What is a Puppy Raiser...
| Providing the gift of independence & love… one dog at a time® |
"Sometimes the best way to find out the riches of life is to deeply commit one's love to something that one can't necessarily possess.
The satisfaction of being a part of an enormous love process is a very worthwhile experience. " -Ann Myers, Puppy Raiser
The satisfaction of being a part of an enormous love process is a very worthwhile experience. " -Ann Myers, Puppy Raiser
| Puppy Raisers are the lifeblood of CST. Without these generous individuals who open their hearts and homes to puppies for 18 months, donating their time to socialize, teach basic obedience, and attend CST scheduled puppy raiser field trips, our program would not flourish the way it has. Puppy raisers turn their pups in for advanced training to CST and about 6 months later, the dog is teamed with a disabled person on CST's waiting list. There are many opportunities for volunteers with CST. From running booths at special events or fund raisers, joining one of CST's fundraiser committees, to helping in the kennel or office. Volunteers of ALL kinds are always needed - so come join our TEAM! To apply to be a puppy raiser now-->> Puppy Raiser Application If you have any questions about how you can help CST help others, please contact us. |
What It Means to Be A Puppy Raiser
(Testimonials from some of our raisers)
What it means to me to be a puppy raiser-To be able to give a trained dog to somebody who otherwise may have never had a chance
to live a complete life. For this person to own a great, custom trained dog would be impossible without this puppy raising program. To
be a part in giving to a person in need and knowing that dog is going to love their new life companion and that person gets to feel what
its like to have the unconditional love a dog gives. It makes me feel like a stupendous person, totally admired by all and proud to have
a puppy in training by my side.
Patricia Galvin, Kenny's mom
Being a puppy raiser is a 7/24 job. It's full of joys and tears and accomplishments and setbacks. And when it's all over, you have to
part with this "little" fuzz ball that you've poured all of your energy, money, time, and attention into. You think of the fact that you are
turning over a happy, well-trained, healthy dog to be with a special person as helper and friend for the rest of his/her life, you dry your
tears, and you go on......
Patsy Majors
Being a puppy raiser means loving and caring for a dog you know you don’t get to keep. You do it anyway because you know how
much joy your puppy will bring to the life of someone in need.
For me as a teacher one special aspect of being a puppy raiser has been the chance to share Burgess with everyone at my school.
He comes with me to school every Tuesday. My students really look forward to it as do many of the teachers and office staff. He
brightens the day of everyone he sees. Teachers who are stressed take a minute to pet Burgess and you can see them relax
instantly.
For Doug being a puppy raiser means constantly being one step behind a very intelligent puppy. Just when Doug thinks he has
Burgess figured out he chews something else.
Being a puppy raiser also means not being able to enjoy the purple blooms of the agapanthus on the plants. Instead we find them
around the yard and in Burgess’ mouth.
Peggy
We were a dull couple until we started raising puppies. Now we are the center of attention where ever we go.
Doug Goodman
Rosie goes to church with me every Sunday, and folks are now beginning to wonder when she is going to leave. They keep
commenting on how "big" she's gotten. We had a service a couple of weeks ago where we prayed and sent off several people from our
congregation on different missions projects. It made me think of how much Rosie is like a "missionary". She has been loved, trained
and raised by not just me, but several "groups" of people, including those at my church, in my classroom and school, and our training
classes as well. When we get our date for her to leave me, one of the ushers in our church suggested we pray for her and send her
off, as well. I agree....just as the quotation reads "it takes a village to raise a child".....I think it takes a lot of people to raise these
special puppies.
Julie Latham
Being a puppy raiser involves almost every emotion you can imagine:
Joy at the wonderful nature of these great pups and their natural ability to bring out the best and the most friendly responses from the
people you meet.
Laughter as you watch them grow and learn and frolic with children and adults alike.
Pride as they learn new behaviors and adjust to new situations with ease.
Sadness, verging on despair, when a pup disappears and jubilation when that same pup is returned to you healthy and happy and with
a "few new habits".
A new understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced everyday by individuals with disabilities and a thankfulness for being
able to do something to help.
Humility as other people tell you how great it is that you are doing this while saying there is no way they would be able to give up great
pups like these.
Puppy raisers are blessed.
Richard, Lynn, Sam, Will, Cory and Hope
"What It Means To Be a Puppy Raiser". For me being a puppy raiser gives me the rewarding opportunity to belong to a special club.
These service oriented people unselfishly donate their time, effort and money to participate collectively in supplying service trained
dogs to anyone in need. A "Service Dog" provides a source of love and service for a person who is additionally tested in life, befallen
with handicaps of a physical or mental nature that can be insurmountable if left unchallenged. Service dogs are trained to do many
tasks that those of us, unencumbered, do without thinking; like opening doors and turning lights on. These dogs are invaluable and
definitely needed. All of the sacrifices and training that I do with my puppy right now I feel I am doing for that special person who will
eventually receive his love and loyalty.
I imagine it is like I am raising my child and eventually he will be going off to serve in the Peace Corps and help someone who needs his
unique service and love. He will be grown and gone but with the love and training he receives from me now I envision him becoming a
well balanced success.
Linda
Being a puppy raiser for us has been a very rewarding experience. It begins with a sense of being a part of an effort to improve the life
of someone you don't even know, but you are confident they will be greatly rewarded with the placement of their companion. It is a
wonderful opportunity to have the "puppy experience", such wonderful time for both the puppy and the raiser to watch them grow and
to see the pleasure they get in learning and pleasing their raiser. And puppy raising provides a wonderful opportunity to educate
people on the joy of being around dogs and what they can do for the disabled.
-David Zappe
(Testimonials from some of our raisers)
What it means to me to be a puppy raiser-To be able to give a trained dog to somebody who otherwise may have never had a chance
to live a complete life. For this person to own a great, custom trained dog would be impossible without this puppy raising program. To
be a part in giving to a person in need and knowing that dog is going to love their new life companion and that person gets to feel what
its like to have the unconditional love a dog gives. It makes me feel like a stupendous person, totally admired by all and proud to have
a puppy in training by my side.
Patricia Galvin, Kenny's mom
Being a puppy raiser is a 7/24 job. It's full of joys and tears and accomplishments and setbacks. And when it's all over, you have to
part with this "little" fuzz ball that you've poured all of your energy, money, time, and attention into. You think of the fact that you are
turning over a happy, well-trained, healthy dog to be with a special person as helper and friend for the rest of his/her life, you dry your
tears, and you go on......
Patsy Majors
Being a puppy raiser means loving and caring for a dog you know you don’t get to keep. You do it anyway because you know how
much joy your puppy will bring to the life of someone in need.
For me as a teacher one special aspect of being a puppy raiser has been the chance to share Burgess with everyone at my school.
He comes with me to school every Tuesday. My students really look forward to it as do many of the teachers and office staff. He
brightens the day of everyone he sees. Teachers who are stressed take a minute to pet Burgess and you can see them relax
instantly.
For Doug being a puppy raiser means constantly being one step behind a very intelligent puppy. Just when Doug thinks he has
Burgess figured out he chews something else.
Being a puppy raiser also means not being able to enjoy the purple blooms of the agapanthus on the plants. Instead we find them
around the yard and in Burgess’ mouth.
Peggy
We were a dull couple until we started raising puppies. Now we are the center of attention where ever we go.
Doug Goodman
Rosie goes to church with me every Sunday, and folks are now beginning to wonder when she is going to leave. They keep
commenting on how "big" she's gotten. We had a service a couple of weeks ago where we prayed and sent off several people from our
congregation on different missions projects. It made me think of how much Rosie is like a "missionary". She has been loved, trained
and raised by not just me, but several "groups" of people, including those at my church, in my classroom and school, and our training
classes as well. When we get our date for her to leave me, one of the ushers in our church suggested we pray for her and send her
off, as well. I agree....just as the quotation reads "it takes a village to raise a child".....I think it takes a lot of people to raise these
special puppies.
Julie Latham
Being a puppy raiser involves almost every emotion you can imagine:
Joy at the wonderful nature of these great pups and their natural ability to bring out the best and the most friendly responses from the
people you meet.
Laughter as you watch them grow and learn and frolic with children and adults alike.
Pride as they learn new behaviors and adjust to new situations with ease.
Sadness, verging on despair, when a pup disappears and jubilation when that same pup is returned to you healthy and happy and with
a "few new habits".
A new understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced everyday by individuals with disabilities and a thankfulness for being
able to do something to help.
Humility as other people tell you how great it is that you are doing this while saying there is no way they would be able to give up great
pups like these.
Puppy raisers are blessed.
Richard, Lynn, Sam, Will, Cory and Hope
"What It Means To Be a Puppy Raiser". For me being a puppy raiser gives me the rewarding opportunity to belong to a special club.
These service oriented people unselfishly donate their time, effort and money to participate collectively in supplying service trained
dogs to anyone in need. A "Service Dog" provides a source of love and service for a person who is additionally tested in life, befallen
with handicaps of a physical or mental nature that can be insurmountable if left unchallenged. Service dogs are trained to do many
tasks that those of us, unencumbered, do without thinking; like opening doors and turning lights on. These dogs are invaluable and
definitely needed. All of the sacrifices and training that I do with my puppy right now I feel I am doing for that special person who will
eventually receive his love and loyalty.
I imagine it is like I am raising my child and eventually he will be going off to serve in the Peace Corps and help someone who needs his
unique service and love. He will be grown and gone but with the love and training he receives from me now I envision him becoming a
well balanced success.
Linda
Being a puppy raiser for us has been a very rewarding experience. It begins with a sense of being a part of an effort to improve the life
of someone you don't even know, but you are confident they will be greatly rewarded with the placement of their companion. It is a
wonderful opportunity to have the "puppy experience", such wonderful time for both the puppy and the raiser to watch them grow and
to see the pleasure they get in learning and pleasing their raiser. And puppy raising provides a wonderful opportunity to educate
people on the joy of being around dogs and what they can do for the disabled.
-David Zappe
| Canine Support Teams, Inc. |
| "Changing the way the world thinks about disabilities, one dog at a time" ® |
| 951-301-3625 cstmain@caninesupportteams.org |
