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Jessica Burgess is 17 years old, in 11th grade, and lives with her Mom and step-dad, Luanne and Kevin, and sister, Andrea.
What activity or project have you tackled that has been the most rewarding?
I work at Add-En-On Kennel — and have worked here since I was 14. I groom, bathe and brush dogs and often get to play with the dogs in daycare, learning proper dog play and a lot about dog body language, and recently have started working up in the office checking dogs in and out.
While working at the kennel I got involved in 4-H. I started competing with my puppy Max doing obedience, agility, rally and conformation — we are the perfect team. Max is a registered Canine Good Citizen and we are working on getting him his Therapy Dog title.
I am also an active volunteer for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program and am currently raising a 20-week-old German shepherd named Merlin. I have been asked by my regional coordinators to assist in our puppy classes and I often use Merlin to demo in my teaching. I also took classes with conformation judges, Anne and Steve Barbash, and am currently assisting Pat Bonino in obedience classes, showing all of Max’s many tricks and skills and working one-on-one with students and their puppies.
I also got to go to the Westminster Dog show in New York City with my 4-H group! We got to see the show and talk to a lot of the owners.
How did you get involved?
While working at the kennel I was introduced into to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a program where dogs are raised and trained to understand the same commands and can ultimately become a guide dog. To become a Puppy raiser you have to go through pre-placement classes that teach you the curriculum necessary to rise a guide dog properly. Biweekly classes are mandatory and participation is required to show you understand and are ready for the upcoming challenge.
What makes it rewarding?
Guiding eyes is all volunteer-based — we don’t get paid. For a lot of people this seems like a draw back but the love and bond that you create with the pup is enough! And the feeling that you are going to help someone to see gives you the drive to put your heart into the training!
Jessica Burgess is 17 years old, in 11th grade, and lives with her Mom and step-dad, Luanne and Kevin, and sister, Andrea.
What activity or project have you tackled that has been the most rewarding?
I work at Add-En-On Kennel — and have worked here since I was 14. I groom, bathe and brush dogs and often get to play with the dogs in daycare, learning proper dog play and a lot about dog body language, and recently have started working up in the office checking dogs in and out.
While working at the kennel I got involved in 4-H. I started competing with my puppy Max doing obedience, agility, rally and conformation — we are the perfect team. Max is a registered Canine Good Citizen and we are working on getting him his Therapy Dog title.
I am also an active volunteer for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program and am currently raising a 20-week-old German shepherd named Merlin. I have been asked by my regional coordinators to assist in our puppy classes and I often use Merlin to demo in my teaching. I also took classes with conformation judges, Anne and Steve Barbash, and am currently assisting Pat Bonino in obedience classes, showing all of Max’s many tricks and skills and working one-on-one with students and their puppies.
I also got to go to the Westminster Dog show in New York City with my 4-H group! We got to see the show and talk to a lot of the owners.
How did you get involved?
While working at the kennel I was introduced into to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a program where dogs are raised and trained to understand the same commands and can ultimately become a guide dog. To become a Puppy raiser you have to go through pre-placement classes that teach you the curriculum necessary to rise a guide dog properly. Biweekly classes are mandatory and participation is required to show you understand and are ready for the upcoming challenge.
What makes it rewarding?
Guiding eyes is all volunteer-based — we don’t get paid. For a lot of people this seems like a draw back but the love and bond that you create with the pup is enough! And the feeling that you are going to help someone to see gives you the drive to put your heart into the training!
Who has most inspired you to be the person you are?
I can’t pick just one person who has inspired me in life because there have been so many. My family has been a huge support and have been there for every show dog show, fun match, guiding eyes class and more! I could not be where I am now without their support!
If you could choose any career in the world, what would it be?
I would love to be a veterinarian. If not a vet, I would like to learn about ophthalmology and rehabilitation with small and large animals.
How do you balance all your time commitments? My days are packed full between school, work and puppy duty. But I love what I do and enjoy every minute of it!
What’s on your iPod?
I listen to a variety of music, from hip hop to musicals.
What do you do for fun?
I like to go out and be with my friends. In the summer we spend a lot of time at our family cottage on Canandaigua lake. I like to water ski and swim.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would really enjoy traveling to a place like Brazil or Africa to learn about the animals there. But for a vacation — Key West or the Bahamas would be nice!
What’s your favorite food?
I really don't have a favorite food but one of my top choices is probably pizza.
What’s the best advice you can give to other students your age?
Find something that they really enjoy doing. Find different ways to get involved and expand your skills.
