6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 30, 2016
Chatterbox
The
NEW: Digital X-Rays (use less radiation)
Implants •Teeth Whitening • Extractions
Lumineers (no prep veneers as seen on TV)
Guide Dogs for the Blind
BY BETTY KAISER
For the Sentinel
A
t our house, sunshine and happi-
ness radiate from two little red
Dachshunds. They get up happy in the
morning and go to bed happy at night. All
day long they bring a joy into our lives
that is beyond measure. They are ready
to join us in almost any adventure; they
alert us to danger, their tails seldom stop
wagging, and they offer kisses when they
sense when we are sad.
Today I’m going to introduce you to an
organization that brings that same com-
panionship, joy and security to the visu-
ally impaired. Guide Dogs for the Blind
(GDB) was established in 1942 to provide
guide dogs for veterans returning from
World War II. It has no government fund-
ing, and there is no charge for services.
All services, including the cost of the dog
($50,000), are funded by gifts.
Recently my friend Charlene invited
me and my husband to a presentation in
Eugene by this organization. Charlene has
long been active in GDB, but this was our
fi rst introduction to how long it takes a
village to turn a puppy into a guide dog.
We learned that the mission of GDB—
matching the visually impaired with the
perfect puppy— is not magic. It is hard
work that begins when puppies are born
on their San Rafael, Calif. campus. It be-
gins before the pups are born when their
parents are bred for good health and tem-
perament. The breeding, veterinary and
neonatal staff ensures that the pups are
happy and healthy from the get-go.
Then the fun begins as volunteer puppy
socializers cuddle and pamper those pre-
cious babies. Everything is exciting, so
they gently introduce them to their new
world — people, sights, sounds, dirt,
grass and pavement are all waiting to be
explored.
Just about the time they’re getting fa-
miliarized, they board GDB’s puppy truck
to new homes all up and down the West
Coast, where they are eagerly awaited by
puppy trainers. Some pups land in Eu-
gene, but others have found loving homes
from San Francisco to Bend. All trainers
volunteer their time, food and toys!
At the meeting we were greeted by two
adorable puppies in training. Gallagher,
a Golden Retriever, and Valerie a Yel-
low Lab, arrived in Oregon on the Puppy
Truck in early February to live with their
volunteer puppy trainers until they’re
14-16 months old. These pups were well
behaved and so cute I wanted to smuggle
one home.
Kimberly and Jackie are their veteran
Eugene puppy trainers, having trained
about 13 pups between them. Here are
some things you’ll need to know if you’re
thinking of being a puppy raiser:
The dogs go everywhere with them that
is open to the public.
They are taught good house and public
manners.
They practice positive re-enforcement.
Bad behavior is ignored.
Pups are on a strict natural balance diet.
No table food or treats.
Good behavior is rewarded with “one”
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Dr. Brent Bitner, DDS
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541.942.7934
2015
e Grove
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We can get you there. Give us a call today!
A guide dog in training (no, the leader doesn't hurt!)
piece of kibble.
A working dog wears a jacket and a
Gentle Leader in public.
No, you should not pet a working dog
without permission.
Puppies are puppies! Even though they
have lots of training they can play in the
yard, etc.
Puppy raisers want confi dent, happy, suc-
cessful dogs!
At the end of their training time here
in Oregon, Gallagher and Valerie will re-
turn in the puppy truck to San Rafael or
the Boring, Ore. campus. Tears will fl ow
BUT new pups will take their place. Now
the formal guide dog training begins. The
pups will be made comfortable and meet
their new trainer who (over the next year)
will teach them the specifi c skills needed
to guide a blind person.
This is where the rubber meets the road.
GDB will fi nd out if the pups are suitable
for the job. Someone said, “Dogs are like
high school students. Some are ready for
college and some are not. Those who do
not meet the requirements needed are
described as making “career changes.”
Perhaps they are divas who need a more
sedentary life or they might be inclined to
police work. There will always be a place
for them.
Once the dog’s guidework training is
fi nished, there is a celebratory graduation
that the public is invited to attend. Then it
is time to be paired with a human partner.
Some people like quiet dogs. Others pre-
fer those who are active and ready to go at
a moment’s notice. We were told that the
right personalities just click.
Colleen M. is athletic, vivacious and vi-
sion impaired. She told her story with her
dog Nectarine (a large black lab) at her
side. She is an active young woman who
began losing her vision about 12 years
ago. She lived in Texas and had a high
profi le job. One day while she was driv-
ing she noticed that her vision was com-
promised. Fuzzy. And no matter what she
tried, it didn’t clear up.
Her vision tested at 20/50 and deterio-
rated from there. Eventually she had to
give up her driver’s license and move back
home to Portland, where her twin sister
and family live. It was hard to get around,
and using a cane was diffi cult. Life was
depressing. At the Oregon Commission
for the Blind she learned about GDB.
Colleen said, “I was open to anything to
give me independence. I went to Boring
for two weeks of training and the whole
experience was amazing. It was the start
of a new beginning for me.” She and Nec-
tarine became a great pair, walking the
neighborhood, crossing Portland’s bridg-
es and riding the bus to work.
Then she had a near-death experience.
She wanted to cross a street and tried to
step off the curb, but Nectarine wouldn’t
let her. Then a car whizzed by.
“She over-rode me with her intelligent
disobedience. She’s the smart one. She
moved me from an unsafe situation to
safety,” said this grateful woman.
Colleen and Nectarine happily walk to-
gether 10-15,000 steps a day! It looks like
Gallagher and Valerie have a happy and
active life ahead of them.
Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox is about peo-
ple, places, family, and other matters of
the heart. Contact her at 942-1317 or via
e-mail —
bchatty@bettykaiser.com
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W orship D irectory
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
Pastor: Aaron Earlywine
Youth & Families Pastor: Seth Bailey
Services: 9am and 10:30am
Christian Education
Nursery for pre-k - 3rd Grade
www.6thandgibbs.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Calvary Chapel Cottage Grove
1447 Hwy 99 (Village Plaza)
541-942-6842
Pastor: Jeff Smith
Two Services on Sun: 9am & 10:45am
Youth Group Bible Study
Child Care 10:45am Service Only
www.cgcalvary.org
Center for Spiritual Living Cottage
Grove
700 Gibbs Ave (Community Center)
Rev. Bobby Lee
Meets Sunday 3:00 p.m.
(907) 230-5070
www.facebook.com/CSLCottageGrove
Church of Christ
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565
Sunday Service: 10:30am
Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd. • 541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Isaac Hovet
www.cg4.tv
2 Sunday Services: 9am & 11am
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St • 541-942-4479
Pastor: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
www.cgpresbynews.com
Old Time Gospel Fellowship
103 S. 5th Street • 541-942-4999
Pastor: Herb Carson
Sunday Service: 10:00am
Sunday Bible Study: 6:00pm
We sing the old time hymns.
Grove Community Church
77820 Mosby Creek Rd.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-0123
Pastor: Bryan Parsons
Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Nursery: Infant - Pre-K
Kidʼs Church: K to 5th grade
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
1025 N. 19th St.
541-942-3420 / 541-942-4712
Pastor: Roy L. Antunez, S.J.
Euch. Liturgies; Sat. 5:30pm
Sun. 10:30am
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell:
552 Holbrock Lane • 541-895-8686
Sunday: 8:30am
Covered Bridge Nazarene Church
152 S. M St.
541-942-4422
Pastor: Cindy Slaymaker
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship 10:30am
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd. • 541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE”
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711
Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
Living Faith Assembly
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Pastor Rulon Combs
Sunday School All Ages 9am
Worship & Childrenʼs
Church 10:30 am
“The Bridge” Sat Evening Service 6:00pm
Youth 180 Mondays 5:30-8pm
Childrenʼs Breakout Class: Wed. 6:30pm
First Baptist Church
301 S 6th St 541-942-8242
Pastor: Steve Johnson
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship: 11:00am
Come Worship with us
Non-Denominational
Church of Christ
1041 Pennoyer Ave * 541-767-0447
Preachers: Tony Martin & Robert Evans
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Church with the fl ags.”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
Seventh-day Adventist Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: Kevin Miller
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40 am
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education 9:15am
Sundway Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
5:00pm TLC Groups
tlccg.com
United Methodist Church
334 Washington • 541-942-3033
Pastor:Lura Kidner-Miesen
Worship: 10:30am
Adult Sunday School: 9:30am
Comm. Dinner (Adults $5, Kids Free)
2nd & 3rd Monday 5-6:00pm
cottagegroveumc.org
“VICTORY” Country Church
913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
Worship Service: 10:00am
Message:
11:00am
“WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES”
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Directory is a
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would like to
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directory, please
contact the
Cottage Grove
Sentinel
at 541-942-3325.