By Andrea Beltran (J.D. ’18)
Many of you probably remember Echo, the standard poodle, who attended my first year of law school with me. I taught Echo lots of groundwork behaviors; she learned how to settle in class, how to walk politely through the halls while ignoring a busy environment, how to properly position herself in class, and most importantly, how to argue a motion in a court of law. But as much as Echo enjoyed law school, she was born for a more noble purpose. This past June, Echo's time with me came to a close and she returned to Smithtown, New York for formal training by a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.
It's impossible to count how many times I've been asked, ‘But how could you give them up? I could never do that.’ And my answer is, it's not easy, it doesn't get easier, and it doesn't mean that I have not loved this dog with every fiber of my being. But when you see the once small, waddling, fluffy puppy graduate with their new handler — it's definitely worth it. They become this fantastic dog that is now someone's eyes. They know not to cross a street when a car is coming, they know how to lead someone safely around a pothole, they can navigate familiar routes, and they love having a job. It is so worth it.
Echo has been in training for a little over two months now and I have received positive trainer updates. Soon, her guide dog skills will be tested by a trainer wearing a blindfold. If she passes her blindfold test, she will be considered “class ready,” which means she is ready to be matched with a handler who is blind or visually impaired. The Guide Dog Foundation works hard to match personalities and walking pace between dogs and their handlers. When she is matched, I will travel to New York to watch her graduate.
For now, though, I am happy to be accompanied to school by a new poodle, named Royal. Royal is a seven month old silver standard poodle, who I am raising with another raiser in the Atlanta area. She is the fourth puppy that I have raised for the Guide Dog Foundation. Royal has already shown herself to be a sweet and confident puppy. She has learned how to sleep through class and how to prance down the hallways. I look forward to spending the next year working with Royal.