By Kathy Saunders for the Tampa Bay Times.
When he introduced the animated film about the puppy Pip in October, the CEO of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Titus Herman, shared his dream with the theatre audience, saying, “We would love to get one million views.” As of this week, the four-minute, 3-D film been seen by more than 55 million viewers on social media and is the fourth most-watched animated short film on YouTube.
“We made the film to raise awareness of Southeastern Guide Dogs and specifically our dogs who save the day every day for those with vision loss and veterans with disabilities,” said Herman. Located on a 33-acre campus in Palmetto, Southeastern breeds and trains labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and a combination of the two called goldadors.
The Pip in the film is a pint-sized pup who tries to make it as a guide dog in Southeastern’s Canine University. She overcomes a number of obstacles, but is shown the door when she doesn’t make the final cut. After Pip sheds a few tears (along with much of the audience) she spies a blind woman trying to navigate a hazardous construction zone. Pip rushes to her side and guides her through the danger to be awarded a superhero’s cape and her guide dog diploma.
“These dogs are extraordinary and I think Pip reflects the eternal optimism that comes with these dogs and the joy they bring,” said Herman, who oversees 1,000 program dogs including the breeding, raising, training, placement and follow-up care of 150 dogs a year in a variety of careers. All of the dogs, including seeing eye dogs and service dogs for veterans suffering from post traumatic stress, are provided free of charge to Southeastern’s clients.
One of those dogs destined for service is the real-life Pip, a yellow goldador with a disposition not unlike her animated double. While the film was in its final edits, Pip the puppy was born on the Southeastern campus in mid-September. Pip, who is still a bit wee for her coat, has become the face of the animated movie and an ambassador of sorts for the organization, making public appearances when invited.
“She’s always willing to learn new things and participate in training,” said her raiser Christie Bane, a regional manager in Puppy Raising Services at Southeastern. Bane, who has raised 10 guide dog puppies, is responsible for helping Pip learn house manners and the basic obedience skills needed for her to enter Guide Dog University, tentatively scheduled for next January. Pip, who lives with Bane, has completed puppy kindergarten and soon will begin to explore new environments like the mall, movie theaters and grocery stores. “It depends on what she is comfortable with,” added Bane, who takes her cues from Pip before introducing new exposures.
Training for Pip and the other puppies at Southeastern is funded solely by donations. Herman described the short film as “an exciting new element in the creative toolbox for building awareness of Southeastern Guide Dogs.” The film was financed by a $100,000 gift from donors Gary and Melody Johnson and created by Studio Kimchi, a boutique animation studio in Barcelona, Spain.
Like Pip in the film, puppy Pip was the littlest in her litter with the biggest enthusiasm. She is learning to work on impulse control, “because like all puppies she’s interested in everything around her,” said Bane.
So far, she seems to have a fitting temperament for guide work with a calm demeanor, no obvious fears and a happy soul.
“She thinks everyone is her friend,” said Bane. “She walks in everywhere expecting to find something good.”