Meet the Raiser – Diane Salisbury

Name: Diane Salisbury
Occupation: Purchasing Agent
Prison: JJ Moran
Current Pup: Dover, 10 months

How long have you been a Weekend Puppy Raiser and how many dogs have you raised? (Include furloughed dogs and the one you are currently raising).

Sept 13, 2019 was my first weekend with Dover. She is my first service dog. I have always had dogs both as a child and as an adult. The oldest one I have raised lived to be 18 years. They have always been a part of our family.

What led you to Weekend Puppy Raising?

We lost our 11-year-old German Shepard in October of 2018. We felt that we weren’t ready to have a full time dog after that loss. I noticed a puppy in church and worked up the nerve to ask if it was hers (Sue Masse). She introduced me to the program and I felt it was a perfect fit.

Ice Breakers

If you had your own talk show, who would your first 3 guests be?

President Trump – Princess Diana – Grandmother

If you had one extra hour of free time a day what would you do with it?

Exercise and read. I always seem to have time for work but not relaxing

Would you rather be able to speak all foreign languages or talk to animals?

I would love to speak to the animals. They say so much with their eyes alone.

If you could visit one place in the world where would it be and why?

Rome – I would love to see all the architecture and building designs.

Are you a listener or a talker?

I am both. People often come to talk to me and ask for my opinion so I guess that makes me both

Tell us your favorite part about being a Weekend Puppy Raiser or your favorite memory with one of the NEADS pups.

I enjoy every weekend with her. I’m not sure I have a favorite memory that I can put my finger on. She always impresses me. She is smart and surprises me with what she can do. In one instance, we were shopping at Bass Pro and it was Christmastime with tons of very excited children waiting to see Santa. She was so calm and attentive that people would stop to ask about her and her behavior. I saw how well she interacted with both children and adults even with all that excitement. She definitely lights up the room. I am a proud puppy raiser and love to explain to both adults and children what she will be able to do to help others. Most people can be uninformed when it comes to rules and how a service dog can change a person’s life. I am excited to see what she becomes.

Read the entire Meet that Raiser series here.