Happy Little Cottages By The Sea

Cottage Charm, Coastal Calm

Service Dogs

Higher Learning For A Higher Calling

Mermaid Cottages on Tybee Island, GA is proud to report Boomer, our current puppy in training to become a Guide Dog, is settling in to college life!

Boomer’s away at the Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind Training campus in New York and he’s hard at work on his studies and training.  In addition to his classroom studies, Boomer will be regularly taken out into the field with a handler so that he can learn to cope with the sights, sounds and smells of the world.  This includes trips into the city areas where there is lots of traffic, public transportation, escalators, cross walks and everything he’ll encounter when he’s on duty.

Boomer has been praised for his hard work and calm personality as he has gotten used to the other trainees and their kennels and their handlers.  He’s a special young lad, but we can’t overlook the importance of the training and socialization he learned from Sandy, his “walker”, during his first 15 months of training.

Raising, socializing and training puppies to become Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities is a labor of love.  It’s one of our favorite types of service projects and it’s a wonderful way for our guests to enjoy Voluntourism as members of our Mermaid Cottages family.

Do y’all remember when Boomer last visited and dropped by to meet the folks down at The Lady and Sons in Savannah?

He also dropped by Seaside Sisters to help promote the sales of our all natural Beach Bum Biscuits which helps provide support and sponsorship of our guide dog training program.  Watch a video of his visit here.

It’s been our honor and our privilege to follow along as Boomer has advanced on his incredible journey to someday provide Second Sight to a deserving person with disabilities.

It won’t be long now before he’ll graduate from school,  meet his new forever friend and together they’ll forge ahead with all the joy and gusto of a life fulfilled.

Go forth, young Boomer.  Your higher learning will prepare you for your higher calling.  Well done.

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Precious Pooch Paintings by Fifi Flowers!

Hey, Wag Pack Pals!

Our wonderful friend Fifi Flowers is ready to create a new precious pooch postcard collection of our favorite doggy guests!  Fifi is known the world over for her fanciful and playful creations with a Parisian flair!  Her first pet postcard collection has been such a huge hit we want to do it again.

Wouldn’t you love an exclusive pet portrait by Fifi?  Here’s how you can join in on the fun!

Please  post your dog photos on Fifi\’s Facebook Page or email a photo or a link to your dog’s photo to fifi@atelierdefifi.com.

Entries must be received by Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 12 Noon Pacific Time.    Voting will last for 2 days and the winners will be announced Thursday, July 28th!

If selected, your dog’s image will be painted and made into a postcard by Fifi.  Winners will receive one complete set of notecards and you’ll also receive a special discount if you’d like to purchase a portrait of your dog as painted by Fifi.

All proceeds from the sales of the pet post card collection help support our Beach Bum Biscuits and spnsorships of puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities!

Your dog could be a part of this special pet collection, so start sending those photos!

 

 

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Mothers Day:Puppy Love

What do you get a Mom who has everything!  A hug will always be at the top of the list and we have an even better idea!  Hug a puppy for Mothers Day!

* Sponsor a harness and leash for a puppy in training to be a Guide Dog or a Service Dog.

* Sponsor a dog in training.

* Sponsor medical care for a litter of puppies.

* Name and sponsor a puppy.

* Sponsor a student’s room and board while they’re in training to receive a Guide Dog or Service Dog.

* Sponsor a guide dog team for life.

It’s the perfect gift for Moms everywhere!

Guide Dog Foundation

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Cottage Cheese:CELEBRATION SUNDAY

Pomp and Circumstance.  Rite of Passage.  The Pinnacle of Achievement.  Graduation Day.   Fulfillment of Destiny.

Behind all the pomp lies the most important circumstance.  Unto every life a time comes when each soul is called to serve a cause that’s greater than himself or herself and it represents everything that is good and honorable in this wonderful life we share.

Behind all the pomp stand many dedicated supporters and caretakers and remarkable talents that make a difference and make their lives a testimony for achievements .  They know that what we earn is our living and what we give is our life.  They have learned that a life of service is a life best lived.

THEY are the people who make up Guidedog.org.  Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind, Inc.   has provided Guide Dogs to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence.  THEY include the sponsors, the trainers, the puppy walkers and their many supporters from all across our world.

In our particular circumstance, this includes Mermaid Cottages and our commitment to sponsor Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.  We even have our own special Mermaid At Large, Sandy Leandro, a very busy travel and hospitality executive who is our Puppy Walker.  Sandy has raised and nurtured and socialized our latest puppies to become the best at what they do.

Recently, Sandy travelled to New York for CELEBRATION SUNDAY to attend the graduation of  Berkeley Springs, one of the dogs she
was puppy walker to and one of the puppies we sponsor.  If you’ve ever attended a milestone event for someone in your life you can appreciate the pride and love and hopes and dreams and all the emotions that swell up inside as you witness the recognition of  a worthwhile endeavor.

Thanks to Diane Kaufman and her devotion to championing the best that Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers have to offer through Mermaid Cottages, Beach Bum Biscuits and the life that she lives.

In this circumstance the pomp is well deserved and we honor Berkeley Springs for achieving his Celebration Sunday and meeting his forever companion as he walks through life.  This is our celebration every day!

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Serving With Honor: TONY

One of the puppies we sponsored for Guide Dog training, Tony, is about to be paired with his new owner.  Tony has spent the first years of his life learning and training to be of service to someone in need.

Tony excelled during his first 18 months of being socialized by his “walker” where he learned proper etiquette in public.  Next, he moved up through the ranks of training and apprenticing and he’s now ready to change someone’s life forever.

Of course, this comes as no surprise to us.  You see, Tony is a namesake.  He is named to honor  and in memory of Tony Patrea, JR.  Tony was a brilliant young man from Tybee who was well known throughout the island for his citizenship, courteousness and helpfulness.  He volunteered for many Mermaid Cottages community service projects and he also loved animals dearly.

Tony Patrea, Jr made the most of his life while he was here and we know Tony, the Guide Dog, will make his mark on someone’s life just like his namesake.

We remember Tony Patrea, Jr and we honor his legacy through our Tony’s life of service!

 

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