Alison & Tim: Morristown councilwoman reflects on the joys and heartbreaks of raising a Seeing Eye puppy

If you have attended any events in Morristown over the last year — from council meetings to the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade — chances are you have bumped into Alison & Tim.

Fourth Ward Councilwoman Alison Deeb has been raising Tim, a black Labrador Retriever puppy, for The Seeing Eye Inc., the famed guide dog school in Morris Township.

This week Deeb must return Tim, her first Seeing Eye pup, so that he can begin intensive training as a guide dog.  How hard will parting be?  We asked Deeb about that, and about her impressions of the whole experience.

MG: How hard is it to return Tim?

AD: This is the dreaded question. “Tim” is my first Seeing Eye puppy, so he will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve been dreading this day, and the day is now near. But I’ve said many things to prepare myself, as this is the most frequently asked question.

You sign up to do this so I know what I was getting into. You mentally prepare yourself. My mother was blind, so it is a way I keep her spirit alive. My last dog was a Rescue at the age of one year, so I never got to experience the puppy year. This was my way of seeing my old pet dog grow up.

My Seeing Eye puppy was bred especially to be a guide dog. The breeding program at The Seeing Eye is spectacular. “Tim” would not exist if it weren’t for The Seeing Eye. And last but not least, you are helping a blind person or someone who is visually impaired, someone who needs a dog in their life, to get a dog. It’s a great cause.

MG: You are seeking a third council term. Did you ask The Seeing Eye if you could keep Tim until after the November election? Seems like he would be great on the campaign trail…

AD: Lol! No, as I say we sign a contract and it says we have to comply with the date he is asked to return for formal training. The raisers usually have the dog around 14 months and Tim was with us around that long.

Morristown Green: What made you want to be a puppy-raiser?

Alison Deeb: I’ve always been a dog person. I have a picture of myself picking up and holding my aunt’s Beagle when I was a kid. When I first moved to Morristown, I was immediately intrigued by The Seeing Eye. I had a great job as a consultant, relocated from another assignment down south, but was captivated by The Seeing Eye dogs parading in our downtown. I wanted to work for them.

When my pet dog of 11 1/2 years died, I was of course heartbroken. Max was a Rescue, and was my first dog as an adult. We discovered so much together: MARDOG, the nonprofit dog park movement, politics. Since my husband and I were undecided as to what kind of dog to get next (I love them all), we decided it was time to raise a Seeing Eye puppy.

MG : What personal satisfaction comes from raising a dog for The Seeing Eye?

AD: So much! I think one of the best things about raising a Seeing Eye puppy is the fact that you can take your dog anywhere. They are service puppies in training, and at the age of six months become “vested.” They can be brought to many places that regular pet dogs can’t go.

If you are a dog person, this is a very appealing characteristic of the program — to be able to take your dog with you to various places like a library, government building, to your workplace, a bus or a train or a ferry, restaurants, cafes, stores, pubs, etc.

It is a short-term commitment, as you are fostering the pup for a little over a year, so it’s appealing to get a well-bred, great animal for that time. The pet-sitting network is free so there’s never issues with finding a pet sitter when you need one. The Seeing Eye reimburses you in part for pet food and pays the veterinary bills.

For me, I’ve always been intrigued with animal behavior so the responsibilities of the puppy raiser – to provide basic obedience training, love and socialization/exposure – really interested me. Puppy club meetings are a lot of fun and you meet other great people with common interests. It’s a no-brainer if you like to share your life with dogs!

MG: Will you do this again?

AD: My mom raised five kids so I would like to raise five puppies! It is both fun and fulfilling. I do want to see if “Tim” fulfills his destiny as a guide dog (I do think he will pass), and right now am intrigued with his departure, his next phase of training, whether he will pass or fail, whether he will be a “muffin,” and ultimately his placement with a blind person.

I organized and hosted a “Parting Party Fundraiser” for The Seeing Eye and invited Tim’s puppy friends. It was a special day and great event. Mayor “Tim” Dougherty  (no relation) was there, along with my friend, Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford.

In sum, the graduation party raised more than $1,700 for The Seeing Eye. So, when Tim goes back for formal training, it will be reassuring to know we sent him away smiling and with a nice gift.

And the good news is that we get a Yellow Labrador pup at the end of April, which will help to ease the pain.

MG: Can you share some stories about life with Tim?

AD: Don’t be fooled by Tim’s cute face. He is a sock thief. He loves to steal socks and bike gloves. My husband and I would be sitting downstairs and we would know when Tim had a sock or a glove. We’d hear “Thump, Thump, Thump” upstairs and we would know.

Inevitably, one of us would have to run upstairs to fetch the sock. It’s an attention-seeking behavior. Tim was very smart and would drop the sock, but the attention- seeking behavior was successful as he got us away from what we were doing to play with him. His first sock was a red sock and my husband is a Red Sox fan, so that was very funny.

I took Tim to various churches, but we think he is a Presbyterian because he was the most calm at the Presbyterian Church. He sang along with the choir to Hark The Herald Angels Sing at their Christmas service. The choir director even said he was right on pitch. I like to sing, so Tim’s vocalization has been endearing. I’d like to think the fact that I sing had something to do with it, but my friends at The Seeing Eye say it is all breeding. Tim’s sire, Elzar, is very vocal.

Tim loves listening to the William Tell Overture. When that song plays, Tim smirks and cocks his head as if he wants to break out into a huge dance. It’s hilarious!

MG: What’s next for Tim?

AD: Tim returns this week for formal training. Prior to being assigned to an instructor, Tim will receive a full medical evaluation. This will take approximately one month. Then, Tim will receive 15 weeks of ongoing training at The Seeing Eye, where he will receive more obedience training, get to know his instructor, be introduced to the harness, and street work.

Slowly, Tim will gain more responsibility and eventually learn how to be a guide dog. Around the fifth week, Tim will have his “first blindfold” – when he is first evaluated on his work in harness with his blindfolded instructor. Toward the end of the 15-week period, we will be invited to observe Tim working in Morristown and meet Tim’s instructor. This is called the Town Walk. I can’t wait!

MG: How great is the demand for guide dogs?

AD: Dogs don’t live as long as people, so in one blind person’s lifetime they may need six or seven dogs or more. The Seeing Eye is the oldest guide dog school in the country and is a Morristown institution. People come from all over to Morristown to train with The Seeing Eye. The Seeing Eye has the best reputation, and is the leading guide dog school. Dogs from The Seeing Eye go anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, so “Tim” could be placed anywhere in these two countries.

MG: How does one become a puppy-raiser?  Are there special requirements or training? Is there a waiting list?

AD: The puppy manual is a few inches thick, so puppy-raising is not for everyone! It’s a time commitment. I had to fill out a questionnaire, provide personal and veterinary references, answer questions about experiences with my pet dog, etc. I had to attend puppy club meetings and classes before I received my own Seeing Eye puppy.

There is a waiting period, on average, six months, and a pet-sitting expectation that you will help other raisers when they need it. The Seeing Eye checks and verifies your references. Ultimately, you sign a contract with The Seeing Eye that you will raise the puppy according to their guidelines in the training manual and return the puppy when he or she is called back.

You must agree and sign to do this, and that you will not seek out the dog upon his return to The Seeing Eye. Once you receive the pup, you need to take him to weekly puppy club meetings, teach your pup basic obedience, fill out evaluation forms and be in regular contact with the Seeing Eye area coordinator (Jill Jaycox), so she knows how your pup is doing.

You don’t just receive the pup and bring him back to The Seeing Eye in a year! Like anything, it’s what you make it. But they expect you to attend at least two club meetings per month.

MG: How can people support The Seeing Eye?

AD: People can go to the website to make donations, at www.SeeingEye.org. Or, they can send donations to The Seeing Eye, P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ, 07963-0375, Attention: Donor and Public Relations. The Seeing Eye has an annual online auction, so there’s also an opportunity to give in that way.

MG: Anything else you would like people to know?