Southeast Guide Dogs Inc is one of the many agencies that Women's Sertoma of Venice has supported
over the years. It takes a contribution of $2000 to sponsor a puppy and be able to name it.
About
10 years ago the Club sponsored their first puppy, "Sunny". More recently Women's Sertoma has sponsored
Fiesta who was our Grand Marshall in the 2009 Sun Fiesta Parade. Fiesta, a Yellow Lab, has been raised by Lois and Bill
Gagne of Clearwater. The puppy raisers main responsibilities are to teach the puppy basic commands, appropriate social
behaviors and to expose the puppy to as many different situations as possible. That is why you see these pups all over
Venice, Sarasota County and beyond: downtown, in the supermarkets, at the movies, church, etc. Fiesta will be returning to
SEGDI where the professional trainers will take over and continue her training.
Meanwhile the Club has sponsored
a new puppy named "Sir" Toma who was born on July 23rd. Sir Toma is a Golden Retriever and is being raised by Britta
Hanson and Lars Soderqvist of Fort Meyers. The hope is that both Fiesta and "Sir" Toma will grow up and become
a service companion to a person with a visual impairment.
