The animal looked noble, poised and totally alert as it guided the person across the street, navigating through pedestrians and traffic. It exuded confidence despite the din of downtown Hartford and all the obstacles around which it maneuvered. I saw the white cane the human carried and the harness worn by the German shepherd. It was easy to recognize the partnership that made the whole scene work. A Fidelco guide dog trainee being put through its paces. What a treat to witness this up close and personal!
Guide dogs for sight-challenged people have been around for decades. We may take them for granted, but truly they are mini miracles. Seeing one in training piqued my interest and provided me with the opportunity to introduce readers to Jenn Caley, a Granby resident who contributes to our community in her everyday job. Caley trains guide dogs for the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, a Bloomfield based nonprofit organization.
Caley has been a trainer of guide dogs for about 14 years and has successfully trained over 200 dogs. After trying different career paths out of college, she knew that a desk job wasn’t her cup of tea. Knowing that she loved animals and the outdoors, Caley explored vocations that would feed that spirit. Some of those explorations included learning how to train dolphins in Hawaii, volunteering at the New England Aquarium, and working at an outdoor wilderness camp.
Caley is an avid outdoors person: a runner, a hiker, and a genuine adventurous spirit. During our interview, her enthusiasm for life and her job bubbled over as she described her daily adventures with her beloved dog trainees.
The daily doings of dog trainers are challenging. On average, trainers work long days with their dogs, walk up to 15 miles with them and exercise patience and discipline beyond levels that most pet owners simply can’t match. Trainers must have their own demanding physical regimen to maintain the level of personal fitness necessary to work with their dog or dogs, some weighing up to 95 pounds. They spend hours bending, kneeling and stretching as they train, bathe and prepare their dogs for service. Sometimes, they train as many as six dogs simultaneously, a process that can take months to complete before a dog is ready to go into service.
I asked Caley what she liked most about her job. She quickly responded, “Working outdoors, good weather, freedom, and a successful session with the dogs.” Getting positive feedback once the dog is placed is a big plus, because it validates all the hard work that goes into providing this wonderful service to those in need. And yes, she admits that sometimes a dog will steal her heart and make the training experience even more rewarding.
Recently, Caley’s hard work paid off and she took on new responsibilities as a client service specialist. It involves a bit less direct work with the dogs, but allows her to understand client needs, and find the right match that will benefit the person and the dog as they grow together. She is looking forward to finding the challenges and taking them on with the same love and enthusiasm that has made her a successful trainer and a valued contributor to Fidelco, and to our community as well.
Finally, Caley pointed out that the important service that a guide dog provides is the reason she values her job and is so happy to have found a vocation so rewarding. She enjoys working with the many dedicated folks at Fidelco, including trainers, puppy raisers, support staff and managers. In its long history, Fidelco has placed more than 1,600 guide dogs in North America. The time and experience have helped hundreds of sight-challenged persons and provided quality of life benefits for them.
Now you know a bit about Jenn Caley, someone you’ll see around town in her role as mother, hiker, runner and, of course, professional guide dog trainer. Perhaps you might ask her about her job. I guarantee you’ll quickly see why the puppies she trains are so happy to have her as a coach, and why the people who eventually receive those Fidelco graduates benefit so greatly.