Blind comic's new guide dog becomes part of the act

From the NY Daily News:

Brian Fischler (pictured) calls New York City a "blind man's paradise" - a city of convenience where people with limited vision can get around without a car. But before a special guide dog recently pawed his way into Fischler's world, the stand-up comic's normally active life had come to a crawl.

"He's completely changed my lifestyle," Fischler said of Nash, the 2-year-old yellow Labrador donated to him by Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit guide dog school based in Yorktown Heights.

"Now I go where I want, when I want," Fischler said.

Fischler, 36, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 12. For the last nine years, the jovial funnyman had walked with a cane, until his vision worsened and he could no longer manage alone.

Today, with Nash by his side to help him navigate the city, New York is his oyster. Once again, the avid Yankees fan can take in a baseball game, meet friends for dinner and head downtown to perform stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club.

Fischler says he really owes his freedom to Nash's puppy raisers, Lorraine and Richard Chadwick of Endwell, N.Y., who helped socialize and teach the young dog basic obedience.

The Chadwicks frequently brought Nash to the city, where he was exposed to sights and sounds hard to find at their upstate home. "They really got him used to a bunch of situations," said Fischler, who blogs on experiences at www.blind-gator.wordpress.com.

Puppy raisers begin training dogs at 8 weeks of age and raise their charge until it's about 18 months. After more training, dogs are partnered with a blind person.

New York City is the perfect training ground for future guide dogs, said Michele Brier of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Its noisy traffic, endless construction sites and other myriad obstacles provide the dog with every possible situation it might encounter in its work.

Still, the city only became a puppy-raising region in 2007, and due to limited space, has produced only a few guide dogs. That's now changing. In May, the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan donated a large training space that allows Guiding Eyes to hold training classes and expand.

Currently, 10 puppy raisers attend weekly classes there on Sunday nights, but many more are needed to sign on.

"It's the most rewarding job and a lot of fun, too," said East Village resident Elizabeth Closmore, 26, who is currently raising her fifth puppy, Laddie, a yellow Lab, and helps train other puppy raisers.

Being a puppy raiser requires dedication. "It's not a pet. It doesn't sleep with you. It has a job," Closmore said.

Giving up the cute puppy is the hardest part, but knowing it's going to change someone's life makes it worthwhile.

A guide dog is donated to its partner. But raising one is pricey: about $45,000 per dog.

To help keep these dogs healthy and working, the Animal Medical Center provides free service to every working seeing-eye dog, said medical director Ann Hohenhaus.

Fischler wishes he had a comparable health plan. "If you want socialized medicine, become a guide dog," he joked.