CELEBRATING NATIONAL GUIDE DOG MONTH — 

THE OCCUPAWS WAY

Some of the best guide dog moments are the ones where nothing happens. And that may be one of the greatest compliments we can give them.

National Guide Dog Month seems like the perfect occasion to tell you about all the extraordinary things guide dogs do. But this year, we’d like to celebrate something else: how wonderfully boring they can make life look.

A guide dog team crosses a street safely. Nothing happens. They navigate a crowded store. Nothing happens. They walk around a construction barrier, find the right door and arrive at work. Still nothing. No dramatic music. No slow-motion rescue scene. No one standing nearby applauding. Just another Tuesday. And that is rather remarkable.

For someone who is blind or visually impaired, greater independence doesn’t always arrive as a grand, cinematic moment. Sometimes it looks like getting to work, running an errand, meeting a friend for lunch or simply walking down the sidewalk with greater confidence. A well-trained guide dog helps make those everyday moments feel, well... everyday.

Of course, getting a guide dog to the point where “nothing happens” requires an enormous amount of something happening behind the scenes. There are puppies learning that grocery stores contain approximately 8,472 fascinating smells, none of which require investigation. There are volunteers practicing entrances, elevators, crowds and calm behavior. There are puppy raisers standing patiently while their future guide dog contemplates whether a leaf blowing across the sidewalk represents an exciting new life opportunity.

There are also mistakes. Forgotten commands. Muddy paws. Missing socks. Puppy enthusiasm at extremely inconvenient moments. And probably at least one household object that has made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of guide dog education.

Fortunately, guide dogs aren’t born knowing

how to be guide dogs. They grow into them.

And that is where people like you enter the story.

Every polished working guide you see once had someone at the other end of the leash saying, “Let’s try that again.” Someone introduced that puppy to the world. Someone celebrated the breakthroughs and worked through the frustrating days. Someone opened their home, volunteered a few hours, puppy-sat for a weekend, drove to training or helped at an OccuPaws event. And someone else helped pay for it.

Donors may never hold the harness of the guide dog their gift helped prepare. Volunteers may never meet the person who eventually receives the puppy they once knew.

Puppy raisers eventually do one of the hardest and

most generous things imaginable: they love a dog

deeply enough to let that dog go do something bigger.

That’s the peculiar beauty of this mission. You invest in a puppy knowing the best possible outcome is that someday, someone else will need that dog more than you do.

And then one day, somewhere in Wisconsin, a person and an OccuPaws guide dog leave home together. They find the sidewalk. They navigate the obstacles. They cross the street. They arrive where they wanted to go.

Nothing particularly exciting happens. Exactly as planned.

Behind every working guide dog are countless hours of training, dedicated volunteers, generous donors and an entire community willing to invest in a puppy long before anyone knows whose life that puppy may someday change. This September, your gift goes twice as far: $25 becomes $50. $50 becomes $100. $100 becomes $200.

Businesses can be part of the impact, too. We welcome companies and community partners who would like to offer a matching gift of their own. A corporate match can inspire even more people to give while helping OccuPaws extend the impact of every dollar raised.

So during National Guide Dog Month, we celebrate the dogs who make independence look ordinary — and every person and organization that helps them get there.

Perhaps there’s a puppy out there who still needs someone to teach him that the mysterious object on the sidewalk does not need to go into his mouth. That someone could be you.

Volunteer. Raise a puppy. Make a gift.

Become a matching partner.

Through September 30, your tax-deductible gift will be matched dollar for dollar. Be part of the reason that someday, somewhere in Wisconsin, a guide dog team gets where they want to go safely and independently… and absolutely nothing happens.

Wouldn’t that be something?

THE OCCUPAWS ONLINE SWAG STORE IS LIVE!

Swag with Purpose. Wear the Mission.

One of the simplest ways you can support OccuPaws? Wear it.

Throw on an OccuPaws tee, sweatshirt, hat, or other favorite swag and take our mission with you — to work, the gym, your kid’s game, the grocery store, or just around town.

Every time you wear OccuPaws, you help put our name in front of someone new, spark a conversation, and introduce more people to our mission of providing guide dogs at no cost to people with visual impairments right here in Wisconsin.

Because awareness matters. The person who notices your OccuPaws shirt today could become tomorrow’s puppy raiser, volunteer, supporter — or someone who needs a guide dog.

Wear the logo. Start a conversation. Spread the mission.

DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!

Where community and purpose come together.

CLIENT'S HIGHLIGHTS

Every new team is a story of trust and independence

A guide dog partnership is built on trust, teamwork, and an incredible bond that grows stronger with every step. We can't wait to see all the adventures that await Team Robert & Guide Dog Demi as they navigate life's journey together.

This milestone would not have been possible without the incredible people who helped shape Demi into the remarkable guide dog she is today. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who invested their time, patience, and love throughout her journey:



• Liz – ClearCreek
• Anne – Fitchburg
• PawsForward Program – New Lisbon Correctional Institution
• Cloudia & Family – Cedarburg
• Ed & Sue – Madison

From her very first days as a puppy to every outing, training session, and life lesson, each of you played an essential role in preparing Demi for her greatest calling—helping Robert live with greater confidence, freedom, and independence. Your dedication has truly changed a life.

Please join us in congratulating Team Robert & Guide Dog Demi as they begin this exciting new chapter together. We wish them many miles of safe travels, unforgettable adventures, and a lifetime of partnership.

Kim values the continued follow-up and knowing that Norman's puppy raisers and the OccuPaws team remain there for him.

“The puppy raisers are always in my corner,” he says.

Today, Norman accompanies Kim on his walk to work every day. He describes him simply as “excellent.” Norman understands Kim's commands, helps him navigate obstacles, and has given him a level of confidence he didn't have before.

“Together we are more confident,” Kim says.

The Moment Norman Knew to Stop

There was one night that demonstrates just how important that partnership has become.

Kim was walking with Norman after dark when he misjudged a curb. At the same time, a car was approaching.

Kim didn't realize the danger.

Norman did.

He stopped.

That single decision prevented Kim from stepping forward and potentially being struck by the approaching vehicle.

For a guide dog, stopping at a curb is part of the job. But for the person holding the harness, that seemingly simple action can mean everything.

It is why guide dog training involves so much more than teaching commands. It is about developing judgment, confidence, and trust between two partners—until there are moments when the dog must recognize that moving forward isn't safe.

Norman did exactly that.

It Took a Community to Get Norman There

Long before Norman walked to work beside Kim, volunteers were preparing him for that responsibility.

There were puppy raisers teaching manners and foundational skills. Volunteers exposing him to everyday environments. Trainers developing his guide work. Donors providing the financial support that makes the entire process possible.

Those individual acts eventually became something much larger: Kim and Norman walking confidently through the world together.

That is why Kim's gratitude extends beyond Norman himself. He is thankful for the in-home training, for the puppy raisers who invested so much in Norman, and for the ongoing support he continues to receive from OccuPaws.

And his story is a reminder of

why every volunteer hour and every donation matters.

You may be the person holding a puppy's leash today.

You may be the person writing a check, making an online gift, sitting a puppy for a weekend, driving a dog somewhere, helping at an event, or supporting OccuPaws in one of countless other ways.

You may never see the exact moment your contribution matters most.

But someday, somewhere, it may become a guide dog named Norman stopping at a curb.

And on the other end of that harness is someone like Kim—moving through life with greater independence, confidence, and freedom because an entire community chose to help make that independence possible.

COULD YOU HELP RAISE THE NEXT NORMAN?

Kim's story is a reminder that every guide dog partnership begins long before the harness. It begins with someone saying "yes".

Before Norman walked beside Kim to work each day, before he helped Kim confidently navigate a world he can no longer see at night, and before Norman knew to stop when Kim misjudged a curb as a car approached, Norman was simply a puppy learning how to navigate the world himself.

He had to learn the basics. How to behave in public. How to remain calm around distractions. How to experience new places with confidence. Behind those lessons were puppy raisers who gave Norman their time, patience, and love, preparing him little by little for a job none of them could fully know the importance of yet.

As an OccuPaws puppy raiser, you'll experience the joy of watching a puppy grow, learn, and discover the world. There will be adventures, laughter, plenty of puppy antics, and countless heartwarming moments. But beyond the fun is something even greater—the knowledge that one day, the puppy you've helped raise could transform someone's life, just as Norman has transformed Kim's.

The best part? You won't be doing it alone. OccuPaws provides the training, veterinary care, supplies, and ongoing support you need every step of the way.

What you provide is just as important—your time, your patience, and your willingness to say "yes." The typical commitment is just 4 to 6 months, but the impact can last a lifetime.

Help raise the next Norman. Help change the next life. Become an OccuPaws puppy raiser today.

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.

JERSEY UPDATE:

HE’S FINDING HIS STRIDE!

Look at Jersey go! Jersey is currently in North Carolina training with GDMI Jennifer, and he’s making great progress in his harness training. One thing has become very clear—this boy loves to work and loves learning how to guide!

From entering the grocery store to navigating the aisles, Jersey is learning that guiding is about much more than simply walking forward. He’s building focus, confidence, and the skills needed to safely guide his future partner through everyday environments.

With Jennifer guiding him through each new challenge, every training session adds another piece to the puzzle. There is still more to learn and more milestones ahead, but we’re excited to see Jersey embracing his training with such enthusiasm.



Keep it up, Jersey! You’re one step, one lesson, and one harness walk closer to becoming a guide dog.

Luckily, our GDiTs had a few pros on hand to demonstrate proper Terrace etiquette.

Enter the masterful J-Litter: Jelly, Jingle, & Jasper!

These three recently passed their harness training evaluations, and they came along to show their younger predecessors (Tally, Lisbon, Rudy, and Tiamo) how it’s done.

Their advice, presumably:

• No, you don't need to greet everyone.
• No, that dropped snack is not yours.
• Yes, you really do have to ignore them.
• Eyes on your handler, rookie.

Not too long ago, Jelly, Jingle, and Jasper were the puppies practicing these very same skills. Now they’re the ones setting the example for the next generation.

Stay cool. Stay focused. Resist the puppy temptation.



Class dismissed.

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 and help support the training and placement of life-changing guide dogs. Thank you for making independence possible!

OccuPaws relies on generous supply donations to help raise and train our future guide dogs. Shop and ship directly from our Amazon Wish List, or contact us to arrange a pickup. Every donated item helps prepare our puppies for the life-changing work ahead. Thank you for your support!

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