practice with a information canine due to the generosity of donors.
In 2019, the Auen Foundation realized of GDD’s purpose to deliver the breeding program in-house. The basis supplied a $50,000 reward to assist get the nursery began. Shortly after family members misplaced Sandy Reed in June 2020, many donated greater than $10,000 to GDD in his reminiscence. Then, in July 2020, the remaining funding wanted to finish the nursery was donated solely from the Auen Foundation and the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. Additional beneficiant donations in Sandy’s honor got here in on the nursery dedication to help its ongoing operations.
“This is a full-circle story,” mentioned Auen, who adopted Reed’s mom, Patty, after she was retired from the breeding program. “It’s rewarding to see the nursery named after Sandy serving to one other young person dwell a extra full life with the assistance of a information canine companion. We’re completely happy that information canine is Reed.”
The on-site nursery permits puppies to begin their information canine journey in a protected, stress-free surroundings with around-the-clock consideration by employees and volunteers. To assist them grow to be higher information dogs, the puppies are acclimated to people by being dealt with from start. GDD maintains detailed information about every puppy starting instantly after they’re born, together with their exercise and vocal ranges, which of them open their eyes first and extra.
“We’ve at all times considered the Sanford J. Reed Nursery as a place synonymous with prospects, that are coming to fruition with information canine Reed’s commencement,” mentioned Robert Maher, govt director of GDD.
To study extra about elevating a information canine puppy or contributing to the organization, which has been serving to visually impaired college students discover independence and companionship by service dogs for greater than 50 years, go to guidedogsofthedesert.org.
Cara Van Dijk is a author and communications marketing consultant for numerous organizations, together with the Auen Foundation. She has lived within the Coachella Valley since 1999.
