Recently Kirby and I made a trip to Las Vegas to visit family. Seeing the family was fun and of course they loved meeting Kirby, but the best part was how excited Kirby and I were about experiencing this adventure … Read more
Category: News
“I just want to show everyone what we can do when we have faith.” – Derek Rabelo, Guide Dogs of America Graduate Class #405
January 7, 2019by Zachary Gittlen GDA graduate Derek Rabelo has always been close with his father. “I may make fun of his big belly now, but we are best friends. He’s my hero and he has always encouraged me to do anything.” … Read more
Can I Raise a Guide Dog Puppy?
October 2, 2018My goal was unique – I wanted to be a Guide Dogs of America puppy raiser! If you ask the average 7 year old what they want to be when they grow up you’ll probably get a variety of answers. … Read more
Team Jirby: A Trip to the Dentist
September 20, 2018As you can imagine, a flood of questions bombarded my mind. What will I do with Kirby when I am getting my teeth cleaned or while I am having x-rays? Where will he sit? Will he be worried? Then I … Read more
Team Jirby: “New Family”
August 30, 2018Kirby’s puppy raiser is his Puppy Mama! Her name is Jennifer Beuhler. I never anticipated meeting Kirby’s puppy raiser and then instantly becoming family! On the day of Graduation I had no idea of what I was about to experience … Read more
Orange County Puppies-In-Training Bring Smiles to Children
August 2, 2018On Sunday July 22, 2018, a group of GDA puppy raisers from Orange County had the privilege of teaming up with Adonai Families at their Back to School Bash in Rancho Cucamonga. The event hosted over 250 people whose lives … Read more
Team Jirby’s Miracle Journey: They Had Me At Hello!
July 19, 2018When I arrived at GDA, they had me at hello! I met the trainers who understood my vision, met the people in my class, I realized that I was in the right place at the right time. Kirby was my … Read more
“How do you give up your puppy?”
July 6, 2018The most frequent comment I got when I was out in public with Kirby besides, “oh my gosh he’s so cute,” was, “how can you give him up? I could never do that.” To be honest, when I started this … Read more
GDA Enrichment Challenge
June 18, 2018Our guide dogs in training spend a great deal of time in the kennel. While we do our best to keep them busy when they’re not out training, putting an emphasis on enrichment is a goal of ours. Kennel manager … Read more
Team Jirby’s Miracle Journey: The day I met Kirby
June 7, 2018What is it like to receive a guide dog? Well, it is like nothing that has ever happened to me before. I arrived at Guide Dogs of America on a Sunday and moved into the dorms. Instantly I developed a … Read more
