Wanted: New Locomotive!

Good morning,

As many of you know, the leader of the Zane Train is being sent back to his original home depot. Zane must not have been able to handle the stress of guide work. Even though I will miss Zane terribly, I have to move on and find a new locomotive to get the Zane Train moving again.

I have made application to GDB for a new guide dog. I have completed my medical physical and I am now in the qeue to be reviewed for a new dog. My first choice would be in-home training, but there is a long waiting list for in-home training and this requires a great match of dog to handler.

Therefore, I have requested first available spot which is currently Boring, OR in the Nov/Dec class. My first class was the same time frame in San Rafael last year. It is hard to imagine that I would already by a "retrain" student, but that's where I am and I look forward to getting approved for class ASAP.

I request that all my friends out there, keep praying and sending positive energy for me to be approved for the next class because I really look forward to having a guide dog. They really make a difference for me!

Zane is currently staying at a foster home in the San Rafael area until the puppy truck picks him up on Oct. 24 to return him to Beea, CA to go back home to the Johnpeers. They are so excited to have him back and I am glad that he going where he is LOVED very much.

All the best to everyone, love, Richard

Zane returns to San Rafael

Good morning fellow handlers,

Zane is not here to write about this new development in his life. Therefore, this is Richard, with a very heavy heart and a very SAD disposition, bringing Zane's fans up to date.

I flew with Zane on Tuesday, 9/16, to San Francisco to return Zane to GDB so he could be rehabilitated. Zane has not been working in harness, in fact, flat refusing to work. Therefore, I had to use my white cane as I healed Zane through the airport to meet the volunteer for his return to San Rafael.

It was a very difficult moment when I finally had to turn the leash over to the volunteer. I cried my eyes out as Zane gave me BIG LICKS and hugs, but this had to be done so that he could be restored to his normal self and returned to me ASAP.

What happened? On 9/3, while visiting the park where the Colorado VisionWalk will be held on Sept. 27, Zane and I were startled by a big dog. I'm not sure if that is exactly when it happened, but I noticed that he started working faster than normal and not responding to commands as he normally does. He worked erratically after that moment, in fact, sitting down and not wanting to work at all.

A former GDB instructor who lives in the Denver area, came out the next week to work with us and Zane would not work in harness. Therefore, it was decided that he had to be returned to San Rafael for rehabilitation.

Master Instructor, Brenda Schafer, is now in charge of rehabilitating him. Paolo will be giving me weekly updates on Fridays and this past Friday only had a short report because Brenda had worked with him for only one time. Zane was nervous and lacked confidence in harness. There are many factors that they could attribute to this, but let's pray that it is the change of scenery and handler.

Next Friday will be a critical report to see how well he has recovered. I ask everyone to pray for a quick recovery and restoration to his normal self and be returned right away to Denver and ME. His entire family mises him, including Claudia, Grandma and Cuzzie!

I know yesterday that I wanted to call Zane on my cell phone to see how he is doing. It's tough not being able to communicate, hug, kiss and love up Zane.

Wishing Zane much positive energy and restoration,

Love, Richard