Sunday, March 13, 2005

   A Very Special Day
Sienna’s Graduation~ 12 March 2005

Today was one of the best days of my life! It is an experience that I have only had once and may never have again. Today Sienna graduated to become a working guide dog for a woman named Erin in San Pablo, CA.

We left for the Guide Dogs for the Blind school this morning at 9:30 and arrived at a little after 11:45. The first thing to be done there was that while I went in to sign in my mom took another raiser’s dog to the kennels area for a surgery.

When I checked in they gave me a name tag which had my name and Sienna’s on it so that the people knew who I was there for. After a short time of waiting all of us were addressed by the main supervisor who explained what was to take place.

After the explanation each person and their dog were brought out to meet and visit with the person who raised their dog. Erin was one of the last to come out. She is such a kind and wonderful person! She truly is! I brought her two pictures of Sienna that I put into frames. One was from the very day I first pick Sienna up as a puppy. The other was one taken in the process of my senior portraits. She seemed to like them and that made me happy. ^^ She told me that she has something for me, but misplaced it and will send it later on. I’m really not worried. She has already given me the best gift of all. I found myself raising guide dogs. It is partially because of them that I decided to become a teacher. I don’t think I would have fully realized that goal if I hadn’t raised all these wonderful dogs.

When we were visiting we also met the family that raised one of Sienna’s siblings, Shay. I also got to met Erin’s boyfriend, Scott. He was a very kind gentleman. He had participated in the Sydney, Australia Olympics! I don’t remember now the name of the sport he was in, but it is the only sport completely designed for those who are blind.

While visiting we also had a photo taken. They will be giving me three copies, one of which will be then sent to the newspaper so that the city may know of Sienna’s graduation as well. ^^

After the photos and a little more visiting all of the companions were taken to the graduation stage for the beginning of the ceremony. The ceremony started with the main supervisor saying a few words and explaining what the guide dog program is and what we do. He then introduced dogs who were graduating as breeder dogs. Once that was finished the graduates who were getting their first dogs and those who raised the dogs.

What happens is the person receiving the dog would be brought forward as the raiser walks across the stage with the dog and hand the dog over to their new companion. The person receiving the dog has the chance to say a few words, after which the raiser says a few words. They are both then lead back to the chairs on the stage. The person receiving the dog sits down and the raiser stands behind them.

After those receiving their first dog are presented those who are receiving their second or more dog are presented. Sienna’s companion was part of that group. We were the third ones up. It was rather hard to express how thankful I was but I managed to say the words that I wanted to express.

Once the graduation was over we all went to a back room and visited a little bit more. I think one of the best parts at this point was that we got to meet the woman who raised Sienna’s mom. That was a real joy! We found out from her that Sienna was part of the mother’s first litter. Out of the eight that are in the litter four of them (including Sienna) have become working guides. ^^ That made me really happy too.

Well, after visiting with Erin a while longer, it was time to say goodbye... That was the real hard part! I got a few more kisses from Sienna, promised to keep in touch with Erin, and wished them the best of luck.

I’m really going to miss them! Erin told me that when it came time for her to retire Sienna she would defiantly take into consideration giving her back to us to live out the rest of her days. ^^ That would be something really wonderful! I do hope that will be a long ways off though! ^^ I want them to be happy together for a long time! I’m glad that they got paired together!

Thank you all for all your support over the years. It means the world to me. More then you’ll ever know! ^^
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