The summer of 2006, I was ending a two-year contract as a teacher at the Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science. Not knowing where I'd be working next, but knowing I had at least the summer off, I chose to volunteer at NEADS, a local non-profit that raises dogs to be assisted-living animals for the mobility-disabled. Since my mom has multiple sclerosis, this was a cause close to my heart.
I was assigned to the Puppy Playhouse, where all my "students" were six to sixteen weeks old; when they "graduated", we'd get new puppies. My job was to socialize the puppies while the trainer singled out one to work with in a separate area.
Most of the dogs were labs, with a few labradoodles, schnauzers, and papillions. Sometimes we'd take them on excursions, such as to a local nursing home to meet the residents, which was fun for everyone involved.
Whether we were on the road or at NEADS, the pups were so fun and so well behaved! I loved playing with them to the point of exhaustion, as seen in the first photo. I learned later I wasn't supposed to let the dogs on me, but I'd already taken this shot, so oh well :)
I'm still friends with that trainer and have occasionally seen NEADS dogs "in the wild". It's a lucky owner who gets one of these dogs!
