GDF Suncoast Puppy Raisers Newsletter
March 2016
Suncoast Puppy Raisers
Puppy Saturday Meeting
Date: March 12, 2016
Where: The Winter Home of
Hermann’s Lipizzan Stallions
32755 Singletary Road
Myakka City, FL 34251
Time: 10:00am -12:00pm
Hi everyone,
You and your puppy are up for
a rare treat visiting the winter
home of the famous Royal
Lipizzan Stallions. The Stallions
are a rare breed dating back to
1580”s when they were the
exclusive property of the Hapsburg Royal Family of
Austria. Only a few hundred of this rare breed has ever
been in existence at one time. The breed might have
been destroyed if not for the heroic efforts of General
Patton and Colonel Hermann’s rescue of the horses
from the German’s in WWII. The Hermann family
brought them to Florida where they have resided ever
since.
The Lipizzan are known for dazzling audiences
through out the world show casing their highly
specialized acrobatic abilities. During the winter, the
horses are trained in Florida and spectators are invited
to watch them practice while learning about their
heritage and how they are trained. A visit to the stables
is also a must to get a close up personal look at these
beautiful horses. The performances are free but a small
donation is suggested.
The drive takes about an hour and we suggest puppy
raisers get together and car pool. Although there is
some bleacher seating available, it is recommended to
bring along your own lawn chair so you can sit up
closer to the action.
Directions: From I-75, exit 210, turn left or east, onto
SR 780, also known as Fruitville Road. Follow to the
end and turn left, North onto Verna Road. At
Singletary, turn right or East. To stay on Singletary,
turn right at the stop sign. Look for address 32755
which will be on the left.
Phyllis and her Collie enjoy the Lipizzan show
last time we visited in March 2013.
Above: Debbie meets Amy for the first
time with Darlene. Below: we all meet
Peaches with Bethani for the first time.
Welcome Peaches and Amy.
Last Month In February, we met at Gateway Mall. We had special guest
Deana Izzo, GDF Field Rep, and videographer Zac Atwood
from the Lowry Park Zoo. We also got to meet new arrivals
Amy, being co-raised by Darlene Bigham and Shannon
Rhodes, and Peaches, being raised by Bethani Shilladay.
Deana lives in Athens Georgia and is the GDF Field Rep for
all of Florida. She tries to visit each group at least once a year.
I think she was very impressed at how well our raisers are
doing. We walked past the noisy, smelly buses, along the strip
mall with automatic doors opening and closing, past Pet Smart,
and on to Publix with crowds and shopping carts going
everywhere. Our pups just took it all in stride like another day
at the mall. Great job raisers!
Zac Atwood is working on behalf of Lowry Park Zoo
filming for a future Service Animal training video. The goal
is, to present the video to the National Association of Zoos and
Aquariums that by exposing zoo animals more frequently to
the presence of service dogs, will desensitize them thereby
allowing more areas of the parks to be open to guests with
their service dogs. The object is to hopefully receive a grant to
produce an official training video that can be used across the
country. So far, our group was filmed and Chuck and Deana
were interviewed, Don Thompson and Frances Lucus were
filmed with their pups at the zoo, and Marion Gwizdalla,
National President of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users was also filmed and interviewed at the zoo. This ground
breaking project could not have happened without the support
of Dr. Kilmer, Lowry’s Zoo Director and Chief Zoological
Officer, for recognizing that current policies for service animal
access to all segments of the park are antiquated and should be
re-examined. We have been working over a year with Dr.
Kilmer by having 2 raisers at a time visit the zoo with their
pups while Dr. Kilmer observed how his animals reacted. The
question was would they be frightened, aggressive or just
ignore the pups. I don’t think Dr. Kilmer could have ever
anticipated that the giraffes were not only unafraid of the dogs,
but went nose to nose twice, once with Banjo and once with
Rugby. Luckily, Zac got the encounter with Rugby on film.
We will keep you posted as the project moves forward.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10th
, the group visited Clearwater Fire
and Rescue Station 48 on Belcher road. Pups and raisers were
treated to a personal tour and the pups were exposed to noise,
lights, sirens and firemen in full gear. I don’t know who was
more entertained, the pups or the firemen! Thank you Don
and Donna for arranging this fun exposure.
New Arrivals In less than a month, we have had 5 new pups join our group. The first
two we have already met, Amy and Peaches. The remaining arrivals we
haven’t met yet are, Walter B, now with Mike and Alicia Masterson,
Ashley, being raised by Nancy and Joe O’Leary, and Mickey, with Karen
Killen. Welcome all and we hope to meet all you cute little pups soon.
Always patient Phyllis is patiently waiting for her poodle to arrive! We
will be happy when she no longer has to be patient and can bring her
poodle for us all to meet. Hopefully soon!
Training Tip Obedience Class The greatest training tip we can give you is to take an obedience class.
Chuck and I often say, “Sign up for a class and if you want, you can take
your dog!” In other words, obedience classes are to train the handlers
how to train their pup. Diane Anderson, former puppy raiser and
professional obedience instructor has generously offered to do a series of
4 classes designed just for our puppy raisers. They will be held at her
home starting Saturday April 2nd
at 10:00am. Her house address is 166
17th
Ave. N.E. Diane will include “puppy play time” after each class. She
is offering these classes to our group for a very small fee to cover the
costs of her material only. If you have not
already contacted her to sign up for this class do
so immediately.
So as not to interrupt the flow of classes, on the
second Saturday, April 9th
, we will have our
meeting which will incorporate an hour of
obedience. Diane plans to have a folder with lots
of handouts to assist you in training your pup.
Whether you are raising your first or 20th
puppy,
we recommend you sign up for this special offer.
You can sign up by calling Diane at home:
727-898-9653 or cell 727-470-1036.
We look forward to seeing you all in Myakka
City at the Lipizzaner meeting. Call or email us if you need
directions or if you wish to carpool. Since we have extra
space this month we will add some more pictures from last
month.
Don and Donna Thompson plan to have lunch after at the
Linger Lodge a very unique Florida place. It is on our way
home for most of us. You cannot describe it you just have to
experience it. Any and all who wish to join them are welcome
to do so. We plan on joining them.
You’re Area Coordinators Debbie & Chuck Hietala
Pictures this page, top: Shannon working Buddy,
Middle: Deana and Phyllis working a poodle who
knows which one. And bottom: Fran & Joe with Mac.
Suncoast Puppy Raisers
Area Coordinators:
Chuck and Debbie Hietala
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.suncoastpup.org
Phone: 727-515-2105
Guide Dog Foundation
371 East Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: (800) 548-4337
Fax: (631) 930-9009
Website: www.guidedog.org
All
pictures
this page
at last
month’s
meeting
except for
the crazy
blind girl
trying to
ski a
black
diamond
run with
bumps
last
month in
Jackson
Hole
Wyoming
.