Week’s Review of Canine Social Media – 12/10/22

By Doggieuk9
/ December 10, 2022
/ Blog, Weekend Updates
/ Tags: College students train Guiding Eye Dogs, Dog crashes vehicle into 2 cars in Walmart parking lot, Some wonderful dog situations from Social Media

Welcome to the Week’s Review of Canine Social Media

Welcome to this Special Feature on the DoggieU K9 Blog for an update on this week’s dog-related media and social media from around the world. There are so many stories. Here we will share some of the best stories this week.

Enjoy & share them.

These College Students Raise & Train Guide Dogs for the Blind

For the past two years, Serinah P., a senior at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, has hosted and trained Labrador Retriever puppies for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss, at no cost to the person.

She is president of the Guiding Eyes Club at Hartwick, celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year.

Her third pup, a black Lab named Stitch, arrived on campus in August and lives with her on the first floor of her residence hall. Serinah says that “being able to raise a puppy who knows nothing of the world and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, is then taking on the world while providing someone with the independence they deserve, is something beyond special. Puppy raising is a privilege and an honor.” She is a public health major from Staten Island, N.Y. who will graduate from Hartwick in May.
Another student, Alexis B. is a junior double-majoring in history/political science, and vice-president of Hartwick’s Guiding Eyes program, says the project is focused on helping the dogs learn. But she notes that the students also typically learn a lot along the way. “Volunteering for this organization has made me realize how much effort goes into training a guide dog,” she says. “And this program is really helping to educate our community…we’ve had fellow students tell us that we’ve helped to teach them things that they never would have thought of.”
The guide puppies are predominantly yellow or black Labrador Retrievers. The Guiding Eyes students at Hartwick have mostly worked with Labs, and the breed has been the perfect match for campus life.
Hartwick students who work with the dogs often note the program opens other doors and opportunities for new connections, as well. “One of the most important aspects of Guiding Eyes for the Blind is the networking. Through social media–especially Instagram–we are able to connect with puppy raisers from different walks of life, and we share the common goal of providing independence to a person by raising these amazing dogs.”
The ‘dog-raiser’ is the primary person raising the puppy until the time that the dog matriculates to the “In-for-Training” stage, according to Alexis. She and the other student volunteers note that, while it’s bittersweet to hand the dogs over for the next phase of their training, they take comfort and some pride in knowing they are ready and prepared for it.

Guiding Eyes volunteer trainers and dogs from Hartwick College

Click to enlarge pics and for slide show view

[Link to Instagram info and more pics]

‘Reckless driver’ who crashed into two cars at Texas Walmart was actually a dog!

The “reckless driver” who struck two vehicles in a Walmart parking lot in Texas on Thursday was actually a dog behind the wheel, according to Texas police.

“Thankfully no one was injured in this crash,” the Kilgore Police Department said in a statement on Facebook. “One of the victims saw the suspect barrelling down on him but couldn’t get out of the way. He was shocked to see the driver was a dog! Yep, the pooch was actually behind the wheel when the crash occurred.”

According to the KPD, the dog was sitting in the empty vehicle while his owners shopped in the store.

The dog became “antsy” and started to “bounce” around the cab of the truck, setting it in motion when his leash caught on and released the emergency break. Police also said the truck’s steering column was damaged, making it easier for an accident to occur.

“It’s believed he got that caught on the emergency brake and released it,” the KPD added. “It doesn’t sound feasible but an eyewitness saw the pooch behind the wheel just before the crash.”

“He certainly has a guilty look on his face,” the KPD added cheekily.

Social media users had a field day with the reports of accidental doggie demolition derby.

Kilgore Animal Control wrote in a post, “I did NOT issue this pups license, before anyone asks…”

No word on potential charges yet, though the joyride may land the canine culprit in the doghouse.

[Link]