The phrase “man’s best friend” has long been associated with dogs – alluding to the loyalty, companionship and closeness universally shared between mankind and dogs throughout history.

A person can own a dog for a variety of reasons … hunting, protection, work-related or simply for friendship, but regardless the reasoning or the ever-evolving cultural trends, dogs continue to be a facet of the world and fulfill societal roles reaching far beyond mere coexistence.

However, as pivotal as dogs have become, there are many that have fallen between the cracks of society or haven’t found a home to call their own.

To combat the number of unwanted dogs and to ensure as many dogs as possible are given the opportunity to become a “man’s best friend,” individuals within the community temporarily care for dogs in limbo.

WAG

Welfare for Animals Guild, a local nonprofit, does its part within the county by finding and supporting foster owners for rescued dogs.

Although earlier this year officials with WAG purchased the former plant nursery at 751 McComb Road with plans to convert it into a home base, the guild will continue to rely on foster homes until the property is fully converted. However, even after Half-Way Home Ranch is operational, WAG officials said they intend to keep their foster program active.

“Basically a foster supplies the love and the home,” Mary Ann Langan, WAG board member said. “WAG couldn’t do or be who we are without our foster homes.”

The number of foster homes partnering with WAG changes, but WAG is working with 10 foster homes to house 16 dogs, as well as an additional nine puppies. Also, seven dogs and four puppies are undergoing training at Clallam Bay Corrections Center as part of WAG’s Prison Program.

“It’s a challenge to find foster homes and I can understand why,” Barb Brabant, WAG board member said. “It’s a commitment.”

WAG volunteers try to make fostering as doable as possible by covering all costs associated with fostering the dog, such as medical expenses, food and training. Fosters can even be specific about what type or size of dog they would like to care for, Brabant said.

Once a dog is placed in a foster home, it becomes a member of that foster’s family and thus “fosters are able to give insights into the type of permanent home that would be best for the dog,” she said.

“Fosters are a wonderful source of information for adoption,” she said.

Despite the commitment, Brabant and Langan both agree the most challenging part of fostering a dog is giving the dog to its new owners.

“Giving them up is a bittersweet thing,” Brabant said. “But, when you find the right home and you know they’ll be in a safe, loving environment and that’s what keeps you going … knowing you’ve been a part of that.”

Foster Kathy Schock has been partnering with WAG since April and admits that when she’s ready to get a dog again, it will be a WAG dog.

Schock’s labrador died seven years ago and although she’s not been ready to fully own another dog, becoming a “foster mom seemed to be the right thing to do,” she said.

“Once they pass through the foster home then you know they’re going to a better place,” Schock said. “There are an infinite supply of dogs out there and this just seems to be a good way to help.”

Puppy Pilots

Beside fostering, but for those interested in contributing toward not only the health and happiness of a dog, but also the chance to potentially impact someone’s life, the Clallam County Puppy Pilots is a club for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

“Puppy raisers” have been raising dogs within the Sequim and Port Angeles area since 2007 after a large nonprofit, Guide Dogs for the Blind, implemented a guide dog puppy training program in Clallam County. The club is all volunteer and donation supported.

“I just got my eighth puppy,” Deb Cox, Puppy Pilots club leader, said.

Three puppy raisers received new puppies, Chelsea, Hagrid and Yukari on Dec. 14 and will keep them until they’re 15 months old. Once 15 months old, the puppies will attend formal training at one of the Guide Dog for the Blind’s training campuses either in Oregon or California.

If a dog graduates it will become guide, otherwise a dog may become a K-9 buddy (dogs placed with visually impaired children), another type of service dog or adopted as a pet. Roughly 17 K-9 buddies are placed around the West Coast and about 320 guide dogs are placed annually through Guide Dogs for the Blind, Cox said.

“There’s about a 50 percent passing rate (graduation rate) for Guide Dogs for the Blind,” Cox said. “That might not sound like a lot, but unlike other types of service dogs, a guide dog’s behavior has to be above and beyond because their person cannot see what they’re doing.”

Throughout the course of the next year, the puppy raisers will teach the puppies basic obedience, good house behavior, play with and socialize them.

One of the most challenging aspects of raising a guide-dog-to-be is the public education component, Cox said. Oftentimes, when socializing the puppies in public people want to come and pet the puppies, but they shouldn’t be petted if they’re wearing a jacket denoting they’re in training.

“If they’re wearing a jacket, then they’re working,” Cox said. “The whole idea of the jacket is it will correspond with the harness the dog will wear once they’re a guide.”

Cox has attended a number of graduations herself and has had one of the puppies she raised go onto become a guide and another a K-9 buddy.

“It’s totally incredible the way these dogs change people’s lives,” Cox said. “They allow them to become independent and do things they couldn’t or wouldn’t normally do. I have personal friends that have guide dogs and it’s amazing they way their lives are changed.”

‘He’s my eyes’

Brian Hergert is like any other college student — the only difference is he can’t see very well or at all at night. Instead Hergert has Sherman, a 72-pound black labrador retriever.

Although originally from Port Angeles, Hergert now lives in Vancouver, Wash., and has plans to move to Colorado to study athletic training … and where ever Hergert goes, Sherman goes, too.

Before going through the extensive application process to get Sherman through Guide Dogs for the Blind nearly a year and a half ago, Hergert used a cane.

“I definitely won’t ever go back to using a cane,” Hergert said. “Sherman has given me a boost of self-confidence and independence – having him has been life-changing.”

When Sherman has his harness on equipped with an extended handle for Hergert to hold, Sherman is all business. He sits quietly by Hergert’s side, periodically glancing up at him. The seriousness, yet kindness and loyalty expressed through Sherman’s round brown eyes is hard to miss when fixated on Hergert, but as soon as the harness comes off, Sherman explodes with the energy of any other 3-year-old dog.

“Sherman is my first guide dog,” Hergert said. “I hate to say it, but I make my mistakes with him so Sherman is paving the way for me as a handler.”

When Hergert first got Sherman it took a lot of time to build the trust the two now have. Hergert had to learn to trust Sherman when crossing the street or walking through town. But since then, the two have developed a relationship like no other and Hergert puts his safety in Sherman without hesitation.

With some consistent training, Hergert even has taught Sherman how to find garbage cans and ATMs.

“The best part of having Sherman is I basically have my best friend with me everywhere I go,” Hergert said while reaching down his left side where Sherman’s nose quickly met his hand. “He’s my eyes.”

Welfare for Animals Guild

“To protect animals from neglect, abuse and exploitation; to advocate for their interests and welfare and to inspire awareness and compassion for the animals whose world we share.”

WAG president: Judy Stirton

Phone: 460-6258

Website: www.wagsequimwa.org

Clallam County Puppy Pilots

“Raise a puppy, change a life”

Club leader: Deb Cox

Phone: 582-0560

Website: puppypilots.org