New Girl in Town
by Gamay III
Hi. My name is Gamay III. I am a black lab girl puppy. I was supposed to be a boy. When my Puppy Raiser (PR), Mary Lee Bensman, asked CCI for a puppy, she agreed to take any size, shape and color. They said they were going to send a boy named Gamay III. They said my name might change at the last minute. Surprise! My name stayed the same, but I'm a girl!
I am going to live in Buena Vista for about 14-18 months with my PR or foster Mom. She is not my real Mom. She doesn't have much fur and walks on her hind legs. I think that is so funny. Sometimes I try to stand on my hind legs, but then I need to hold on to something like a couch, a chair, somebody's leg. I guess I'm not supposed to do that.
I am from California and after Mom teaches me how to behave, I will go back to California. I guess it will take her 14-18 months to teach me how to behave! I hope to grow up either to have some families or to help someone in a wheelchair.
I was born April 23, so I'm pretty little. I don't know why they named me Gamay, but I guess they named two other CCI puppies Gamay before me. Gamay is some kind of a grape. I think I'm named after a grape.
I flew from California to Denver on an airplane. The airplane stopped somewhere called Houston where another animal and I were put on a new plane. They called the other animal a puppy, but it didn't look much like one–more like a rat. They called it a Chee ha ha, I think. Anyway, the little girl in Denver was really happy to get whatever it was.
As soon as Mom and my foster-cousin Joey picked me up at the airport, she let me out of my crate. I was so hungry, I started to eat dirt. So she gave me some dog food instead, which I gobbled up. I still really like dirt, though. And sticks and rocks. And shoes and smelly socks. And just about anything else I can get my mouth on.
I belong to CCI. They train dogs like me to help people in wheelchairs and stuff like that. To pick up things. (Boy! Am I ever good at picking up things!) But first, the puppies need to be taught manners, and so people all over the United States raise puppies like me and then give us back after a year or so for advanced training. A lot of people ask Mom how she can give me up. I am, after all, totally cute and loveable. She said she's going to write a column about that. I'm her second CCI puppy.
I came with a training manual and a DVD. I have lots of rules, ‘cause I'm special. I even get to wear a special cape! Mom says I'm supposed to learn 30 commands while I'm here. I'm already learning, "No!" And I think I know what "Good girl" means.
I sleep in a crate in Mom's room at night. She has to take me outside whenever I whine. During the day I get to eat, play, potty and sleep. If Mom's not home, I stay in a crate. They say I'll like it someday. Already I like it better than I did when I was on the airplane.
I want to tell you all about my rules and things I'm learning while I'm here. Part of Mom's job is to "socialize" me, so you'll probably get to help me learn manners. I have to be calm around people if I'm going to help someone in a wheelchair someday.
I'm in outer space now, with my own web page. For more information on Canine Companions for Independence, go to www.cci.org
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How can you give her up?
by Mary Lee Bensman
From the day I decided to raise my second puppy for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), Gamay III, the Number One comment I hear is either, "How can you give her up?" or "I could never give her up."
These are legitimate comments because I know I am getting emotionally attached already to this pup that I will have for about 16 months. A Puppy Raiser (PR) is basically on-call 24-7, much like a parent. The puppy sleeps in my room. I go out in the middle of the night with her to let her "hurry." I play with her and fell in love with her little black lab face the first time I saw it.
Having already raised one CCI pup (Doc IV) and turned him in 10 years ago, I know I can--and will–let her go when the time comes. I also know I will cry.
Here are some of my reflections on letting her go:
1. I signed a seven-page contract that basically says:
a. Gamay III belongs to CCI
b. I will do whatever CCI tells me to regarding her training, health care, etc.
c. I will pay for all of her expenses
d. I will turn her in when CCI calls for her or I may face legal consequences.
So, right off the bat, I know she's not my dog and our time together is monitored (by monthly reports) and temporary (like a foster parent).
(This all sounds very cold and formal, but CCI staff are totally friendly, helpful and committed to providing independence for people with disabilities through well-trained assistance dog.)
2. Our time together is for a greater cause.
Gamay came with a training manual (i.e. rule book) and a training DVD. All of the commands and rules--from teaching her to potty on command on any outside surface to walking on a loose leash with a cape and a gentle leader, and using CCI's words for each command--are geared towards raising a puppy that someone with limited strength and/or mobility will be able to handle. In other words, many of the things I would let my own dog get away with would be inappropriate behavior if I was a quadripeligic. This thought is in the forefront of my mind as I begin this year with Gamay.
During my time of raising Doc, I met two quadripeligics who had CCI service dogs. After hearing stories of how their dogs changed their lives, giving them increased independence and renewed confidence, the question really becomes, "How can I NOT give her up?
3. It's never easy to lose a dog (or any other living being we've grown to love).
I've raised three of my own dogs from puppies to old age and "letting them go" in old age was harder than letting a puppy go to advanced training to be an assistance dog. Either way, it hurts.
4. I'm just one of many in her life.
Someone else has already raised Gamay from birth to 8 weeks. Now how cute would that be? My goal as a PR is to raise my puppy to adulthood, seeing that she is well-mannered and well-socialized and then send her off to "college." When I turn her in, someone else will work with her for 6-9 months and if all is successful, they will then give her up to a person with a disability. As another PR put it, "I'm just a pit stop on her way to fulfilling the life of someone else."
Many of you will get to know Gamay during the next year or so, through her columns and mine, meeting us on the street and at events. Gamay and I want to share our journey with you during this training time. If we do a good job, you'll have to "let her go," too.
This is why I can give her up.
For more information on CCI go to cci.org.
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