Raising a Well-Bred Puppy

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Rumson woman cares for dog who can help disabled

Story and photos by John Burton
RUMSON – Linda Babeuf has taken in Kostecki as a member of the family.
She has been teaching and socializing the 5-month-old Labrador-golden retriever mixed-breed puppy and loving him – even though the she knows full well, if all goes well, she’ll have to say goodbye in a little more than a year.
As hard as it is, Babeuf is OK with that because she knows her loss will be helping someone.
“You know that going into it and I’m sure I’ll miss him terribly, but knowing a disabled person will be relying on him makes it a little easier,” she said.
Babeuf, a Ridge Road resident, is raising and caring for the puppy for the Canine Companions for Independence, a national organization that provides trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities.

Kostecki, a 5-month-old Larador-golden retriever mixed breed puppy, is living and learning with a Rumson family. It is hoped that he will eventually be trained to assist the disabled.
Kostecki, a 5-month-old Larador-golden retriever mixed breed puppy, is living and learning with a Rumson family. It is hoped that he will eventually be trained to assist the disabled.

Kostecki, who is named for Brodie Kostecki, a NASCAR driver and supporter of Canine Companions for Independence, came to live with Babeuf in July and will be staying in her home until November 2015.
The national Canine Companions Independence has its own breeding program at its national headquarters in Santa Rosa, Calif. Over that time, it will be Babeuf’s responsibility to guide Kostecki toward maturity and socialization.
Babeuf will take the dog out to permitted public spaces, such as malls and stores, have Kostecki interact with other people and animals and teach the puppy basic commands.
“You try to bring them to as many places you can to make them comfortable and adjust to any situation,” Babeuf said.
During this period, the volunteer puppy raisers are responsible for all costs associated with caring for their charges.
The overall cost is about $45,000 to raise and train each dog; the organization provides the trained service dogs to the recipients free of charge.
If the conditioning proceeds well, Kostecki will go on to an intensive six-month training course at the organization’s Medford, Long Island, regional center, where the dog will learn more than 50 commands. After completion, Kostecki’s strengths will be evaluated and he’ll be matched with a disabled person and family.
The training is rigorous. Only four of 10 dogs actually make it through the program, according to John Bentzinger, an organization spokesman.
Those who don’t make the cut can be adopted by their raisers and Babeuf said she would be willing to keep Kostecki if that were to happen.
That has happened in the past. In 2002 and 2004 Babeuf had raised two dogs for the program, Karli and Ellis, both black labs. Neither was accepted in the program and became the family pets.
The dogs will be required to assist with all manner of everyday activities for those with disabilities other than sight impaired. That could mean everything from accompanying them to work every day, helping pick items off the floor, opening the refrigerator, pulling laundry out of the dryer and switching lights on and off. The animals also offer companionship plus comfort and a stabilizing influence, according to Babeuf.
Babeuf, a former president for the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs, got involved in the project because of the federation’s support of Canine Companions for Independence.
Babeuf needed little encouragement to participate given her readiness to talk about her love of dogs and other animals. Dogs are “always happy to see you,” she said. “You can’t say that about everybody.
“All they ask of you is to love them, feed them and take them out and they’re happy,” she said.
Kostecki certainly seems to be a happy and active puppy, quick to nuzzle and lick a hand.
“He likes to play, especially tug-of-war,” Babeuf said.
Babeuf will be sorry to see Kostecki go next year, if that is in the cards. “It’s a privilege and a pleasure to see them go,” added the mother of two grown children. Like  raising your children or being a foster parent, “you want them to go on and succeed.”