Nothing to bark at

To the Editor: On behalf of the Orange County Region of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, I want to offer a huge thanks to Chester, Monroe and Warwick area businesses for helping to make the Oct. 6 open house such a great success. Area post offices (Greenwood Lake, Goshen, Pine Island, Warwick) let us hang up posters about the event, along with many libraries (Albert Wisner, Chester, Florida, Greenwood Lake and Monroe) and many businesses (Fetch Bar & Grill, Silken Wool, Newhard’s, Dautaj Restaurant, C&D Bagels, Warwick Valley Electronics, Millspaugh Furniture, Akin’s Pharmacy, Greater Hudson Bank, G’s Restaurant, CVS-Warwick, Larry’s Deli, Valero Gas Station, and Frontier Bowling Lanes, to name a few). The open house to recruit more volunteer raising families was well attended. Single people, couples, families with two and three children, retirees, and even a Girl Scout troop came. They learned that many homes can help raise these special “Puppies with a Purpose.” We had eight-week-old puppies just beginning their journey to become guide dogs as well as dogs being raised here in Orange County (ages 8 to 17 months) present so prospective raisers could ask questions of people in the midst of this special mission. Refreshments were served and attendees left with information folders, magnetic bumper stickers, and lovely blank Golden Retriever cards. It was wonderful to see many people are interested in helping to raise a puppy for 14 to 16 months and ultimately give a blind person a chance of an independent life. For those who could not attend the Guiding Eyes for the Blind open house and are curious about becoming a volunteer raiser, please visit the Web site www.guidingeyes.org or call Nicole at 230-6406. Pre-puppy instruction classes will start Tuesday, Oct. 18. Cheryl DeVine, volunteer puppy raiser for GEB Warwick