Guide Dog WeilyWeily was one of the first OccuPaws graduates. Weily passed way too early from cancer but while he was here he was a wonderful, loved dog and friend.
Guide Dog Mama RoxieRoxie was a sweet and loving mama of 3 different litters and the proud mama of seven working guide dogs. She was OccuPaws first breeding female and will be missed.
Guide Dog Journey
Rich & Uliana of Pardeeville, WI Journey was a wonderful, faithful guide and friend. She too was taken from us too early. She will be sorely missed.
Guide Dog PromiseRIP Promise, OccuPaws Ambassador dog, retired Guide Dog, and faithful companion to fundraising events, meet & greets, Middleton Chamber events, and volunteering at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. She was dearly loved by everyone she met and will be remembered with such love!
Service Dog DaisyRIP Daisy, OccuPaws only graduate service dog, helping Mateo & McHale with life’s daily challenges. Daisy was the most gentle loving dog ever. In many pictures, she isn’t on her leash because she never left us. She has been to Packer, Bucks and Brewer/Cubs games. The Fresh Beat band concert, camping, watched the kids concerts,sports, she has been everywhere with us. She was the kids body pillow and loved her boys to pieces.
We all loved Daisy deeply, we miss her terribly.
Guide Dog MeadowDianne of Sun Prairie, WI RIP Meadow. Meadow loved being part of the action, and fit in beautifully when he chose Susan and her busy household with 3 children. Besides being her faithful guide for 7 years, Meadow’s upturned nose and waggy tail at many, many vendor fairs turned every greeting into a happy one. We love you Schmeadow!!
Guide Dog DeeganRIP Deegan. From Randy – Deegan joined Rohn in dog heaven today. He was my first guide dog. We did a lot of fun things together including playing hide and go seek on Tammy, Flying around the country and just going for long walks. Tammy and I will miss him he was a great dog
Guide Dog AmberRIP Sweet Amber. Amber was Marc guide dog until a few years ago when he passed and Amber joined the family of her littermate – Guide Dog Angus.
From Pam -We fought hard, side by side. You were a Lady to the end. You will be missed by so many, especially your boy Quinten and your brother Angus. We had a short time together, thanks for loving me so much. The feeling was mutual sweet girl. Here’s to running in the woods, chasing squirrels, digging and rolling in the sand and snow. Go find Marc Trehey and chew on a really big bone.
CVC Dog SlickMale Black Labrador Retriever
Graduated: December 2009
Crossed the Bridge: March 2020
Bred by: Anthem Labradors, Harvard, IL
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
RIP Big Man Slick! Slick was one of OccuPaws first Children’s Visual Companion Dogs. Pam Reich, an OccuPaws board member and Kaitlyn’s O & M teacher, suggested the match and were they ever right! Slick decided that Kaitlyn was the perfect match for him.
From the family-It is with great sadness that we are writing to let you know the Slick passed away on March 10 in our home with Veterinary assistance. It is so difficult to name all the ways Slick made a difference for Kaitlyn and our family. There are so many, and he will be dearly missed.
Guide Dog GilbertRIP Gilbert. Allison and Gilbert were the first guide dog team to graduate from OccuPaws. Gilbert had given Allison the confidence and pride to safely navigate her college campus.
From Allison – In so much pain, my parents and I made the difficult decision to have him put to sleep. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter, more lovable first guide dog to see me through college and my first job. I already miss him, but believe he is in a better place now.
Breeding Mama PaigeFemale Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: The Captain’s Labradors of Lake Shore, Minnesota
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Crossed the Bridge: April, 2021
Paige was an older breeding girl generously donated by The Captain’s Labradors to expand our internal breeding program. She has had a couple litters prior to joining OccuPaws, most notably, she is the mother of two of our guide dogs Java and Odin. She will be missed as Auntie Paige was a playmate of dozens of puppies after they were weaned. She was loved and will be missed by all.
Guide Dog Rosie Female Black Labrador Retriever
Graduated: August, 2018
Crossed the Bridge: May, 2022
Bred by: ClearCreek Labradors of Northern, IL
Raised by: Lexi and family of Evansville, WI
PawsForward of Oxford, WI
Lexi & Tammy of Evansville, WI
Lacey of Madison, WI
Rosie was a very gentle girl who was working for Janell. Rosie was Janell’s second guide dog, replacing retiring Sully who was also from OccuPaws.
{Janell} I still can’t believe she’s gone! It happened so darn fast I didn’t have any time to prepare for it. I miss her so much my heart is shattered.
Guide Dog DivitDave waited over a year for his dream to come true with his hero Divit and now he has his super hero.
From Dave: It is with a very heavy heart that I announce that my dear sweet Divit has crossed over the rainbow bridge. Divit came into this world on January 15th, 2008, and came into my life on December 26th 2009. Divit and I wore a working guide dog team for nearly 10 years and had so many amazing adventures together. Divit was my guardian angel and will remain that way for ever. Over the time I had him we only spent 6 days apart, otherwise he was by my side. Thank you, Divit, for being so amazing and taking such good care of me, I could never imagine such an amazing partner as you. Now go take care of my mother in heaven and be free of the pain and suffering here on Earth. You my amazing guide dog have changed my life forever, and I am a better person for it. If only people could be as amazing as dogs. Rest in peace Divit and know that you will always live on in my heart.
Guide Dog AngusJames & Julie of Verona, WI From Leo: With heavy heart I put Angus down on June8, 2023. His Cushing’s disease ultimately, as expected, won out. He was in terrible pain with the pain meds hardly helping him. He was unable to use his hind legs without severe pain. It was just his time no matter how we felt about ending his life.