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Mark Evans, Diane Evans and Fievel went whale watching at Dana Point with 30 other guide dogs

For a long time, Mark Evans, an agent with Prudential California Realty's Thousand Oaks Regional office, tried to find a way to be of assistance to the blind. His wife, Diane, who is a first-grade teacher in the Conejo Valley, has a co-worker who has been involved with Guide Dogs of America for a number of years. Guide Dogs of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mobility to blind people through the use of highly trained Guide Dogs. Volunteer "Puppy Raisers" train and socialize their dogs for 18 to 22 months, at which time the pups return to Guide Dogs of America for formal training.

After several discussions, Evans and his wife decided to visit the Guide Dogs facility in Sylmar. After additional visits and interviews, they were notified that they had officially been selected to become Puppy Raisers.

Fievel, a golden retriever, came to live with the Evanses when he was eight weeks old. He recently celebrated his first birthday and is doing beautifully. He is loving, intelligent and lots of fun. The Evanses take him to weekly meetings in Ventura, West Los Angeles or Sylmar, where he learns the skills necessary to become a successful guide dog.

They are constantly asked, "Won't it be hard to give him up?" Most assuredly it will be. "However," said Evans, "the tears we shed will be bittersweet. Our emptiness will indicate that a blind person's life has been enriched."

Evans has been a Conejo Valley resident for 32 years. He has always been active in the community and has served as president of the Conejo Youth Basketball Association. As a real estate professional, he is a qualified area expert in Lang Ranch.

Evans can be reached at (805) 4442429. More information about Guide Dogs of America is available by going to www.guidedogsofamerica.org/