Dear Future Raiser

Dear future raiser,

I see you pondering the thought of raising a puppy for our organization, and I wanted to tell you a few things first. First things first, I want to tell you is that raising a future service dog is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. There are going to be times when you doubt yourself, your dog, and your partnership. There are going to be times when you want to pull out your hair because your SDIT didn’t do what you asked, or you had to tell someone for the millionth time not to pet your dog. I’m not going to lie you, you will wonder if raising this puppy is really worth all the time. You’ll also wonder is it worth the heartache that you’ll receive when that puppy is recalled for formal training. I’m here to tell you that after experiencing it all; it is completely worth it! That puppy will become your partner. The one thing you can constantly count on to make you feel better when you need someone to lean on. That dog will push you to be creative and think outside the box. They will also make you laugh so hard that you cry. There’s also the overwhelming proudness you’ll feel when your dog accomplishes a goal. Lastly, there’s the sad but proud feeling you get when your dog leaves to go off to formal training.  Once that dog has left you can cry tears of joy because you got through the hard times and had so many good times. That dog will help someone who has had to been alone for so long. They will help them start to heal.  If you become a puppy raiser, you will give someone something magical that will become their partner and lifeline. So, the question isn’t should you become a puppy raiser; it’s when should you become a puppy raiser.

Good luck,

Nicole