Exciting, emotional day as first batch of guide dog puppies leave Regina to further training

Fourpups are leaving Regina for Ontario to further their training toward being guide dogs.

Indy, Percy, Lulu and Wallace came to the city in August2019 and have formal training left before becoming guide dogs.

Kerry Macdonald has been a volunteer puppy raiser with Indy since the young, playful pup arrived as CNIB Saskatchewan's guide dog program launched.

"It's fabulous. It's been a great learning experience, some really good people to work with.The dogs have been fabulous," Macdonald said.

Macdonald started volunteering because he was retiring and thinking about getting a dog. It was the first puppy he had since he was a teenager, he said.

House training the pup provided somechallenges, but was worth it in the end, he said.

"The great thing about it was a sense of accomplishment every time you get to a new stage and they suddenly start doing what they're supposed to do," Macdonald said.

Macdonald said he may be a puppy raiser again in the future, but will take some time off first. He said it's emotional to see Indy go,but great to know the pup'straining will continue.

"I'm excited for him. He loves to learn, he loves to train, he loves to be active. I think he's going to just excel," Macdonald said.

"Someone is gonna get a great dog . They're going to have greater mobility and greater opportunities and he's going to have a fabulous life."

Kezia Gray, who supervisedthe puppy raisers, said the city was receptive to the first batch of puppies introduced here.

"The program's been amazingly received in Regina," she said.

The four puppies she was supervising are now off to Ontario. They have formal training then will either be guide dogs for the blind or partially sighted, ambassador CNIB staff or buddy dogs for children who are blind or partially sighted.

Next batch of puppies expected in fall2020

Regina will not be without puppies for long. CNIB Saskatchewan hopes to bring a new batch of three or four dogs this fall.

Gray said they are looking for puppy raisers who are enthusiastic, have time on their hands and are really willing to learn.

"It's amazing to see where they end up at the end of it," Gray said. "You can really start to see all the work that you've put in."

Gray said it's hard to put into words how important the guide dogs are for those who are matched with one.

"It changes their life," Gray said. "AIt gives them so much independence. It gets them out socializing a lot more. So it's huge."