mmowens40@yahoo.com (845) 675-7200
It’s Time
“We make a living by what we get
but we make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over . . ."
Luke 6:38 Bible.
“It is normal to give away a little of one’s life in order not to lose it all”
Albert Camus.
What does it take to give up a beautiful, yellow lab like Irwin?
How does a person, who gives up a puppy, think?
Guiding Eyes for the Blind of Yorktown Heights, NY provides a list of
characteristics for people who want to raise a puppy - a puppy who will
become a guide dog for someone else; i.e., a blind person. If you are truly
interested in raising a gift for someone who faces life with vision loss,
take a look at their website and seriously reflect on how you think.
www.guidingeyes.org/volunteer/puppy-raising
Here’s a list of qualities I think it take for a person to raise a Guide Dog.
A person who thinks about others.
A person who enjoys giving gifts
A person who loves dogs
A person who respects dogs as dogs.
A dog has a purpose in life, too; working dogs like to work!
A person who can laugh at herself, and loves to laugh
A person who can laugh at a puppy’s behaviors, which might be
intrusive or not-so-tidy
A person who likes living things more than things
A patient person
Someone who is determined to do the best job
A person who does not give up easily
A person who thinks about others
A person who cares about others
A person who understand that giving is getting
A person who knows s/he is part of others.
We are in this life together. Life is about US.
A person who is willing to give up their precious companion.
How can one do that?
Irwin enthusiastically meets
new friends his first day in
his formal training as a
Guide Dog for the Blind.
"We have a stake in one another . . . what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart and . . .
if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every
problem, but we can get something meaningful done for the people with whom we share this earth”
President Barack Obama.
How Can You Give Up Irwin?
"For it is in giving that we receive”
St. Francis of Assisi.
“The Dead Sea is
the dead sea
because it continually
receives and never gives”
Anonymous,
Willie gave in. The white, cumbersome cane seemed worthless. Unless friendly people were nearby or willing to help a tall, formidable blind man cross a busy New York City street, the cane was limiting. It helped one avoid bumps, but not if the bump came from a speeding car. “I need a guide-dog,” he announced to his wife, Gloria. The waiting list for guide dogs is long. There are more blind people who want dogs than there are puppy raisers But Willie put his name on the long list.
“Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. We are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence” (Guiding Eyes website).
So Willie was on the list. . . unbeknown to him, Irwin was already in training program to eventually be at Willie’s side to help him avoid that bump in the road.
“How can you give him up?” When I had Irwin with me in training, I was asked this question every single day (I documented it, out of curiosity). When I tell people about Irwin now, they still pose this question, “How could you give him up?” --- an interesting question/thought which invites exploration.
“How can you give him up,” sounds possessive, as if “he” were mine to give; i.e., that I owned him and then switched loyalties somewhere along the line. Or it may sound accusatory, as if I were a heartless person, abandoning a sweet, beautiful dog. And in the extreme, it sounds punitive—as if I were going to give him to a dastard fate . . . as if I were casually dropping him off at the pound.
Anyway you look at it, “How can you give him up?” has always
been a curious question for me. People can readily see, and thus
know, that he is a dog in training for a blind person—someone
who really needs his skills. (His bright blue cape reads thus.)
I like to think that the individuals posing this question were really
saying
"He is so darling, how can you possibly part with him?” Some
cannot imagine giving up such a priceless critter and companion.
The first few queries, however, struck me as odd, but understandable.
I actually tried to give them my rationale for the choice—actually, it was not a choice. Everyone agrees about this the day you receive your puppy. The puppy was never “mine”, and I was always delighted that he would become a guide dog, if at all possible. I wanted to help him become the best guide dog for his person. “He’s really not mine to give up—never has been,” I replied. “I knew the day I committed to take him that we would be together for about 18 months, and then he would be placed in the hands of skilled trainers at GEB, and then with a kind and deserving master,” I explained. My entire commitment focused on giving him every possible experience so that regardless of Irwin's placement, he could help his person meet any challenge with a positive spirit, not fear, thus living a full rich life.”
As Irwin and I spent time together, I envisioned him with someone like Andrea Bocelli, one brilliant vocalist, or a Ray Charles, another performer. I imagined Irwin lying quietly by a piano, as he had done with me for hours on end, as his person rehearsed an upcoming performance. As we spent time together, I knew he would do well flying on planes hither and yon, attending raucous baseball games or upscale operas. I knew he could go to any restaurant and peacefully take his place beneath the table and blend into the background, trying to be invisible to other patrons. Whatever the circumstance into which he was placed, I knew he would excel. The organization carefully matched dog and master by height (Irwin had long legs) and temperament (Irwin was content, curious, and playful—but not necessarily the life of the party). Whatever the circumstance, I knew I would not be keeping him after 18 months — unless I went blind and needed a dog myself, which was highly unlikely.
“How can you possibly give him up?” echoed in my life every day. Periodically the question grew old, especially if I were tired. Those days I felt a bit critical toward its source. “Are you so selfish, you cannot see the greater good here?” Good thing I did not say that out loud. Many days I felt silly and wanted to respond, “I hate dogs—I can hardly wait until I can get rid of this mutt!” But I said neither, and yet never found the perfect, succinct answer.
“I am raising him for his greater purpose,” was the best response I could find. It seemed to the point, short and snappy, brief, but not too terse or pithy. Just the facts as I saw them.
In actuality, I miss him daily, and was delighted to give him up– up to the next step in his training –
up to a higher plane of purpose—up to be a blind person’s guide. Were all people so fortunate to
find such a worthy calling in life. I was the fortunate one in this relationship. Irwin blessed my
life and took me up to a higher plane. I never forget that Dog is the reflection of God. (Perhaps a bit
corny, but given dogs' willingness to love unconditionally, etc., it is well founded.)
I suppose on a more metaphysical plane, one can say that by giving him away, I received more than
I ever expected. By giving Irwin back to the program, I was part of his greater purpose ~ to help
another, and that has made me rich. By giving Irwin back, I kept him on many levels, especially
the lessons of love he had taught me. By giving, I received.
Irwin was happy to meet others who were entering the second phase of the GEB training program, too.
Here we are on our last day together, before he started his training as a Guide Dog.
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou
INTRODUCTION: In 1997, in New York City, a kind, 40-year old man, Willie, had a heart attack. When he awoke, he was blind.
The same year, a few miles north of New York City, puppy Irwin was born blind. In about two weeks, he awoke to sight, just like puppies do. His nine Labrador puppy brothers and sisters were soon enlisted in a special training program for exceptional puppies. They would study to become Guide Dogs for the blind, someone like Willie. In time, Irwin and Willie became partners, and Irwin shared his sight and insights with him. Irwin seemed to generate miracles ~ for me, for those around me, and for Willie and his family.
Irwin came to my home in early July in 1997 to begin his training. Irwin cleverly made himself at home and showed us all his intellectual prowess by opening his crate locks (Episode 2) and doors! (Episode 3). During the 18 months Irwin lived with me; many lessons/command/concepts were learned, by Irwin, as part of his training, and by me, as part of life.
So how could I have given up this precious companion after 18 months of pure joy?
It’s Time
Thinking about raising a puppy for someone, too ? . . . To assist your thought process, here are a few quotes from others who say it better than I.