It is WAGATHON time again! As you know, Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) is a special charitable organization to both me and to my family. We have been lucky to raise five of their “releases” over the past 30 years – Roscoe, Bosco, Bixx, Shasta, and Everest. Last year I finished in first place nationally in the WAGATHON for money raised and this year our goal is to repeat finish in first place again. In addition, my three sons will also be participating as part of Team Topkis in the Wagathon. Maybe we can take the team title, too. Everest, who will turn three during this campaign will be logging all of the miles with me. We do more than 200 miles of hiking a month. Shasta, who is 13 1/2, no longer does "hikes"; she does "strolls". The plan will be for her to do the marathon distance (which is her typical monthly total).

I have on several occasions had the opportunity to visit the GEB facilities in Yorktown Heights, NY, including their “Canine Development Center” – with more than 200 puppies, and their kennels with more than 500 dogs, I am impressed with their school and training operation. And of course I am impressed with their dogs (labs and German shepards).

GEB depends entirely upon donors like us to be able to do the work that they do. They receive no government subsidies and they never charge recipients for their guide dogs. They have mastered every part of creating enabling dogs for the blind. That starts with exceptional breeding and cutting-edge birthing programs that develop the greatest dogs bred for their intelligence and other key traits (such as the first breeding Labradors that do not have hip dysplasia). GEB dogs are used throughout the world for breeding. Many of their dogs that do not serve as Guides are used as arson dogs (sniff for accelerants), bomb squad dogs, or in their “Healing Autism” program. And a few dropouts (they call them “releases”) end up in homes like mine.

Their puppy raising starts from the day of birth. Mobiles are placed above their crates to get them used to looking up (no doubt why GEB dogs make for such exceptional frisbee catchers). After 12 weeks of training, they are placed with a “puppy raiser family” who have training protocols and evaluations. After a year, the puppies come back to GEB where they go through another year of training prior to being matched with their blind handler. Unlike other trained dogs, Guide Dogs require a level of critical thinking to know when to refuse a command. (For example, if the handler gives the command to go, but the dog knows a hazard has not been identified, such as a low branch the dog can pass under, they will insist the handler identify the problem prior to proceeding). These dogs are truly amazing.

After two years, and over $50,000 invested, GEB expertly matches the dog’s personality with the right person, and then they train at their school, together, for a month, as handler and guide, to be independent and successful. The process is completed with an emotional graduation ceremony with the new handler’s family, trainers, puppy raisers, and other GEB staff. All of this, including a month or more in their dorms are at no expense to the recipient or to their family.

All of this is why I participate in their annual Wagathon, and if you are interested in giving, I am asking for your support for this great cause.

Thank you for your consideration!

My Best, Bill (and Everest and Shasta!)