David and Future Service Dog Sandy join members of the Regional Advisory board, Pacific-Northwest, at an outreach event during National Service Dog Month in September.
Having successfully trained three DBL puppies— Poppy, Noelle and Cobbler— David welcomed Sandy as his fourth puppy last June. His puppyraising adventures coincided with the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
“I was specifically looking for something to do to be helpful and make a difference,” he says. “Dogs for Better Lives just checked all the boxes for me.”
Puppy Raisers create a safe and socially stimulating environment for the puppies, dedicating time to their basic training and skills development. David took in 8-week-old Poppy despite having no formal dog training skills.
“The DBL training is 90% for the humans,” he explains.
One of David’s favorite aspects of raising puppies is their playful energy. He and his wife, Kellie, live in Seattle with two elderly dogs. Shih Tzu-mix Biscuit and French bulldog-mix Sita are sedate old ladies, their routine lifestyle contrasting sharply with the spirited antics of Sandy, who enjoys wrestling and playing.
Kellie and David pose with their first DBL puppy, Poppy
David says he is frequently asked about the emotional impact of having to return puppies after a year together.
“It’s not about feeling loss and sadness; it’s about knowing these dogs are going on to have extraordinarily purposeful lives,” he says.
The joy of seeing the difference these dogs make in their new homes is incredibly rewarding. He often exchanges photos with the owners of the dogs he has raised. “It’s lovely to see them all look so happy,” he says.
Learn more about becoming a Puppy Raiser at Dogs for Better Lives at dogsforbetterlives.org/puppy-raiser
