Meet Linda Saylor of Manassas and Brigitte Bombardier of Woodbridge. They are Puppy Raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

MANASSAS — When people are seeking a service animal and vision impairment is the issue, Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been there since 1954, offering services free of charge.

The organization that has graduated over 7,000 guide dog teams is located in Yorktown Heights, New York. And while that might not seem local to the Prince William area, locals have gotten involved in raising exceptional dogs.

Meet Linda Saylor of Manassas and Brigitte Bombardier of Woodbridge. They are Puppy Raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

In 2016, Saylor began her pre-placement classes (PPC) and started working with Elliott.

“As a child I was interested in raising a pup for helping a person who was visually impaired, but never got the opportunity,” Saylor said. “My mother also has a friend who has been blind since she was a teenager and has had guide dogs herself. Talking with her and hearing how she was able to work, get married, have children and travel all with a guide dog by her side, I realized that to be able to give that freedom and confidence to someone would be wonderful.”

Saylor said having worked with children in the schools, being a mom and loving dogs have gone a long way toward helping her succeed as a puppy raiser.

“One of Elliott’s favorite things to do was watch the children at school get on their buses,” she said.

Patience is paramount, and Saylor has developed it through her background. But there is also the motivation factor that has contributed to her success.

“Reading the stories of graduates and how their lives have been enriched and changed by a guide dog really makes it all worth the effort,” she said. “I think also educating the public about service dogs and proper etiquette with regards to what to do and not do helps. The community of raisers is also such a blessing and especially supportive to new raisers.”

“Being a puppy raiser is a very rewarding and challenging adventure but very much worth the time involved,” she added.

Saylor had the satisfaction of knowing Elliott went on to become a Guiding Eyes breeder.

Bombardier also has had a feeling of satisfaction, especially given how long she had waited for the opportunity to work with guide dogs.

“I waited 30 years before I could become a puppy raiser,” she said. “I retired from 31 years in the Fairfax County Government, and in December of 2014, I took the next PPC class. I then started volunteering in March of 2015 as a puppy raiser for our first beautiful pup, Asti. Asti became a breeder for Guiding Eyes, and now my husband and I are raising one of her pups, Weston. It’s so fun to watch the generations and this community grow.”

Between puppies, Bombardier and her husband co-raised Osborne, Weston’s half-brother, with another raiser. They also did some puppy-sitting for raisers. 

“These are great alternative volunteer opportunities that are much needed in all regions,” she said.

Bombardier attributes her success to her background. “I have had multiple dogs of many breeds all my life and took them to dog training classes,” she said. “They were part of my family. I was a veterinary technician in the 80’s and then worked at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.”

Yet there were challenges.

“My first challenge was thinking that I had the experience to make this an easy endeavor,” she said.

She had never really raised a puppy. She had always adopted older dogs.

“I was nervous at first that I would mess up and ruin this guide dog,” she said.

However, as she moved on, she understood she couldn’t really ruin a dog. “I do my best, and as long as I follow the guidelines Guiding Eyes provides and lean on my regional manager and co-raisers, my pup will get all he needs: to have a nurturing, loving, positive upbringing to get him prepared for his next step.”

Bombardier said her second challenge was learning what it was like to bring a pup with her everywhere, then realizing it’s not necessary to bring them everywhere.

“You just can’t do lunch with your friends, pay attention to them and your puppy,” she said. “Your puppy comes first. Their training is everything around them, all day, every day…. it’s subtle, it fits into your schedule and daily routine. It’s about recognizing their needs and all the learning opportunities and teachable moments around you.”

The third challenge was saying goodbye. But, she said, “I always knew it was worth it because the dogs have a destiny — they are going to change someone’s life for the better, and I had a part in it.” And it was not as hard as “coming home to an empty dog bed from the final vet visit after a decade with our family dog.”

The experience has been a life changer not just for the people who will receive the dogs, but for her, she said.

“I feel proud to be a part of it. I am accomplishing my dream and my goal after retirement – what feeds my soul. I am working with animals to help people. It can’t get better than that.”