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: Chuck@Suncoastpup.org

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

.