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As we continued our tour, Jim enlightened us with a recounting of the puppy-raising experience. Being a puppy raiser requires an enormous commitment, both time-wise and emotionally. Adults receive the pups when the canines are approximately nine weeks old. These people have to follow very strict guide- lines established long ago under the tutelage of the Southeastern Guide Dog School. And they know going in that they are actually fos- ter parents to their beautiful pets. When the dogs are between 16 and 18 months old, the people will have to return them to the school for further training in preparation for their final goal of living with a person. Ahead of us at one point, I spied what always proves to be the "fan favorite" — the puppy kennel. This is why many visitors want to join the tour. They are allowed to play with, kiss and cuddle the puppies, a real treat for both doggies and humans. Jim escorted us into a large sunny and airy room that was bordered by kennels. He opened up one kennel and, suddenly, all these adorable black "fuzz balls" scrambled over to us and wanted to play. The pups were six weeks old and just being weaned from their moms before moving on to the next step of living with puppy raisers. There were laughs, shrieks and endless gig- gles as the pups licked our toes, our faces, our everything. They scrambled over our bod- ies, never sat still (even for a photo op) and seemed to enjoy their time with us as much as we did with them. I could not stop laugh- ing. I think part of it was just joyful hysteria. And then Jim said time was up, so we headed on to the training school sector. This section is set up like a high school, with four levels of Tour guide Jim and his dog, Lindy, have much to tell about Southeastern's operations. Photo by Harriet Cuthbert A volunteer works with a yellow Lab. Photo by Harriet Cuthbert Sarasota News Leader March 21, 2014 Page 100