Day 6 - Saturday Fun Day

Saturday was the climax of the trip for Abby.  This day is called the fun day for all guide dog trainers and puppy raisers.  I've never been so impressed to be on a campus in San Rafael - Terra Linda and see hundreds of dogs and their trainers.  Every single dog, without exception, was well mannered, obedient, non aggressive and not one dog barking at another dog.  It was like a huge family all gathered together to enjoy a fun time with the guide dogs.  There were booths that you could buy things and they served us a delicious lunch.  I don't know how many people and dogs were there but I would guess hundreds.  We got to see the puppy trucks and the new buildings for the puppies and
recalled dogs for their final training before being assigned to a non-sighted person or maybe assigned to another type of service dog.

 These are the padded and air conditioned puppy kennels that the puppies travel in to their perspective trainers.  The trucks stop every couple of hours to let the puppies out and run around and exercise.  The kennels are large enough that they can put more than one puppy in a kennel.

 It was a great experience to be there and see more about the program and the training of these amazing dogs.  While we were there, Annie got a happy surprise call from Emmi.  Timing was perfect and Lynda was able to visit with Emmi for a long time.  I even got to talk to her for a minute.  She sounded great.

 We left the campus about 2:00 and headed to the airport.  Annie got a little frustrated trying to find the airport and trying to find the car rental return.  But everything turned out perfect and we made our flight without a hitch!

 A picture of the usual fog hanging over San Francisco.

 We landed safely in Salt Lake.  Happy to be home and filled with memories of a life time!  Annie figured she drove 1,182 miles on that incredible trip.  

 Thanks, Annie, for your amazing planning of this trip, for driving all those miles safely and for you and Abby creating a trip of a life time and letting me be a part of it!  Loved every minute of it and especially laughing so hard so many times that I couldn't breathe!!!  Love you both.