| Have Paws Will Travel
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Guide Dog Puppy Raising Club |
Arapahoe County, Colorado |
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FIRE STATION OUTINGSSeptember 14, 2004September 16, 2003 About once a year, HPWT has a social outing at a local fire station. This allows the puppies to see the firefighters in their turn-out gear. Turn-out gear makes the person wearing it seem bigger, and smell and look differently. The breathing apparatus and helmet can make them seem like a monster to the dogs. The trucks have their own array of sights and smells. By exposing our dogs to the firehouse and everything in it, we hope our puppies will learn that firefighters are helpers, and they will be able to calmly accept their aid, should their blind partner one day require assistance. |
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| September 14, 2004 |
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| Puppies investigate the turn-out gear before the
firefighter puts it on. |
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Puppies and raisers watch a firefighter don
his turnout gear.
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The firefighter revs up a noisy saw used in rescues. Most of the dogs take all the noise and odor of the gas-powered contraption in stride. |
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Pam & Ferrari check out the paramedic truck, with engine running and lights flashing. |
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Two raisers were loaded up on backboards and gurneys for the puppy's benefit. The dogs get a chance to understand that the rescue workers are helping their people, and not a threat. |
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Cougar rides calmly with his raisers Carol and
Leah. A few minutes later, the truck drove off, lights flashing and siren
blaring!
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| September 16, 2003 |
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The dogs investigate the equipment before the firefighter puts its on. That way, they can get accustomed to the new smells and sights in a less threatening way-- before they are confronted with a person wearing the sometimes intimidating, bulky turnout gear. |
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| The dogs watch as the fire fighter dons his
turn-out gear, looking less and less human with each piece
of equipment he adds. |
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| Then the dogs get a chance to meet the fully-outfitted emergency worker, breathing gear and all. | |
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| Some dogs are friendly, some curious, and
some timid about the experience. |
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Time to take off the equipment and
turn back into a human being again.
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We had a great time! Thank you, South Metro Fire Fighters! |
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