MANATEE COUNTY- A small pup, with a big destiny, The short film, Pip, follows a puppy attending Canine University to become a guide dog.
“It’s about raising awareness,” said director of puppy raising services, Leslie Shepard. “Not only for those people to support us, we give our services at no charge to those who need us, but also to raise awareness among that community that were there for them.”
Regional manager of puppy raising services, Christie Bane says the real life Pip is much like the animated one.
“She has this agreeable, outgoing, interactive nature that I think is also represented very well in the movie,” said Bane.
Bane is responsible for raising Pip from the time she is 10 weeks old until she is 16 months.
“It involves a lot of vigilance when the puppy is young, I never take my eyes off her for any length of time,” said Bane.
Just like the short film, Pip will move on to canine university and eventually become a service dog.
“Getting out and about in the community, learning basic obedience, learning to be trustworthy in the house, it’s really a phenomenal, amazing journey she’ll be on,” said Shepard.
Shepard says you can follow along with Pip as she reaches her goal.
“Their ultimate goal is to help either someone who is visually impaired or a veteran who is struggling with post-traumatic stress, to be in service and of service for others,” said Shepard.
Bane has raised 10 guide dos and says she can’t wait to raise Pip.
“She’s never really my dog, in my mind,” said Bane. “I’m always raising her for somebody else and I always want her to be successful.”
