By: Tarah Jeannis, contributing writer
On Oct. 24, Herberts Fecker, along with his wife Dwila, visited the University campus with their mixed Labrador Golden Retriever, Jet, to inform the community about Southeastern Guide Dogs and their mission to the sight-impaired.
Jet is an ambassador of the non-profit organization Southeastern Guide Dogs. His owner, Fecker, has been involved with the organization since 2009, the same year he adopted his dog who had a “career change” after being trained as a guide dog. Since then, the couple and Jet have visited nursing homes in Hillsborough County.
“There are three ways a blind person can travel: that is if they are taken there by someone else, usage of the white cane, or the use of a guide dog, which is the most independent way,” said Fecker.
“This foundation does not receive money from the government and it is no cost to the blind,” says Fecker. That is why he supports, volunteers, and motivates others to get involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs. “These dogs are bred in Palmetto, Florida, and stay in the facilities for the first nine weeks, there their training begins automatically.”
The dogs are housebroken, taught to recognize surfaces, and are then put on a leash. Afterward, they are assigned a puppy trainer off of the facilities. The trainer teaches the dogs without treats and only praises when they do well. They are taught commands such as finding or opening doors.
After being trained by a puppy trainer, the dog is then brought back to the facilities to begin its harness training. At this point, the dog is roughly two years old and ready to be paired with a blind individual who will bond with the dog for a month at the Southeastern facility.
These dogs work for approximately 10 years with their sight-impaired owner, after which they will stay with their owner or go through a “career change,” where they can become therapy dogs, ambassador dogs, or public service dogs.
The Feckers explained their journey with Jet and how blessed it has been to have him in his “forever home” with them. Jet behaves very well with them and others.
“The reward, as I understand, is when the trainer sees the guide dog with a sight-impaired,” Fecker said. “It makes it all worthwhile.”
