SUMMIT TWP — Lorraine Barclay has enlisted the services of four guide dogs in her life after macular degeneration ate away her vision.

She said she was forced to retire her guide dog for the past six years, a golden Labrador named Dottie, last March after the dog suddenly contracted Lyme disease. "I mourned Dottie. There was lots of crying. I was so used to Dottie."

It was hard for Barclay, who relied on the dog to take her everywhere as both a diligent worker and constant companion. The dog guided her down the stairs, across crowded intersections in their daily strolls and through all types of weather

"After a while, she wasn't a dog anymore, she was a part of me," said Barclay. The dog — like all guide dogs — could sense her moods. It responded to hand signals, voice commands and had most of Barclay's routes memorized.

Much of Dottie's skill was due to a puppyhood that included living with a special handler to become properly socialized before actual training began.

Since special bonds form in a dog's early life, Barclay decided Dottie's retirement should be spent with her original handler, Rosemary Weissman.

"I was definitely enthusiastic to get Dottie back," explained Weissman of Hamilton, Mass., who said she always tries to get owners to sign an agreement promising she will be the first choice when the dog is retired. This was the second time that it had worked.

Weissman, like many puppy handlers, felt the sting of a dog gone. The handlers are instructed to expose the dog to as much of the world as possible, which means they must spend countless hours together.

They housebreak the dog and clean up its messes. They shower it with love.

And then they are taught to let go.

Weissman has handled four puppies in the past 15 years. She said the first time she gave up a puppy, Travis, it was heart wrenching, and the tears flowed freely

Since then, she has learned to always have one or two Labradors of her own so that when the time comes to give up the puppy, it won't be so hard.

Weissman, who lives in a small town of 7,000, said she and Barclay talk at least once a month, which she admitted is more than some family members keep in touch.

Barclay asks about Dottie constantly. She has visited Weissman and has checked up on Dottie, where she was happy to find Dottie active in swimming.

"That is good for her joints," said Barclay.

Weissman herself has noticed Dottie's health improve in other ways.

She said Dottie seemed anxious when she got her back. Not that Weissman blamed Barclay: she said it was the natural stress that takes its toll on guide dogs.

"But in a week she fell back into her old habits," said Weissman, noting for Dottie this means heading to bed at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Barclay said she has moved on to her new dog, a black Labrador named Tammy.

Barclay said she rushed things with Tammy, training with her just a week after retiring Dottie.

Barclay found Tammy to be an entirely different dog with a different personality. Their bond of trust — the essential ingredient between dog and master — needed to form.

At first that bond was slow in coming, Barclay said.

Tammy was spooked by traffic on Main Street. Barclay called Tammy's puppy walkers, who live in Texas, and found out the dog was raised in a rural area. They told her that cars were one thing, but the dog had never been around motorcycles.

Barclay said examples like this show that an ongoing relationship with the puppy walkers has helped her work through many problems.

Another Butler woman, Joan Broerman, at the age of 82, is just starting out with her guide dog, a Labrador and poodle mix named Blondie.

Blondie has become more than a guide dog. She is also a friend to Broerman, who lives alone in Center Township.

Broerman said she walks with the dog a mile each day through the country. At night, the dog sleeps at her bedside.

Broerman said it would be hard to imagine returning to the white cane, having to feel her way out by tapping ahead.

She said she keeps in touch with the dog's puppy handlers, a couple who lives in New York, each holiday. Last Christmas, the handlers sent Blondie a present of dog treats through the mail.

Broerman said she marvels at the canine stoicism.

"They have had so many changes in their short life, lots of major changes," said Broerman.