Introducing Bailey and Mattie!
The Class of 2024 is already looking strong with our "New Triplets" (Millie, Dolley, and Bear), but now we've added another sibling pair to the team--Bailey and Mattie! These two black labs are brother and sister and come to us from the same breeder who we got Patton (Class of 2023) from. So far, Bailey and Mattie are doing great with their training and showing their very different personalities. Before they go out for their first visit with our Weekend Raisers next week, we want to take a moment to formally introduce them with notes from the people who know them best--their inmate-trainers in the WOOF Program!
They must be Irish with all of this kissing!
Meet Mattie!
Mattie is sponsored by the Landbeck Family. This is a special sponsorship for us because Ronald Landbeck is also one of our veteran recipients! Ron and his dog, Maverick, graduated in the Class of 2021. We are so excited to have them as sponsors now as well!
The Landbecks are big John Wayne fans and named Mattie after the young girl in the movie True Grit. They could not have known how fitting that name and character would be when we first told them about the little black lab ready for their sponsorship. Mattie is full of grit!
From Mattie's WOOF Trainer:
Mattie is a very sweet girl. She absolutely loves to train! She learns quickly and stays focused on the task at hand. when we are walking, she is very attentive, and she always has a smile on her face (except when she's hot).
She loves to play and is definitely a retriever. We play with the ball and she will bring it back every time. In the evenings, she likes to be cradled or she will sit in my lap with her head on my shoulder. She is a great cuddler.
Meet Bailey:
From Bailey's WOOF Trainer:
What's Next for Bailey and Mattie?
Until this point, the puppies have spent most of their training inside the WOOF Program under the watchful eyes of their inmate-trainers. They have already learned the basics like "sit" and "down" as well as more advanced skills like "dress" and "tug." These skills are the first steps towards becoming service dogs. But they recently completed the final round of their puppy vaccinations and are ready to take on the wider world!
In the coming days, both puppies will head out on their first great adventure--a long weekend with our Weekend Raisers. This will give them the chance to learn about a whole host of exciting new things like kitchens and their wonderful smells and sounds, neighborhood walks, and puppy class with the rest of the 2024 gang. It will be the first time these two littermates have ever been apart. We hope they both take the opportunity to learn some independence (and not keep their raisers up all night).
Sounds like these two are going make a huge difference in some veterans life. Can’t wait to see how they grow!
These two are so adorable! Best wishes to them and their Weekend Raisers. And big ‘thank you’ to the WOOF Trainers, too!