Eighth Grader Riley Forristel gets to bring a visitor to school with him almost every day, saying, "all he does is get under my desk. I'm set, I can do my work, he just lays there."
Riley's dog, Kensington, is a 17 month-old black lab, and Riley has been his trainer since the dog was 8 weeks old.
Riley's Mom, Terra, says, "that's a big responsibility for a 14-year old and the progress is amazing that way to help him blossom into a young man."
13-year-old Ethan Puser also raises a guide dog. This program has helped him become mature beyond his years, "I'm going to be happy if he makes it and sad that he has to leave but I know he's going to a blind person so it's better for them than for me."
Judy Alexander knows how much better it can be. Clinically blind since she was a small child, she has lived with guide dogs for the past ten years, and admits "I had no idea how hard I had to concentrate all the time to keep myself safe using a cane."
Guide Dog puppies become another member of the family, sleeping in their trainer's room, and going almost everywhere with them. But the trainers know it's temporary. Puppyraising leader Kay Nelms says, "it's a wonderful thing for them to do, to give somebody else that gift of a dog."
Judy agrees, saying, "to take something into their home and love it for a year and give it back, I don't know how they do it, I'm not sure I could do it."
And so last Friday Kensington graduated from puppy training and Riley had to say goodbye. But he walks a little taller now knowing the positive affect he had on someone's life through his dog. "They do some amazing things for these blind people and it's very cool to be a part of that and train the dog for that."
