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A MESSAGE FROM BOARD MEMBER:
FINDING FAMILY THROUGH OCCUPAWS
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My relationship with OccuPaws is somewhat unique. I have had the privilege of experiencing the organization from two perspectives — both as a client and as a member of the Board of Directors.
In 2015, my guide dog was diagnosed with cancer. Anyone who has partnered with a guide dog understands the profound bond that develops between handler and dog. Hearing that diagnosis was heartbreaking. At the same time, I knew I needed to begin preparing for the future. Living in the Madison area and traveling occasionally for work, I understood how much confidence and independence a guide dog provided in my daily life, so I immediately applied for a guide dog through OccuPaws.
What I didn't realize at the time was that
I wasn't just applying for a guide dog
— I was being welcomed into a family.
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"The OccuPaws family walked beside me through the tears, uncertainty,
and transition."
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Barb, the President of OccuPaws, embraced me from the very beginning. As a manager by profession, I brought skills that could benefit the organization and was soon elected to serve as Board Secretary. I began assisting with client conference calls and follow-up contacts, connecting with applicants who were walking the same path I had traveled.
During that difficult season of saying goodbye to my first guide dog, OccuPaws surrounded me with support. I spoke with puppy raisers, demonstrated tasks my guide dog performed, and even visited correctional facilities to thank inmates who help raise future guide dogs. Most importantly, I never felt alone. The OccuPaws family walked beside me through the tears, uncertainty, and transition. Looking back, that support was one of the greatest gifts I received.
Before coming to OccuPaws, I received my first guide dog through another organization, where training required spending four weeks away from home, family, and work. OccuPaws does things differently.
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Instead of asking clients to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, OccuPaws brings training into the client's everyday world. Aurora and I learned routes to church, work, medical clinics, community destinations, and even through TSA at the airport. The difference was remarkable.
A white cane helps identify obstacles. A guide dog helps avoid them. Aurora doesn't simply guide me around hazards — she finds elevators, stairs, doors, and even my chair when returning from a restroom break. She has made daily life easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
Traveling with a guide dog also changes how the world interacts with you. People smile, ask questions, and connect. What might otherwise be a solitary journey often becomes an opportunity for kindness and conversation.
Like any partnership, our relationship took time to develop. Trust isn't built overnight. It grows through shared experiences, challenges, and successes. Today, there are moments when I simply think about where we're going, and Aurora seems to know. Even when I've become distracted or momentarily disoriented, she confidently guides us toward our destination.
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Over the years, Aurora and I have also given back by welcoming other OccuPaws dogs into our home, including a breeding female, a poodle awaiting placement, and a dog transitioning to become a high school assistance dog.
What makes OccuPaws
special is not simply the dogs.
It is the people.
Puppy raisers, trainers, volunteers, donors, staff, board members, and clients come together to create something extraordinary — a community dedicated to changing lives through independence.
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Today, Aurora is nearly 12 years old. She still enjoys her walks, although at a slower pace. The years have brought countless memories, and I am forever grateful for the life we have shared.
Aurora is ready to pass the harness to a younger dog. When the time is right, I look forward to meeting guide dog number three.
Until then, I remain deeply thankful — for Aurora, for OccuPaws, and for every person who supports this mission.
Because of you, lives are changed every day.
I know. Mine was.
With Gratitude,
KATHY DUCAT
Board of Directors
OccuPaws Guide Dog Association
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OCCUPAWS GOES GLOBAL:
BREEDERS & IGDF CONFERENCES IN JAPAN
OccuPaws Board Member Kassel Matushak and GDMI Trainer Dennis Walker recently attended the Breeders Conference and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) Conference in Yokohama, hosted by the Japan Guide Dog Association.
During the conferences, they had the opportunity to network and learn alongside guide dog organizations from around the world. Topics included puppy production, data-driven breeding decisions, the use of AI technology in guide dog programs, and advancements in breeding and training practices.
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Kassel and Dennis also toured the Fuji and Kanagawa campuses of the Japan Guide Dog Association to gain firsthand insight into how other successful guide dog organizations operate and serve their communities.
Attending conferences like these allows OccuPaws to continue learning, growing, and bringing back valuable knowledge and ideas that can strengthen our own program. By collaborating with similar organizations around the world, we can continue improving our breeding, training, and placement programs to better serve our clients and future guide dog teams.
A big thank you to Kassel and Dennis for representing OccuPaws internationally and helping our organization continue moving forward in excellence and innovation!
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DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
Where community and purpose come together.
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BRAT FRY AT THE SHOE BOX
Sunday, June 14
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Shoe Box
1314 Canal St., Black Earth
Event to benefit OccuPaws.
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CRAFTS FOR PAWS
Sunday, July 12
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
MEYER OAK GROVE PARK
780 Phillips Blvd., Sauk City
Event to benefit OccuPaws.
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EVENTS FROM JULY ONWARDS
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JULY 19: Brat Fry at the Shoe Box
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AUGUST 16: Outdoor Summer Market in Lake Mills
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SEPTEMBER 13: 10th Annual Puptoberfest at Wisconsin Brewing
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CLIENT'S HIGHLIGHTS
Every new team is a story of trust and independence
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THIS IS OUR JOURNEY
JEFF & GUIDE DOG NATTY: WHEREVER THE ADVENTURE LEADS
Before receiving his guide dog, Natty, Jeff relied primarily on his white cane to navigate the world around him. Like many people with vision loss, traveling through unfamiliar environments required extra concentration and planning, especially in busy parking lots, crowded spaces, and new locations.
Jeff has always been determined to stay active and involved in his community, but he knew a guide dog could provide an added level of confidence and independence. While researching guide dog organizations, he discovered OccuPaws and was impressed by the organization's reputation, training program, and commitment to serving clients in Wisconsin.
That decision led him to Natty — a loyal, smart, calm, hard-working, affectionate, and trustworthy partner.
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"Natty has added another level of confidence and
awareness to my daily life," Jeff shares.
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While he still uses his white cane and other tools when appropriate, Natty helps him navigate obstacles and move more comfortably through a variety of environments. More importantly, she allows him to approach new places and experiences with greater confidence.
Over time, their working relationship has grown into a strong partnership built on trust.
"At first, it was about learning how to work together," Jeff explains. "Gradually, it became something deeper."
Natty isn't just a guide dog — she's a constant companion who shares in Jeff's everyday life and adventures.
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And what adventures they have had.
Since becoming a team, Jeff and Natty have traveled to at least 16 states by road and air. They've explored busy airports, unfamiliar cities, and crowded public spaces. Natty has accompanied Jeff on camping trips in the Boundary Waters and even traveled internationally with him to Scotland.
No matter where they go, Natty remains focused, reliable, and ready to work.
"Those everyday and not-so-everyday moments
of teamwork are what make having a guide dog
so meaningful," Jeff says.
Jeff also enjoys sharing their experiences through his social media project, The Blind Outdoorsman. Through his adventures, he helps others see that blindness does not define a person's limits. Whether he's traveling, exploring the outdoors, or simply running errands, Natty is often by his side, demonstrating the life-changing impact of a guide dog partnership.
Jeff is deeply grateful to the OccuPaws staff, trainers, puppy raisers, volunteers, and supporters who make these partnerships possible.
"Their commitment makes it possible for people like me to gain greater independence and confidence," he says. "That level of dedication truly changes lives."
For Jeff, Natty is more than a guide dog. She is a trusted teammate, an adventure partner, and a daily reminder that independence often comes on four paws.
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SAY YES TO BECOMING
A PUPPY RAISER!
Puppy raising doesn’t require a special lifestyle… just your everyday one — with a really cute sidekick by your side.
Errands. Grocery runs. Walks around town. Life at home.
It all counts. And yes, the puppy can go with you. These ordinary moments are exactly how a future guide dog learns to navigate the world.
Some puppy raisers bring their pups to work.
Some practice skills out in the community.
Some simply live their lives and bring the puppy along for the ride.
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OccuPaws is seeking compassionate volunteers to serve as puppy raisers for future guide dogs. As a puppy raiser, you’ll welcome a guide dog in training into your home and daily life, helping them build confidence, learn basic obedience, and experience the world around them during their time with you.
OccuPaws provides training, veterinary care, supplies, and ongoing support every step of the way. What you provide is just as important — your time, your patience, and your willingness to say yes.
Because every guide dog begins with someone who opened their home… and helped a puppy take its first steps toward changing a life.
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You live your life. They learn how to navigate it.
Raise a puppy. Change a life.
| | Visit occupaws.org or call (608) 772-3787 to learn more today. | | |
GUIDE DOG IN TRAINING SPOTLIGHTS
From eager pup to future partner — one milestone at a time.
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L-LITTER: HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY
A special birthday shoutout to Lisbon and Lumen, our Standard Poodle siblings!
Known for their intelligence, energy, and tendency to keep their humans on their toes, Lisbon and Lumen have spent the past year proving that poodles don't just learn the rules — they sometimes like to negotiate them.
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NEW GDiT WELCOME: UMBER
Move over, everyone — there's a new recruit in town!
Meet Umber, the newest Guide Dog in Training to join the OccuPaws family. This adorable Labrador comes to us from The Captain's Labrador Retrievers of Cloquet, Minnesota, and she's already capturing hearts with those puppy-dog eyes
For now, her specialties include napping, playing, and being adorable. Soon, she'll be hard at work learning the skills needed to become a future guide dog. Big dreams start with small paws. Welcome aboard, Umber!
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THANK YOU DR. BENTLEY
The OccuPaws puppies had their eye check-ups with Dr. Ellison Bentley recently and we are happy to report a clean bill of eye health!
Healthy eyes are an important part of preparing future guide dogs for the important work ahead, and we are incredibly grateful for the care and expertise provided during these evaluations.
A very special thank you to Dr. Bentley for generously volunteering her time and services to support OccuPaws and our puppies. Your kindness and dedication help make our mission possible!
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GDMI TRAINER JENNIFER THURMAN: SPECIAL TRAINING DAY AT BKC
Talk about puppy power — 13 puppies showed up for a special training class session with GDMI Jennifer Thurman at BKC in Madison!
From working on obedience skills to practicing focus around distractions (and plenty of puppy excitement!), both the pups and their raisers enjoyed a valuable learning experience together.
Training is one of the most important building blocks in a future guide dog's journey. Every sit, stay, loose-leash walk, and calm response in a distracting environment helps build the confidence, manners, and reliability these dogs will need to one day guide a person with vision loss safely and independently. These lessons aren't just about learning commands — they're about developing the trust, focus, and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for their future careers.
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A huge thank you to Jennifer for sharing her guidance, encouragement, and expertise with our puppy raisers and guide dogs in training. Thanks also to our dedicated raisers who continue investing countless hours into helping these puppies grow into life-changing partners.
One paw step at a time, these future guide dogs are building the foundation for a lifetime of service.
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VOLUNTEER . DONATE . SHOP
Choose your way to make a difference today.
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OccuPaws is powered by volunteers, and we’re always in need of people willing to share their time, knowledge, and experience. Puppy raisers and Board members are essential, but so are the many behind-the-scenes helpers whose unique skills keep our programs strong.
| | Supporting OccuPaws has never been easier. Make a secure online donation, give instantly by scanning our PayPal or Venmo QR codes, or mail in a check using our downloadable donation form. However you choose to help, your generosity directly supports the training and placement of life-changing guide dogs. Thank you for making independence possible! | | |
OccuPaws relies on generous supply donations to help nurture and train our future guide dogs. When you donate items from our wish list, you’re providing the tools and care our puppies need to grow, learn, and prepare for the life-changing work ahead. Shop & ship from our Amazon Wish List or contact us to arrange a pickup. Thank you for your support!
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OccuPaws is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
fully trained guide dogs at no cost to visually impaired adults across Wisconsin.
Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Learn more about OccuPaws using the links below.
| | info@occupaws.org | (608) 772-3787 | | | | |
