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Hello Becky and Ryan,
I want to share these sweet pictures of Wren visiting my 13-year-old Granddaughter, Jaylah at the Saint Louis Children’s Hospital. Please feel free to share my note and pictures with Wren’s puppy raiser and others.
A quick explanation:
My 13-year-old Granddaughter has been in Saint Louis Children’s Hospital for the past 2 months dealing with cyst developing on her spinal cord impairing the spinal cord fluid causing lack of mobility, sensation and weakness in both of Jaylah’s legs. To date she has had 4 back surgeries since June 15th to drain cyst that appear very quickly on her spinal cord. She is learning how to walk again.
In these pictures, Jaylah was recovering from her fourth back surgery which was performed on an emergency bases late Thursday evening on August 1, 2024. She had to lay flat on her back for the next 72 hours.
When Wren and I arrived Sunday evening on August 4th, my daughter lowered Jaylah’s bed so Jaylah could see and pet Wren while remaining flat on her back. After a while we heard Jaylah say, “Look at what Wren is doing”.
Wren had very carefully put both of her front legs on the side of Jaylah’s bed, slowly raised herself up while her back feet remained on the floor and she just stood there for several minutes interacting and looking over Jaylah. It brought tears to our eyes. Wren did this all on her own as my daughter, her fiancé, Jeff and I were chatting among ourselves. Jaylah loved it, petted Wren for a while and gave her a lot of love, enjoyment and comfort. Wren is so intuitive, perceptive and has such a big loving heart.
With much gratitude for a remarkable and outstanding guide dog.
Sarah and wren
Guide Dog Placement
Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center places well trained, healthy dogs throughout the United States, and, occasionally, in Canada. The dogs are provided to people whose primary disability is blindness and who have no more than 20/800 visual acuity in the best eye with best correction or no more than 20 degrees field of vision. The dogs are provided, free of charge, to qualified individuals who have been approved by the Center’s Admissions Committee. The trained dog is normally delivered to the applicant and the trainer remains within the area and provides training for the new team for a period of 1 to 2 weeks. The applicant may come to Jackson, MS for training if the applicant and dog can be best served in this manner.
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It will be necessary for the applicant to complete an application, complete and sign a consent form, obtain a video of the applicant walking, and the applicants physician and ophthalmologist will have to complete medical forms. There will be at least two interviews with Gallant Hearts staff in an effort to get to know the applicant and the desired characteristics of their future guide.
Application for Services
Each person accepted for training with a Gallant Hearts Guide Dog will receive the trained dog, equipment, travel, board (if applicable), and training, free of charge under a one hundred percent (100%) scholarship, made possible through donations.
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Hats Off!!
I have had two guide dogs from Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center and I highly recommend this organization. Rebecca Floyd, founder and Executive Director, and Ryan Burley, trainer, are extremely knowledgeable and caring individuals that have helped to make my experiences with guide dogs successful. I am not only blind but have a prosthetic leg.Ryan's number one concern, is safety. He is also experienced in matching the dog's abilities to the client's needs.
Ryan trained my very first guide dog, a female German shepherd named Robin. I found Ryan very easy to work with. And he was very patient with this newbie and he works very well with dogs. It was very obvious that he cared a great deal and wanted to make sure we would make a great team. Robin is a great dog and I get compliments on her all the time.
I am so very pleased to be graduate of Gallant Hearts. Rounder is my 11th dog and is doing a fabulous job. It was my honor to receive training from Ryan Burley and Gallant Hearts. I was turned down by numerous guide dog schools because they stated that I was too old and could not travel. Ryan and Gallant Hearts refused to believe this. Ryan taught me so many wonderful techniques, he is a fabulous instructor.
Jake continues to be an amazing guide dog and a very sweet boy. I’m grateful every day for your generosity in allowing me to have this life-changing dog. Jake’s guide work is excellent. He handles crowds of people and dogs like the pro that he is, his memory is unbelievable, and he just keeps impressing me with his skill and intelligence. Once again, please let me say thank you for the greatest gift anyone has ever give me. With much love and gratitude.