We discovered Milton while volunteering at the canine development center
(CDC) after dropping off Jake (the first dog we raised) at the training
center. As part of our volunteering at the CDC we were asked to bring the “M”
litter over from the kennels for their puppy test. We walked into the kennel
and looked around and my eyes fixed on Milton. You see Milton was my father’s
name and so we decided to ask if we couldn’t raise Milton in honor of my
father. So began our journey with Milton as we drove back to the Rochester
area with 3 puppies. Kelsey and Leon were dropped off with other raisers and
we went home with Milton.
Milton is a very sweet gentle boy that was always happy to please. It was
so much fun teaching him what it would take have the manners that would be
appreciated by whom every was lucky enough to receive him as a guide dog. We
took him everywhere we went. He went to the George Eastman House, the
Hochstein School of music, baseball games, the Bills training camp and many
many more places.
When it came time to take him down for his advance training we took him
around to say goodbye to everyone that had grown to love him got to say their
good byes. We took him to the bank, drug store, YMCA and all the other places
he was seen on a regular basis. I believe all of these people will miss
Milton.
Then came the day when we were told that Milton had been matched and was in
class. We waited very impatiently to hear the word that Milton was to
graduate with his new partner on April 26, 2008.
We drove down to Yorktown Heights excited to meet Milton’s new partner
Dorothy. It was a very special graduation ceremony with singing and story
telling of some of the experiences the people had during training. When all
was said and done we got to meet Dorothy in person. It sounds like Milton
will have an exciting career as a guide dog / therapy dog as Dorothy works for
a nursing home as an occupational therapist.
We discovered a few weeks later that there is another facet to Milton’s story. When he
was at the breeding center being considered for breeding, they saved some of his sperm so he may someday
be a father to future Guide Dogs.
