10/05/11 Pat Shell wasn’t looking of a dog when she went to the Humane Society a few weeks ago. Shell said, “I had cleaned out closets and was just taking blankets to donate.”
While she was there, Shell thought she would just take a peek at the dogs. But she immediately fell in love with a 12-13-week-old blackLabradormix and adopted her on the spot.
Sasha is now four and on-half moths old and lives with Shell and her nine-year–old brown Labrador/Great Dane mixed dog who weighs in at 94 pounds.
Shell said, “Labs are the smartest dogs ever.”
Argos High School Senior Ally Rospopo already knows “Mileigh” will only be with her for nine months. Mileigh is being trained to be a guide dog for the blind.
Rospopo has been in a 4-H member for ten years and has been working with dogs every year. So when she had to choose a project required for graduation atArgosHigh School, she immediately thought of using her skills to help others.
Usually, it takes nine-months or longer to be considered to foster a dog that will be groomed to be a guide dog, but Rospopo told the staff at the facility inRochester Hills,MIthat she wanted to work with a dog for her senior project. Within a week, she was notified that she had been accepted and could make the trip to pick up Mileigh.
Rospopo must spend 24/7 with the dog. Mileigh goes to school, restaurants, shopping, and just everywhere that Rospopo goes each day.
Every month, Rospopo is required to meet inFt.Wayne, along with other foster caregivers, with a puppy councilor. Rospopo said this month they will be taking a field trip to the mall as part of the training process.
Rospopo is already wondering how she will react when Mileigh is returned to the Rochester Hills facility where the dog will begin serious training.
Rospopo said, “I’m hoping that the person who gets her will let me see her sometimes.”
Carol Anders Correspondent
