HERO SPOTLIGHT

In Phoenix, Arizona, Kathy Z has quietly changed lives—six of them, to be exact. Each one started as a wiggly puppy in her home and grew into a highly trained guide dog, giving someone with a disability the priceless gift of independence.

Kathy’s journey began while working at an eye care clinic with a group of eye surgeons. Every day she met patients who were visually impaired, and she quickly noticed a difference: those who had guide dogs enjoyed more freedom, confidence, and connection to the world around them.

“I saw that many people without guide dogs struggled,” Kathy explains. “Transportation and social situations were difficult—and many lived alone too. But with a dog, everything shifted. I saw more independence, more confidence—it really gave them back a sense of freedom. Suddenly, they had a partner who helped them live life again.”

Just as her daughter left for college, she had a chance introduction with a liaison from Guide Dogs of the Desert, an organization whose mission is to provide quality guide dogs to the blind and the blind with special needs. The liaison mentioned how much they needed puppy raisers. So Kathy stepped up and opened her heart and home to her first guide dog puppy.

Puppy raisers are true unsung heroes. These unpaid volunteers dedicate themselves around the clock for 18–24 months to nurturing their pups, covering the cost of transportation, food and most medical expenses along the way. They shape their puppy’s future—teaching love, patience, obedience, words and commands, all while introducing them to the world around them: events, churches, workplaces, restaurants, stores, airports, taxis, buses, and everyday routines. Each experience builds the confidence and manners required of a working guide dog. It’s a serious responsibility, and every puppy raiser hopes their dog will pass the rigorous screening process and be accepted into a professional guide dog program—an outcome that is never guaranteed. 

Only the very best dogs graduate from these prestigious programs and move on to very demanding but extraordinary working careers. 

Fortunately, all six of Kathy’s puppies were accepted into professional training programs, where expert trainers completed their guide dog education and matched them with people in need. 

An Interview with Kathy Z — Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

BRAVEHEART K9: Kathy, thank you for joining our BRAVEHEART K9 PACK, we’re thrilled to welcome you! Can you please tell us a little about your background and how you first became involved with guide dogs?

KATHY Z: I’m from Phoenix, Arizona, and I actually started raising guide dog puppies while working at an eye care clinic with a group of eye surgeons. I spent a lot of time with visually impaired patients, and I noticed a real difference with those who had guide dogs and those who didn’t.

BRAVEHEART K9: What differences stood out to you?

KATHY Z: I saw that the few with guide dogs had a much better quality of life while the many without struggled. Transportation and social situations were difficult—and many lived alone too. But with a dog, everything shifted. I saw more independence, more confidence—it really gave them back a sense of freedom. Suddenly, they had a partner who helped them live life again.

BRAVEHEART K9: That’s powerful. What inspired you to take the big step from noticing the need at your clinic to becoming a puppy raiser yourself?

KATHY Z: After my daughter left for college, I was looking for something meaningful to do. Around that time, I happened to meet Lori, a liaison from Guide Dogs of the Desert. She mentioned they desperately needed more puppy raisers. I thought, why not me? So I signed up—and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

BRAVEHEART K9: For people who may not know, what exactly does a puppy raiser do?

KATHY Z: Puppy raisers are unpaid volunteers. We bring the puppies into our homes and care for them until they’re 18-24 months old. That includes basic love, nutrition and medical care in addition to obedience, socialization, and exposing them to the world. Not everyone can afford the expenses which is one of the reasons organizations have a hard time finding qualified puppy raisers. It’s a big responsibility. After maturing, the dogs are then hand-picked to move on to a professional guide training facility and finish their education.

BRAVEHEART K9: So not all puppies move on to receive professional guide training?

KATHY Z: Unfortunately, it’s not guaranteed that every puppy makes it. Working dogs have very tough, specific jobs and not every dog ends up being the right fit for the role. Once they leave the puppy raiser, they are thoroughly screened, and only if accepted they move onto a professional training facility where expert trainers do the specialized guide work. These facilities are very costly, but essential. After that, the dog is matched with a person in need, and they go through training together before going home.

BRAVEHEART K9: And all six of the puppies you raised were accepted into professional guide dog programs—that’s incredible! What do you think contributed to your amazing success rate?

KATHY Z: Thank you. I truly believe that having my puppies by my side every day—living as though they were already working—was key to their success. They traveled with me to the clinic daily, greeting familiar staff and doctors, meeting new patients, and welcoming returning ones. We also always brought them to our church, local stores, and along for our regular family routines. That consistent exposure and involvement helped shape their confidence and readiness for the future.

BRAVEHEART K9: What a privilege you were able to do that! From your point of view, where do you see gaps in support for these dogs and the people they serve?

KATHY Z: The programs do an amazing job, but once a person is paired with a dog, the ongoing support can be limited. There are some charities that are able to provide ongoing support but most people are given a dog, a harness, and a leash—and then the rest of the financial responsibility falls on them. For too many people with disabilities, unfortunately, it’s too much. They already have a hard time finding work much less paying basic bills most of the time. I’d love to see more funding available not just for raising and training the dogs, but also for supporting the people who depend on them for years after.

BRAVEHEART K9: That’s exactly what we’re trying to do here at BRAVEHEART K9—to shine a light on these challenges and help fill those gaps. Kathy, thank you for raising awareness, and for the incredible gift of independence you’ve provided through the dogs you’ve raised.

KATHY Z: Thank you. It’s been a privilege. These dogs change lives—and I hope more people can have the chance to experience that.