Retiring retriever
Lona has worked every day since she was 2 years old. Now, at age 101/2, she’s retiring.
The golden retriever is a guide dog for the blind. She has acted as the eyes for Mary Lou Groom for more than eight years.
Groom, 62, has retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive hereditary eye disease. “I’ve got enough eyesight to get myself in trouble. It depends on how much light there is. If it’s too sunny, it’s like a big whiteout. Actually, overcast days are best for me,” she said.
“When you get in a situation where you just can’t see, you have to learn to trust your dog,” said Groom.
Groom received Lona from Guide Dogs for the Blind, a charitable organization that was established in 1942 to serve blind World War II veterans. The school now provides guide dogs for visually impaired people throughout the United State and Canada.
It operates two training facilities – one in San Rafael, Calif. and one in Boring, Ore.
According to Groom, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides the trained dog, harness, leashes and brushes, everything you need to take care of your dog, all for free.
“The only thing they don’t supply is dog food. They even give you a stipend for vet bills. They pay for annual physicals, and they want a written report. They want to know their dog is healthy,” said Groom.
“The instructors come out once a year and work out any problems we’re having and keep us keen on our guide dog work.
“They said Lona has given me eight years of good service. She’s worked very hard and she deserves a good retirement. She deserves to just be a dog and not have to go to work if she doesn’t want to,” said Groom.
The organization begins training the dogs when they are between 14 to 18 months old. The school uses its own specially bred stock of Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds and Lab/golden retrievers.
Groom will be flown to Boring to train for three weeks with Lona’s replacement. Lona will accompany her on the flight. Guide dogs aren’t put in cargo. If seats are available, the dogs frequently get one.
The training is very thorough. Groom will train in nearby Gresham, Ore., and downtown Portland. “They take you on city buses, on the train, to malls, to grocery stores. They train you in revolving doors, escalators, elevators, stairs, sidewalk areas, country roads,” said Groom.
“I wouldn’t know what to do without a dog. They take you around obstacles, around people, they show you curbs,” said Groom.
Most importantly, guide dogs give their owners freedom.
“One time one of the field reps asked my daughter what she thought my guide dog did for me and she said, ‘Well, before my mother got her guide dog she was always at home, and now I never know where she’s going to be. She’s never at home.’ ”
Groom will miss Lona but knows she’ll be in good hands.
“They become a member of your family. In fact, I’ve had several grandkids born since I’ve had her and they don’t remember me ever not having her. You get very attached,” said Groom.
If owners can’t keep the retired dogs, the school has a Dog Placement Department to find it an adoptive home. For information on how to adopt a retired dog, go to www.guidedogs.com.
“They assure me that the dogs adjust very well. They’re placed in loving, caring homes. I think she’ll do fine as long as someone plays with her and gives her lots of attention,” said Groom.