Southeastern Guide Dog becomes movie star

PALMETTO (FOX 13) - The four-legged graduates of Southeastern Guide Dogs have gone on to many things, but this may be a first. Now, the future guide dogs are featured in a new movie.  

“We have a four-minute animated short that we are using to launch a national awareness campaign about our mission and how we change lives here every single day,” explained Leslie Shepherd, director of puppy raising services.

The Palmetto-based group trains service dogs but they depend on donations, so they hope to use the story of ‘Pip’ to raise awareness.

“You laugh, you cry, you cheer -- all in space of four minutes,” Shepherd continued.

They are also in need of puppy-raisers – families to foster the young dogs for about a year and help them learn to socialize.  Of course, then you have to give them back.

“We will teach you everything you need to know about how to raise one of our puppies,” Shepherd added.  “Absolutely we love these puppies and fall in love but somebody else needs them that's what they are born for, for a greater purpose.”

If you’d like to learn more about fostering, click on over to GuideDogs.org.  And to watch the ‘Pip’ short film, visit PipFilm.com.