Nestled in the bucolic countryside of Madison County rests a peaceful, yet busy, organization called Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center. Gallant Hearts trains professional guide dogs for people who are blind.
Gallant Hearts’ premium guide dogs fan out all over the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world, by special arrangement, delivering independence, and a richer life for blind people.
Gallant Hearts’ co-founder is Becky Floyd, who has been blind since birth. She has worked with guide dogs, since 1964.
Becky earned bachelor degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Mississippi. Then, she graduated the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Near the end of law school, she and friends were talking about what they wanted to do after law school.
Becky said, “Someday, I am going to start a guide dog training center.”
Decades later, after a successful career, capped by her retirement as the Executive Director of Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System, Becky fulfilled her dream by starting Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center in 2009. Gallant Hearts placed its first dog in December 2012.
THE LIFE CHANGING POTENTIAL OF THE GUIDE DOG FOR THE BLIND
Guide dogs for people who are blind deliver extraordinary value and benefits to the person, and society.
“I have had my own guide dog, since 1964,” Becky says. “Guide dogs are good for the productivity of the person, and for the economy. For example, along the way, my guide dogs were very important in my having, and progressing in, a career. To be honest, I don’t think I would have had as much self confidence as I have had, over the time of my endeavors. For example, I don’t think I would have had the self confidence to navigate the university campus when I was there as an undergraduate, and in law school. I don’t think I would have had the self-confidence to move away to the state’s capitol and get my own apartment and to go to work, everyday. And certainly, I would not have had the social benefits that I’ve enjoyed: because of my guide dogs, I have met hundreds of people I would not have otherwise met, and many of those people have greatly enriched my life.”
Regarding safety to the blind person, Becky said, “Let me give you an example. We have a great five year-old Doberman, named Maggie, we trained and who is in service with a client in Canada. Maggie has saved the client’s life several times. She recently did so, again. The client told me she and Maggie were on their way to Walmart and that she asked Maggie to guide her across a street.
“The client said, ‘After crossing the street, Maggie did some fancy footwork to get around something — I didn’t know what it was. Turned out, it was a downed utility line. A man in a truck had observed the whole thing and yelled out to me what Maggie was doing. Later, when we returned while walking home, the electric company trucks were there fixing it.”
Gallant Hearts places well-trained, healthy dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and conditionally, other parts of the world. The dogs are provided free of charge to qualified individuals who have been approved by the Center’s Admissions Committee.
While Gallant Hearts utilizes all breeds, Becky and the organization are particularly keen on the Doberman Pincher because of their work ethic, intelligence, and focus. Becky’s own, personal guide dog is a regal, red, female Doberman named Mae Berry.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a “Puppy Raiser”---Gallant Hearts places puppies into puppy raiser homes where an in-home atmosphere provides the critical, early socialization and obedience training needed for a dog to be a guide dog. Gallant Hearts provides veterinary care, food, and obedience training classes for the puppy. The puppy remains with the host family for 12 to 18 months, and then is transitioned into Gallant Hearts’ formal training program.
“Puppy Raisers” are people who love dogs, and who also feel the importance of helping by preparing the puppy to provide a life of independence to someone, out there, who otherwise would not have as much independence.
Donate---Gallant Hearts is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, established in Mississippi. The organization fulfills its mission through the generous gifts of individuals and organizations. Gallant Hearts is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors selected for their expertise in governance, fund raising, veterinarian care, medicine, legal, finance, and media.
The total costs of ‘finishing’ and placing a Gallant Hearts Guide dog with a client is approximately $20,000. To donate, go to the organization’s website, www.gallanthearts.org and click on the red, Donate button at the top of the home page.
