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Saturday, September 22, 2012

SERVICE DOGS


- Hattiesburg, MS

September is National Service Dog month, and I investigated what role guide dogs play in their owners' lives.

Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center, in Madison, MS, is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing guide dogs for the blind. The Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center's Executive Director is Rebecca Floyd. Floyd has utilized her guide dog, Lucy, for a little over three years. Kathie Curtis works with Floyd as the Director of Kennel Operations and the Puppy Program.

At Gallant Hearts, it currently costs about 17,000 dollars to breed, raise and train a guide dog. In the Gallant Hearts program, there are currently 16 dogs in the puppy raising program, 3 dogs in training and 4 dogs in the breeding program, and Gallant Hearts is expecting the graduation of their first guide dog in the coming weeks.

The guide dog trainer for Gallant Hearts is Ryan Burley. Burley believes that guide dogs can give their owners more freedom by serving as their eyes.

Mac David, a University of Southern Mississippi student, utilizes his guide dog, Cy, to help him navigate campus. David says that it is very important for guide dogs to have a great relationship with their owners.

Floyd, Curtis, Burley, and David all agree that if you see a guide dog working that you shouldn't pet him/her without consent from the owner. Guide dogs are not just pets for their owners, they are working as their eyes.

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