Tola, part III

And then, a few minutes later, it was over. Whitehead took a few steps back and Tola quickly calmed down and returned to her position next to her new owner, Courtney Maddocks.

Whitehead was happy when Tola looked not to her, but to her new owner for approval.

"If they don't bond, they won't have that relationship that is needed to be a guide dog," she said. "To be totally blind and have the courage to go out, you have to have that trust."

As first told in a 2005 Daily Breeze article, Whitehead is the Manhattan Beach resident who had the crucial job of raising Tola from playful puppy to confident and socialized adolescent.

For Whitehead, it was a bittersweet moment. She knows she's can't be part of Tola's life; she just wanted to see her one last time and meet her new owner. And it hasn't gotten any easier, even though Tola is the 18th guide dog she's raised (she's now on No. 19).

Tola graduated Saturday and left for Vancouver, British Columbia, where Maddocks lives.

"Just seeing her with Courtney, just knowing I was part of the beginning, makes it worthwhile," she said.

Maddocks, who suffers from diabetic retinopathy and lost her sight on her 22nd birthday, is totally blind. For the past several weeks, the 31-year-old woman and Tola have spent day and night together learning to navigate the world. Tola slept by her bed in the facility's dorm. She sat under the table during meals. And the two have explored vast areas of the Bay Area together.

The entire adventure didn't cost her a penny; Guide Dogs for the Blind pays for everything, even the transportation to get there.

Although Maddocks has had a previous guide dog, she had to learn to trust a new one to be her eyes in the world. It usually takes about six months for dog and human to form a complete bond.

"It's an ongoing process," Maddocks said. "She likes to test me. I have to have control. The first day I was, "Who are you?' I didn't have that bond."

Her other dog, Piper, is 10 now and too old to serve as a reliable guide. She's living with Maddocks' parents.

"I didn't think I could love another dog," she said. "But I can. She hasn't failed me yet."

Only about half the puppies that start the path to become guide dogs make it. Tola, who impressed even her seasoned trainers at the campus, finished the process with ease.

Matching dogs with their new owners is something the staff at Guide Dogs for the Blind takes very seriously.

"We look at their lifestyle, their pace," said guide dog mobility instructor Ben Cawley. "Some people like an active dog, some a calm one. Some dogs are happy to be a couch potato."

For Maddocks, finding an active, outgoing dog was of utmost importance. Though blind for less than 10 years, she exudes confidence and embraces life's adventures. Her hair is cropped short, her eyes bright blue, her smile constant. And when she and Tola walked through a mall in San Rafael , they did it so briskly, they quickly outpaced other shoppers.

"She's very similar to Courtney," Cawley said. "She's a very outgoing individual and very active. Tola fit that."

The standards for becoming a guide dog are high. If a dog is too shy, cowers at loud noises or shows too much interest in cats, it has what is known as a career change. It can wind up as an assistance dog in other fields or live a luxurious life as a happy pet.

Labrador retrievers make the best guide dogs, although a few other breeds are sometimes used. They are bred on the campus to be in ideal physical shape. Tola's eyes were checked, bones X-rayed, blood tested. If everything wasn't perfect, she would not have been given such a weighty responsibility.

That's not to say Tola isn't still a goofy dog.

"She's sweet in nature, but she has a silly side," Maddocks said. "She likes to run in figure eights and growl when she does it, but in a fun way. She's a loving, all's-good kind of dog."

Maddocks is allergic to dogs, but that will only stop Tola from sleeping in her bed.

"How can you not love them?" she said.

And she said she doesn't envy those who can see.

"She's my best friend," Maddocks said. "I feel sorry for you guys."

To show her appreciation, Maddocks surprised Whitehead with a cup she bought at the mall. It has a picture of her and Tola on it.

When Tola and Whitehead were saying hi to each other, Maddocks stood quietly next to them. Even though they had talked on the phone, she and Whitehead hadn't been formally introduced. But after a few seconds, she suddenly burst into tears and began to sob.

She threw her arms around Whitehead and pulled her close. She knew all the work Whitehead had invested in Tola and wanted to show her appreciation.

"Thank you," she cried. "Thank you so much."

And then, her tail wagging, Tola looked up at Whitehead. And then she looked at Maddocks.

Whitehead wiped away her tears and smiled at the dog.

"It's like she's saying, 'Job well done,' " she said.