This page is dedicated to those chapter members who have recently lost their dog guides, for one reason or another, and to the memory of those dogs that gave so much of themselves out of love for what they were trained to do,in many cases for so little except our love.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water
and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who
had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt
or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our
dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except
for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to
be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His
eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over
the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been
spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling
together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain
upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but
never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
SEPTEMBER 1994-JANUARY 15, 2007
Dazzler: My beloved and most cherished friend, you will truly be missed.
Dazzler was a mixed Doberman, Labrador and German Shepherd mix. He was trained at the Prison Pet Partnership Program in Washington state. He was trained to pick things up, carry things, help me with my balance, seizure alert and response. With the help of the guide dogs we knew, I taught him to leash lead. In March 1996 he came to live with us. Scott and I had been members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) for a number of years prior to Dazzlers arrival. From Dazzlers first meeting, he became a staunch Federationist. The people and dogs of each chapter we have been members became his close friends. In one chapter, he started a "romance" with more than one or two of the female guidedogs. July 1996 we attended our first National convention with Dazzler. He was thrilled to take his first airplane ride. He loved the airport where he could watch the people. He loved the new adventure. He was trained to pick things up for me. I taught him to pick up my cane when I dropped it. He thought it was a great task and did it without prompting. This created an interesting delema during convention. He thought that all those canes on the floor didn't belong there and being the "good boy" he was, he picked them up as we walked by and handed them to me. I met a lot of people as I handed them their canes back and explained to them that my dog picked them up. That is how they met Dazzler that week. Dazzler continued to love going to NFB meetings and conventions over the years. One day I made the mistake of telling him that "tomorrow we are going to NFB". He immediately ran to get his pack, leash and a pair of shoes for me. He was ready to go now. It was 10:00 at night. He loved his Federation family dearly, no matter what chapter or convention we attended.
Majesty, a female Labrador Retriever, black in color, was born at the Seeing Eye in Morristown New Jersey on April 26, 1993. Majesty had a very happy life, in which, she worked hard, played hard, and slept hard for slightly over 11 years. Majesty began her working career on January 8, 1995, and worked up until the day she died on April 11, 2006, just short of what would have been her 13th birthday. Even up to her last days, she had 2 speeds, "stop and fast". Everybody that came into contact with her fell in love, and she in turn fell in love with everybody. Majesty is very much messed by all, but especially by "John", "I love you and miss you my baby girl and always will".