Twelve years ago I decided to become a puppy raiser for the Guide Dog Foundation of Smithtown. I was paired with the sweetest 8-week old yellow lab named Bea. Through the puppy raising program, I gained experience teaching Bea positive socialization, basic obedience, and ideal house manners. I was an elementary teacher at the time and Bea came with me to school every day. Bea eventually became a breeder for the foundation and I became her caretaker, seeing her through three pregnancies. Bea retired after that, and I officially adopted her.