In a few days I will be saying goodbye as Kera climbs onto a van that will take her down to the guide dog school in Florida. She'll probably recognize the smell because she was born there, and her brothers and sisters will be returning to the facility as well, so maybe she'll have some company. Overall it's right that she's going - it's what all good little guide dog puppies do to get trained to work in a harness leading the blind. That's the job she was born to do and I've known since before I got her that this day would come.

If things go well for her, she should be matched up with a blind person in a few months and they will train together for 4 weeks before she heads with him or her to her new home and a rewarding life of service.

It's a sad, reflective time for me. I compare this to the "empty nest" syndrome my parents probably felt when my sister and I went off to school. The sad part is that I can't write, email or call Kera. I'll be almost completely cut off and uninformed of her progress if it goes well (no news is good news) because the training facility encourages puppy raisers like me to avoid talking to our puppies new owner for their first several months together so that the puppy and the blind person will have time to bond and get to know eachother without a pesky "stage mother" hovering over them.

On the one hand, I'm happy for Kera and wish her the best on everything. If she doesn't do well at the training facility, they'll do their best to find a new job for her. The school euphemistically refers to it as a "career change" when a dog isn't fit to guide the blind but can work as a police dog, therapy dog, or service dog for the physically handicapped.

I understand that... they've put a lot of time and money into these dogs and want to do their best to make sure the charitable donations that made that possible result in a dog that's giving back to society in as big a way as possible.

However, if none of that works out - which sometimes happens due to the dog having health problems, allergies, homesickness, etc. - then I will get her back. I can't say that I'm HOPING that will happen, but I guess it wouldn't be too bad, either....

Anyway, in tribute to Kera, I've put together a little 2 minute video remembrance piece. If you'd like a chance to see it, I've put it together on a video here.

If you're handy with the camera or camcorder, it might even inspire you to put together a little montage of your favorite pets. It's never too soon to capture some loving images of them and use your creativity to put them together in a way that will help you remember your pets' personalities as well as enjoyable to share with other folks.

I hope you like Kera's puppyhood video! You can view it here and let me know what you think!

Sincerely,

Emily Cunningham

PS. Click for more inspirational and funny puppy pictures as well as great dog photography tips!