Alberta is now almost 8 years old, and still looking wonderful! This
picture of her was taken in November, 2000 when I visited Viola and
Alberta at their home in Washington. Alberta is still doing a
wonderful job in guiding Viola and has matured into a beautiful
young golden PRINCESS. She had to have surgery for a cancerous tumor
in her intestines in May, 2002, but has bounced back and her guide
work is as good as ever. She's doing wonderful!
On May 4th, 1996, Alberta was returned to GDB to continue her training. All her health checks came out good, and she was spayed after she came out of heat. One sister and one brother of Alberta's were chosen for GDB's breeding program.
A particularly exciting aspect of this match up between Alberta and Viola was that Viola and I already knew each other via the internet, as we both participate on the Buddy-L list, an e-mail list for the discussion of dog guide issues such as training, access, dog care and health, as well as a multitude of other items of interest to those who are partnered with dog guides. There are also a few puppy raiser's like myself on the list.
Viola and I had chatted back and forth a few times prior to her announcement that she was was retiring her current Guide Dog, and returning to GDB for a new partner. She mentioned that she had requested a Golden Retriever, and I wrote to her saying that I had a Golden Retriever puppy in training at the school, and maybe she would be in the same class as Viola. We discussed how fun it would be if Viola was assigned Alberta when matches were made, and lo and behold, that is what happened! The rest, as they say, is history.
Viola is a wonderful person, and I know that Alberta loves her. Friends of mine from the puppy raiser's list see Viola and Alberta quite regularly, and tell me how wonderful it is to see Alberta's devotion to, and love of, Viola, and Viola's love and care of Alberta, and her pride in Alberta's work. I was able to visit Viola and Alberta while I was on vacation during the summer of 1997. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing both Viola and Alberta again. In 1998, Viola, her friend David, and Alberta came to Utah to visit me, and in November of 1999 and November of 2000, I was able to visit Viola in Washington.
If you would like to know more about the puppy raiser's list, visit their webpage.
Here is a picture of Alberta with one of her litter mates, just before they went back to San Rafael. Left to right are Nancy and Alberta, and ? and Adina.
Go back to Keegan's
page and the Golden Retriever WebRing.
Go Back to the USU
homepage
Go Back to Nancy's dog page,
The Dog Pen
Go Back to Nancy's
homepage
