COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL April 20, 2016
7A
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
SLSD plans
kindergarten
round-up
Rory is a guide dog,
not a rabbit!
W
hen Rosamund lost her
eyesight at the age of
two, her doctors said that she
would probably die within three
years. But today, at 70 years of
age, she has outlived all those
doctors!
Her parents wanted to make
her independent, so they ex-
pected her to do everything any
child would.
“When I was fi ve, mother
taught me how to wash dishes,”
said Rosamund. “I could tell
when they were clean by my
fi ngers. I vacuumed by moving
furniture to the side of the room
so the vacuum wouldn’t miss
any dirt.
I did not get away with any-
thing! If I lost something, I had
to ‘look’ for it. After I grew up
and became a parent myself,
when my children had to clean
their room, they would ask their
sighted father to inspect it be-
cause he never checked under
the bed. But I was a thorough
inspector and always found their
hidden messes!”
Rosamund attended a school
for the blind and paw-ticipated
in school sports, and became
a physical therapist. View her
at the school at the age of fi ve:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=KBMAx1GvZ8g
“One day it snowed six inch-
es,” recalls Rosamund, “and I
was scared when I could not dis-
cern the difference between the
sidewalk, grass and road with
my white cane. So, I phoned
Guide Dogs for the Blind and
told them I needed a dog.”
People who donate a certain
amount to the organization can
name a guide puppy, so Rory’s
donor’s youngster named my
pup after her rabbit!
“A cane is not as safe, fast or
as much fun as a dog,” said Ro-
samund. “We walk 3-4 miles
a day, which keeps us fi t. Rory
also walks me to exercise class-
es.
Rory gives me freedom and
I feel secure with her because
she indicates and avoids uneven
sidewalks and construction ar-
eas.”
Outside Rory negotiates Ro-
samund around paw-destrians,
lamp posts, garbage cans, mail-
boxes and benches. If a car
stops for them paw-tially in a
crosswalk, Rory guides Rosa-
mund around it. Sighted people
do not realize all the walking
hazards.
“When we are about to cross
a street,” said Rosamund, “and I
command her ‘Forward’, even if
I can’t hear a bike or electric car
approaching, she won’t move.
In malls she maneuvers
around baby strollers, water
fountains and booths. She fi nds
store doors faster than I can.
She knows the words for ‘eleva-
tor’ and ‘escalator’ and fi nds the
tops and bottoms of them for
me. Rory gives me added con-
fi dence and security to venture
out into the world. We work as
a team.
Rory only works 3-4 hours a
day when we leave the house. At
home she is a normal dog who
loves rolling on her back, chew-
ing her toys, chasing balls and
befriending anyone at the front
door. She loves working and the
praise. When she hears me with
her harness, she excitedly runs
to get into it. At that moment,
she switches character and to-
tally focuses on guiding me.
Rory’s memory is amazing!
Once I had an appointment in
a new building. We entered the
foyer, I said ‘elevator’ and she
guided me to it. I knew which
fl oor button to push because
they were marked with Braille,
but I had no idea which way to
turn when we exited. Often we
are the only ones on the ride up.
When we exited, because the
room numbers were not tactile,
I told her to take me to the near-
est door, she did, we entered,
and the receptionist directed us
further. We left that offi ce and
Dorena — 946-1506
April 21 from 3-4 p.m.
A total of 969 students
earned straight-A (4.0). Anoth-
er 3,994 earned a B-plus (3.5)
or better to make the listing. To
be on the Honor Roll, students
must carry at least 12 graded
hours of course work.
Students on the Honor Roll
included:
From Cottage Grove:
Straight-A average: Justin L.
Bennett, Sophomore, English;
Kolby C. Owens, Sophomore,
Pre-Mechanical Engineering.
3.5 or Better: Desmond J.
Gonzales, Senior, Exercise and
Sport Science; Griffi n G. Mos-
er, Senior, Biology; Alexa A.
Munsee, Senior, Digital Com-
munication Arts.
From Creswell:
3.5 or Better: Matthew E. Ger-
lach, Senior, Exercise and Sport
Science; Sean P. Kounovsky,
Sophomore, Pre-Ecological En-
gineering; Ren S. Rasmussen,
Sophomore, Chemistry.
Harrison — 942-3389
May 11 from 2:30-4 p.m.
Music at church
South Lane School District
informs parents with children
whose fi fth birthday occurs on or
before Sept. 1, 2016s that those
children are eligible to enroll for
kindergarten next fall, and par-
ents can pre-register their kinder
student anytime before then.
Dates and times are listed be-
low. Those seeking additional
information are asked to contact
their area school directly.
Latham School — 942-0147
April 20 from 2:30-4 p.m.
Bohemia — 942-3313
April 21 from 3-4:30 p.m.
Photo by Richard van Leeuwen
Rosamund’s seven-year-old Labrador guide dog, Rory,
is probably the only dog named after a rabbit that
caught a bus!
entered the correct one, #403.
A year later, we went back to
that building and Rory walked
me to the elevator, and when we
exited she took me directly to
room 403.
For a different appointment,
my husband drove and parked
us close to the building. We
walked to the door, took the el-
evator, and arrived on the fi fth
fl oor. Months later, Rory and
I took the bus across town and
it let us off at the far end of the
block. I was not sure which di-
rection to go, but Rory did! She
walked us straight to the build-
ing, even though she had never
walked down that street before!
Rory must wear a digital
watch under her fur! Faithfully,
at exactly 4:30 p.m. she lifts my
husband’s elbow with her nose
for playtime. Animals are bril-
liant. Humans have underesti-
mated their intelligence for too
long. We hope Rory changes
their perspective.”
Everyone wants to feel loved
and useful and Rory and Rosa-
mund do this for each other. And
Rory’s moment of fame featured
London — 942-0183
May 11 from 4-5:30 p.m.
in MODERN DOG magazine
never went to her head!
Cemetery grant
deadline
On a funny note; one warm
day Rosamund was walking
the twelve blocks home up a
steep mountain road when Rory
deemed it too hot to walk. Rory
heard a bus approaching a few
blocks away, she sat at the curb
and wouldn’t budge. The bus
arrived, the driver opened it’s
doors and jokingly asked, “Does
your dog want a ride?” Rosa-
mund responded, “Yes. As long
as I can come with her.” Every-
one on board was giggling at the
dog catching the bus!
The Oregon Commission on
Historic Cemeteries is offer-
ing grants for qualifi ed historic
cemeteries.
Awards typically range be-
tween $1,000 and $6,000, but
have been higher. Anyone can
apply for a grant. The grant
deadline is April 29, 2016.
To learn more about the grants
or visit www.oregonheritage.
org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.
Gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-
0685.
TIPS
OSU Honor Roll
“Never touch or talk to a har-
nessed service dog,” teaches
Rosamund. “Distracting them
could endanger its handler. It
costs $35,000 to train a guide
dog. The money comes from
donations and is appreciated by
Rory, myself and other guide
dogs recipients because they
gift us a greater freedom.”
Names of students who have
made the Scholastic Honor
Roll Winter term have been an-
nounced by Oregon State Uni-
versity.
The Cottage Grove United
Methodist Church is hosting
graduate students from the Uni-
versity of Oregon School of
Music on Saturday, April 23 at 1
p.m. This free event will feature
sacred and secular music. The
church is located at 334 Wash-
ington Avenue.
Children’s Health
Fair
A Children’s Health Fair will
be held Saturday, April 23 from
2-6 p.m. at the Cottage Grove
Community Center, 700 E.
Gibbs Ave. This is free for all
ages with free raffl e prizes for
parents and free giveaways for
children. Guests can meet super-
heroes and emergency respond-
ers. Health, nutrition, safety
and activity resources and over
15 organizations will be repre-
sented. The event is sponsored
by Family Relief Nursery, and
those seeking more information
can call 541-942-4835.
Cottage Grove Classes
Western Oregon Exposition
(Fairgrounds)
Does your pet have a miracle,
talent or funny story?
angelscribe@msn.com
2000 N. Douglas
Tuesday
Good Manners 6:00 PM $100.00
Puppy Class 7:00 PM $ 45.00
Thursday
Puppy Class 6:00 PM $ 45.00
Good Manners 7:00 PM $100.00
“Follow” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on
Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/
PetTipsandTales
Adopt Loving Pets
www.PetFinder.com
Classes start: The week of April 5th
Humane Society for Neuter/
Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
All group classes run once weekly
For registration please call:
Cheri Spaulding CPDT-KA 541-895-3162
Rock Nest Training & Pet Care www.rocknestpetcare.com
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