From Bonnie's Journal

"And, he is always by my side.  If I'm at my computer, he's laying right beside my desk.  He's at or on my feet while I'm in my favorite lounge chair watching TV in the evenings.  He gets bored with soap operas just like I do.  And, he sleeps directly beside my side of the bed at night, saying good night with a huge sigh and little groan.'

          'And work!  Tyler loves to be in harness.  He's learning the neighborhood now, and although he'd still rather chase a rabbit once in a while, he prances the roads where we walk like he owns the place!  He watches traffic, stops for cracks or humps in the sidewalk that I would never even know were there without him.  He finds curbs even when the definition of "curb" is somewhat vague.  He crosses streets, indents country roads…'

          Okay so I'm bragging about my wonderful Leader Dog.  But think about it for a moment, folks.  Tyler is my eyes.  No longer do I need a white cane to tap my way around.  No longer do I have to hold on to someone's arm as they lead me where I need to be.  What I do now, is pick up the harness, give Tyler a few commands, and we're off and sailing.  The freedom I feel when working with him is almost euphoric.  I breeze down the road, wind in my hair (okay, I'm getting a little dramatic here!) - and on occasion, rain in my face (VERY realistic) - but it's just me and Tyler.  I feel that my life has no limitation anymore.  Okay, so I still can't drive.  But, other than that, Tyler has given me the freedom of mobility that I thought had been permanently lost along with my vision.  One girl that had come for her second dog, after losing her first one to age, said that she had never felt so blind as she did when she had to go back to using the white cane until she could get another dog.  And now, I know what she means.  I may still be blind in the physical sense, but emotionally, I have 20/20 vision through Tyler.'

          'Thank you God for this wonderful gift.  And thank you Lions, Leader Dogs and Rich"

(As your State Leader Dog chair, I often search my mind and heart looking for what I can share with my fellow Lion so you can experience second hand the emotions I have felt through my association with Leader Dogs.  Never in the past has the journal of a stay at Leader Dog by a recipient been handed to me with the consent to share it with you.  Anyone wishing to read more of the journal, can contact your District Leader Dog Chair or myself.)