THE NEW BARKER 17 www.TheNewBarker.com 4 Q F D J B M Q S J D J O H G P S P O M J O F P S E F S T X J U I E J S F D U T I J Q Q J O H U P Z P V S I P NF P S P Ρ D F 1 $1 4 5 1 & 5 & $0. 03 % & 3 0/ - * / & / F X D M J F O U T U B L F P Ξ Z P V S Q V S D I B T F P G P S NP S F 5 5 B Y F T Q B Z B C M F B ͅ F S D P V Q P O W B M V F J T E F E V D U F E - J NJ U P O F Q F S H V F T U 3 F Q S P E V D U J P O T P G D P V Q P O X J M M O P U C F B D D F Q U F E 7 B M J E G P S J O T U P S F V T F P O M Z 0O M J O F P S E F S T X J M M O P U S F D F J W F U I F E J T D P V O U $ B O O P U C F D P NC J O F E X J U I B O Z P U I F S D P V Q P O T / P D B T I W B M V F 0' ' 7 B M J E U I S P V H I " Q S J M r B D D U T ! Q D Q T U Q F U F D P N U I 4 U S F F U / P S U I 4 V J U F 1 J O F M M B T 1 B S L ' - reality sound bites. Reeves Subaru is sharing the love with Reeves, a Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD) puppy, by offering to sponsor him.The paid sponsorship affords a business several opportunities, not the least of which are the naming rights to the puppy. We met Reeves, who was about to turn a year old, at Reeves Subaru with his volunteer puppy raiser,Tracy Horrell.“Being a puppy raiser is the best unpaid job ever,” said Tracy. “I get to give this puppy all the love I have and, through what we’re doing, we end up helping someone else.“I’m definitely going to do it again.” Puppy raisers volunteer to take a SEGD puppy home for a little more than a year, teaching the dog manners and basic obedience.There is no expe- rience needed to become a puppy rais- er, and SEGD provides plenty of sup- port.The volunteer puppy raisers are mission-minded and understand the big picture of how the puppy will make a difference in someone’s life. Kim Rogers and her momVivian Reeves were first introduced to Southeastern Guide Dogs during Operation Helping Hand after 9/11. “Reeves Import Motors would host dinners at theVA and we’d go visit the injured soldiers.That’s when we met Mike Jernigan, who has since helped so many people,” said Kim. Cpl. Michael Jernigan, USMC (Ret.), was blinded by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He co-founded the Paws for Patriots program at Southeastern Guide Dogs in 2006. His service dog Brittani was an essential part of Jernigan’s recovery process. When Subaru became involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs through their Share The Love program, Kim realized the timing was right to sponsor a puppy. Naming the puppy Reeves went beyond being the name of the family who owns Reeves Import Motors and Reeves Subaru. The origin of Reeves means to serve. “So, it’s really the perfect name for him,” said Kim. Their hope is that Reeves will go into the Paws For Patriots program, which serves active duty and retired servicemen and women by providing a service dog. Tracy, who works as a Program Expert for Kenick, said the owners of the company are dog lovers and were all in. She had to convince the COO, who was not a big dog lover and was unsure about the idea.“But, he’s changed his mind after getting to know Reeves. He’s a huge dog lover, now,” said Tracy.“I love talking about the program because it’s all about saving someone’s life. How can I not give him back?” Take A Leap of Faith. Take A Puppy Home. Reeves, a Southeastern Guide Dog in training with his puppy raiser Tracy Horrell at Reeves Subaru. To learn more about becoming a puppy raiser or to sponsor a dog, call Ruth Lando at Southeastern Guide Dogs, 941.479.6590. GuideDogs.org