Homecoming

I can’t remember if I have ever mentioned this before, but for a number of years, I volunteered as a puppy raiser and trainer for a guide dog program.  Growing up, I loved animals, and my family bred, trained, and showed Shetland Sheepdogs and Boxers.  I spent many weekends at dog shows, competing in obedience competitions at advanced levels.  It was so much fun, and I look back on those days fondly. 

When I was competing in the Miss Maryland/Miss America program, I needed to decide on a specific community service project that I would pursue during my time as a titleholder.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do… I thought about promoting the 4-H program, which I was involved with for more than ten years.  I ultimately decided to pursue something that I had wanted to do for years, but never had the opportunity: training guide dogs for the blind.

After a long application process, we welcomed a 9-week old puppy into our lives in early 2000.  He was a yellow Lab, adorable as could be.  His name was Vernon.  (Every litter of pups at Guiding Eyes for the Blind is assigned a letter of the alphabet, and named accordingly by the staff.  Vernon’s litter was the letter “V.”)

Jason and me, with Vernon on the night we got him.  Vern’s so cute, and we are so young in this picture!

For the next two years, Vernon was my shadow.  As a guide dog in training, he wore a special blanket on his back that informed the public of his future job.  He went everywhere with me… to college classes, to restaurants, to work, to the mall.  Everywhere I went, Vernon went too, all in an effort to train him how to function out in public and teach him good manners.  Vernon even attended the Miss Maryland pageant the year I won, and was in the audience at Miss America wearing a black bow-tie. 

At Miss America

Needless to say, he was a fantastic dog.  We all adored him, especially Jason, who was still just my boyfriend at the time.  As much as we loved Vernon, we knew the day would come when we would have to say goodbye and send him back to Guiding Eyes for a few months of expert training and his eventual pairing with a blind person.

We dropped Vernon off at the training center on a cold winter morning, with frosty tears on our cheeks.  Jason and I said goodbye through sobs, while Vernon licked away the tears.  He had no idea that this was the end of our time together, but we knew all too well.  Our best buddy, our perfectly well behaved boy, was staying here.  And we were leaving.

Saying goodbye.

Over the next few months, Guiding Eyes sent glowing progress reports on Vernon.  He was doing everything right in his training, and we hoped that he’d become one of the dogs that actually made it through the program and become a guide.  Only 50% of dogs that enter training actually graduate.  Finally, one day we got word:  Vernon had been paired with a blind person and his graduation was coming up, in April 2002!!

We made the long trip back to the training center to witness the special event.  Words cannot describe the joy and pride I felt when I saw Vernon enter the room, wearing his guide dog harness and expertly guiding his new master.  He spotted Jason and me and his eyes brightened… his tail wagged… but nothing more.  He was working, and this was no time for play.

We, of course, exchanged contact info with Vernon’s new master, and stayed in touch over the years.  Vernon became a true city dog… he lived with his owner in New York City and guided him all over the city, even on the subway.  When Jason and I married, Vernon and his master came down to Maryland for the occasion, and we were thrilled to have them at our wedding.

Just a few weeks ago, we heard from Vernon’s owner again.  He was having some personal issues, and Vernon was getting older and slower.  The decision had been made to retire Vernon, now nearly 9 years old.  His owner did not have a lot of space in his apartment, and when Vernon retired, he’d be spending a lot of hours alone in that apartment.  Would we, Vern’s master asked, be interested in taking him back again?

Puppy raisers often adopt the pups they train when the dogs enter retirement, but it all depends upon the blind owner’s preference and desire.  We never knew if Vernon would just live out his days with his owner, or if we might one day be reunited.  And here we were, finally getting that answer. 

Our answer, in return:  OF COURSE.  No matter that we already have two dogs and a cat.  No matter that we plan on having more children and don’t have a lot of extra space in our home.  No matter that I already complain every day about cleaning up animal hair, and MY GOD do you know how much Labradors shed? 

All that mattered was Vernon.

Yesterday, our Vernon came home.  He’s an old man now, a little slower than we remember him.  But he is still as sweet and well behaved and HAIRY as ever.  It’s an adjustment welcoming a 100-pound-plus Labrador into our home, but it is working out so far.

Vernon (left) with Milo and Sophie

And really, despite any of the minor inconveniences, what matters most is giving this sweet, good dog a retirement fit for a king.  After all his years of hard work, he deserves it.

Welcome home, Vernon.  We missed you.