Copper's Page
This handsome fellow is Copper, and he is a Pilot Pup. He was donated by a generous person to Pilot Dogs, INC in Columbus, Ohio to someday be a guide dog for the blind.
Mark and Veronica have dedicated this page to Copper. Copper lived with us for about a year. Keep reading for more about Copper and news about his new owner, Cathy!
Here's a short chronology of Copper's time with our family, in Copper's words:
July 1, 1998
"I've only been with Mark and Veronica for a week now, so everyone in the house is getting used to having me around. My first challenge is housebreaking..."
"For now, they make me sleep in this cage at night. The cage is pretty big, so they put the cat's carrier inside the cage; that way, I have less room to maneuver. The theory is that I will learn the basics of housebreaking faster if I am kept in a small space during time when I can't be watched.
Most of the time I am busy playing with Mark & Veronica, running around in the back yard, or just napping..."
The folks at Pilot Dog ask that Copper learn and experience certain things during his time with us:
Obedience training at the age of 6 months
Exposure to strangers, children, other animals/pets
Exposure to cars and traffic
Lots of love and care!
January 20, 1999
"I'm growing up quickly. Now I'm about 60 lbs., and quite a handsome charmer. Obedience class is going well, but I prefer to roughhouse with Max. I love to take long walks with Veronica, and I usually behave pretty well. I still like to chew on shoes and get into the trash, but hey--I'm still a puppy!"
May 21, 1999
"Time to go back to Pilot Dog. Mom cried when she dropped me off, but she knows that I will be well cared for. I'm eager to learn from the trainers, and hopefully someone nice will take me home as their new guide dog."
Eureka says: "I'm glad that rascal is gone! All he wanted to do was play. He was a big gentle lug, about 85 lbs. and very handsome. He used to chase me around the house--then again, I chased him, too. Don't tell anyone, but I miss him...but not enough to ask Mark & Veronica to bring us another puppy..."
Of course, Eureka didn't get her wish! Now she has to train Hoover to respect cats...
January 13, 2000
Veronica: "I received an e-mail from another Puppy Raiser. Apparently someone on the Pilot Dog group list saw this site and connected with a person who just received a guide dog named Copper. Lo and behold, I received an e-mail from Copper's new owner, Cathy!
We've had the opportunity to chat by phone and meet twice: Cathy brought Copper home in December, and he is getting along just fine with her family, including six cats and a poodle mix. Copper is still very playful and loving, and Cathy appreciates his sweet nature. Mark and I are so proud of our little Copper! Our special guy has a special new owner, and we could not be happier."
Here's a picture of Cathy, Veronica, and Copper at the Cincinnati airport,
just before Veronica & Lissa's European odyssey:
We were lucky enough to meet Cathy and Copper again when they came to a Pilot Dog alumni reunion in Columbus in the summer of 2000. Cathy and Veronica chat by phone and e-mail every so often; Cathy called just recently to say that she, Allen, and the Coppermonster have moved to Dayton.
Cathy says that Copper is doing a wonderful job as her "Pilot", and that he is a happy and loving boy. Mark and I are happy for the small part we have played in preparing Copper for his role as Cathy's companion. Mark is now very sold on Goldens, and we are thinking that our next pup will be a Golden.
If you read this and love dogs as much as we do, consider opening your heart and home to a puppy and volunteering to be a Puppy Raiser. There are many organizations like Pilot Dog throughout the country; watch here and I will soon place links to a few of them.
If you are near Columbus, contact Pilot Dog, INC.
Cathy's family has a great web site, and they were kind enough to give Copper's old site an award. Click on this link and you will go there:
