As many in the community are aware, there is a local club raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind in the Sequim-Port Angeles area. The club, Puppy Pilots, has been in the community since 2007 and has raised 27 puppies.

The raisers have their pup in their home from about 9 weeks of age to about 15 months, at which time they return to the Guide Dogs for the Blind training campus in Boring, Ore., for formal training.

Each raiser hopes that their pup makes it as a guide dog.

The club’s hopes came true with Renaissance. She arrived in Sequim on Feb. 6, 2014, and was a rock star from the beginning. Renaissance had varied experiences in the community with a few raiser families. She learned about children activities, farm animals, living with several other dogs, city activities and country environments. When she returned to Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring in February 2015 she started her training to be a guide dog. From the beginning, the instructors commented, “She had read the training book before coming to her formal training.”

The club attended her graduation Aug. 1. As usual, many tears of joy flowed as her raisers handed over her leash to her new partner, Valerie Collicott of Ontario, Canada. Renaissance is her fifth guide dog. Interesting side note, Valerie’s husband also has a guide dog.

It does take a community to raise a guide dog puppy. Puppy Pilots wants to thank all the community businesses that have supported it all these years and a thank you to the Sequim Valley Lions Club for its financial support.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the club, contact Deb Cox at Deb@puppypilots.org.