About five months after we moved here, I found a service dog school to raise another guide dog puppy. The school I found is called Freedom Guide Dogs and they are in Cassville, New York. On December 10, 2007 I got my new guide dog puppy to raise. He was a smooth coated collie named Cody. It was fun getting to raise a collie after raising two Labrador retrievers. I took him every where I went, like: Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply, Sam’s Club, JoAnn’s, Michaels, the Library, the beach, restaurants, bookstores, the mall, church, and other places.When I was raising him I had to make sure he was used to stairs, traffic, crowds, cars, loud noises, all kinds of people, kids and animals and etc. People in Corry especially at the library and Wal-Mart were always supportive and helpful.
One of Cody’s favorite places to go was church. Every time I took him to church everyone was excited to see him and he was happy to see them too. Sometimes during each meeting he would be crazy, but as soon as the meeting started he would calm down. Everyone in my branch played a role in helping me to raise Cody. The kids would take turns walking him with me. I would sometimes sit with him during primary. And he would be ok. Everyone was happy to see him and was supportive and patient with him and me. My branch was his second family and I am thankful for their support and help when I was raising Cody. Today he is a guide dog working in Albany, New York. I am starting over raising another guide dog puppy and again my branch is being very supportive and patient with a wiggly, noisy puppy at church.
When I see the picture of Cody with his new blind owner it makes me happy to see that I have helped a stranger see the world through a different pair of eyes.
Laura Chaney, Corry Branch
