If wet, sloppy kisses make you feel warm and fuzzy all over, you may just be a puppy raiser.

The Boring campus for Guide Dogs for the Blind played host to the 53rd anniversary of Fun Day on Aug. 6, an annual salute to volunteer puppy raisers and their four-legged charges that accompany them everywhere.

There were information booths, tours, training presentations, and the show-
stopping stage show as guide dogs performed for the crowd.

Raisers and their puppies enjoyed a day of mingling with their colleagues.
”This campus is a very special place,” said Community Services Officer Michele
Davis. “The fact that we give these dogs to the visually impaired at no cost
whatsoever to them, with no billing of insurance or government dollars either,
is something that we are all very proud of.”

Puppy raiser Monica McMaster, of Forest Grove, described Snapple, a black lab
puppy in training, as “very sweet.”

“She’s my second puppy in training, and she’ll come back in September for
formal training and classes at the campus prior to graduation,” McMaster said.
“She’s super easy, a great dog. We got her at the Fun Day last year.”

Ten-year-old Ciara McMaster helps with the training at home.

“The best part is bringing the puppy everywhere, so you can always have a
dog with you,” she said.

Qualified raisers receive a puppy at 8 weeks of age and raise it in their own
home, carefully nurturing the pup for the important life ahead of them. As well
as devoting a year and a lot of love, puppy raisers are responsible for
teaching basic obedience and good house manners – including a wide range of
social experiences to prepare the puppies for formal guide dog training when
they are old enough.

The puppies accompany their raisers everywhere – the mall, school, work,
grocery stores and on public transportation.

Jan Kritzer traveled from Seattle for Fun Day with Mel, a 9-month-old golden
retriever – her second puppy.

“My first one graduated just a couple of months ago,” Kritzer said. “It’s
tremendously emotional at graduation. As a puppy raiser you get so mixed up
about waiting to give them up but when you come and see them with the
people they get partnered with, it makes all the difference in the world. And
that person needs them more.”

Puppy raisers are invited to attend graduation day when they formally hand
over the leash of their fully trained guide dog to their new blind partner.
Camilla (Parker Bowles) was also present at Fun Day. Royalty this day came
in the form of a 9-month-old yellow lab with big brown eyes and a winning
disposition.

Steve Mehlig of Beaverton explained that Camilla is his ninth puppy in
training.

“I love dogs,” Mehlig said. “How many opportunities in life do you get to do
something really fun and get something back in return? I’ve loved every one
of them. They’re just like people, all have their distinct personalities and they
all want to please.”

For many reasons, not all puppies are destined to become guide dogs, and
some change careers and may go on to work in search and rescue, hearing or
service dog training, agility, pet therapy or other canine professions.

A career change transpired for Claudine, a puppy raised by Bethany Andrews,
club leader of Future Leaders for Guide Dog Puppies in Lake Oswego. Andrews
explained that Claudine developed stomach problems when she was about 15
months old, so she wouldn’t have worked in the Guide Dog program. Claudine
now spends her days mostly as a spoiled pet.

“She gets to come to all the meetings with me, and I manage a doggie
daycare so there is plenty of play time with the other dogs,” Andrews said.
Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Other entertainment included Tillman, the world’s fastest skateboarding dog,
who made two guest appearances. The 60-pound English bulldog wowed the
(human) crowd – the astonished puppies and guide dogs looked on in
amazement – as he shredded and carved his board up and down the parking
area.

“He’s been doing this since he was a pup,” said owner Ron Davis. “He’s
obsessed with it. He loves to surf too.”

Tillman can hang 10 with the best of them. Did the crowd just witness a goofy
foot?

The grand finale came when 15 captivatingly cute puppies were given away to
their new puppy raisers during the new puppy delivery.

Raisers Sheila O’Brien and Marc Whitehead from Portland – both members of
Sight Masters Club in Beaverton – were all smiles as they eagerly welcomed
their third puppy, an 8-week-old male yellow lab named Kevin.

“We love dogs, and enjoy puppies, and it’s such a great group of people at
Guide Dogs,” O’Brien said.

“Raising any puppy can be challenging,” Whitehead said. “There are rules with
raising guide dog puppies, but all the rules have a really good reason. One of
the fun things is that you can take your puppy anywhere you go, the grocery
store, everywhere. People love to engage you in conversation because you
have a guide dog in training. It’s neat.”

O’Brien and Whitehead’s previous guide dog in training graduated in July, and
is now guiding in Canada.

They are a dedicated group, these puppy raisers. Fun Day had a warm and
fuzzy feeling to it.

For further information about becoming a puppy raiser, or more information
about Guide Dogs, contact The Guide Dogs for the Blind, 800-295-4050,
www.guidedogs.com.