HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2001-4604, by Representatives Marine, Ahern, Lambert, Edmonds, H. Sommers, Kessler, Casada, Edwards, Pflug, Esser, D. Schmidt, Talcott and Hankins

      WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington state legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

      WHEREAS, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. was founded in 1942 to serve the needs of visually impaired people by providing Guide Dogs with the goal of raising well-trained Guide Dogs and responsible youth; and

      WHEREAS, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. is a privately funded organization that relies on volunteers to train Guide Dog puppies and where families and individuals give their time and energy to offer loving homes to puppies in training and the gift of sight to the blind; and

      WHEREAS, The first Guide Dog puppies came to Washington state in 1965 and today over one hundred thirty families in Benton, Chelan, Clark, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima counties share their home with a Guide Dog puppy; and

      WHEREAS, These families are provided control training, socialization, and support by more than fifty adult and youth volunteer Guide Dog and 4-H leaders; and

      WHEREAS, Guide Dog puppies move to Washington at eight weeks of age and live with raiser families until they are fourteen months old so that the families can "socialize" the puppies in all areas of the community and train them to behave in a controlled manner at all times; and

      WHEREAS, Washington state offers many unique training opportunities for Guide Dog puppies as they "practice" shopping; visit the waterfront, beaches, and mountains; attend sporting events; learn to work with doors, elevators, wildlife, livestock, traffic, and travel on cars, buses, ferries, and trains; and

      WHEREAS, Guides Dogs are placed throughout North America with Washington state having over one hundred thirty working Guide Dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. providing greater mobility for people who are visually impaired; and

      WHEREAS, The 4-H Guide Dog Puppy Raising Program promotes positive youth development, through teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and teaching.  The program also is where young people learn:  The needs of people who are visually impaired; how to care and train puppies for guide work; how to teach their puppies proper self-control in public and at home; how to develop parenting skills; how to lead and teach youth and adult raisers; how to recruit raiser families; and how to educate the public about Guide Dogs and the challenges faced by the visually impaired;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington honor Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. and the 4-H Organization and all their staff, volunteers, and supporters for their dedicated commitment to raising and training Guide Dogs and serving the needs of visually impaired people throughout the state of Washington; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to Althea Cawley-Murphree, Assistant Guide Dog 4-H Leader and 4-H Alum.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4604 adopted by the House of Representatives

                            January 15, 2001.

________________________________             _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk          Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk