FAMILY MISSES LABRADOR : DOG STARTS JOURNEY TO HELP BLIND.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Goodbyes are rarely easy. For 9-year-old Kimberly Chierichetti, saying goodbye to a longtime friend was especially tough.

``I cried,'' said Kimberly, remembering when her black Labrador, Geisha, was turned over to be trained as a Guide Dog for the Blind last month. ``I miss her a lot.''

Geisha was only 8 months old when she was temporarily adopted just before Halloween. Kimberly knew then that Geisha would eventually have to leave for more serious training after a year. Sad separation was inevitable. But Kimberly was proud, knowing she would help one of the many blind people who spend months on a waiting list for a dog to guide them through their everyday lives.

``I'm sad. But Geisha will be someone else's eyes,'' Kimberly said. She then recalled the day last month when Geisha was dropped off at a Topanga Canyon kennel to later be transported to the Guide Dogs for the Blind headquarters in San Rafael. ``Geisha knew what was going on. She was sad, too.''

The fourth-grader witnessed other puppy raisers going through painful goodbyes for the first time in January 1996, during a Guide Dogs for the Blind field day in Ventura.

The day was filled with various tests - obstacles each dog must overcome to take a place by the side of a blind person. But the day was also the end point for many raisers who had become attached to the puppies they had grown to love.

``We knew we'd miss Geisha a lot,'' said Sam Chierichetti, Kimberly's mom. ``But the whole idea of doing this was to give someone else a wonderful gift.''

Chierichetti asked her daughter about adopting a Guide Dog after noticing a canine in training at Target one day.

Eager to raise a puppy on her own, Kimberly signed up through the 4-H program with Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc. Four-H is an informal educational youth program, conducted by the University of California's Cooperative Extension. The four H's stand for head, heart, hands and health.

In 4-H, youngsters have the opportunity to develop initiative, leadership and assume responsibility through different activities. Youngsters in turn gain self-esteem, develop decision-making skills and learn how to work and get along with others.

With parents and leaders as advisers, each child is encouraged to select a project that will be a challenge, but not one that is larger than the child can handle.

Caring for Geisha wasn't an easy task. Over the past 14 months, Kimberly and her family invested time, money and energy in the dog, patiently house-training and socializing her.

Kimberly taught Geisha obedience and good manners. She took Geisha to school, stores, restaurants and other public places to familiarize her with the world where she will one day lead a new blind owner.

Kimberly also discovered Geisha's moods, feelings and temperaments. When the dog started to whine, it was time to take her outside. And the dog had a cute - though peculiar - snore.

``I miss that the most,'' Kimberly said.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc., is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to providing skilled guide dogs to the blind in the United States and Canada.

The organization was established in 1942 to serve blind World War II veterans. It operates two training facilities, one in San Rafael, Calif., the other in Boring, Ore.

Last year, there were less than 10 puppy raisers in Simi Valley, according to the organization's public information office. There were roughly 1,000 raisers in eight states nationwide, including Washington, Oregon and Utah. California had the most raisers in 1996, with 499 families temporarily adopting puppies.

Geisha will undergo serious training for the next several months in San Rafael. If she passes, the dog will be placed with a blind person for one month. If she succeeds in the sixth month of training, she will remain with that blind person permanently.

Only half of the dogs graduate. A dog could fail for several reasons, such as temperament or aggression. Fear of people, cats, kids or traffic could also hinder guide work.

If Geisha fails, Kimberly will be given the chance to keep her dog forever.

``So many people ask us if we would take her back,'' Chierichetti said. ``But we keep believing that Geisha is going to make it.''

Until graduation day in June, Geisha will learn how to judge when it's safe to cross the street and how to negotiate different elevations. She also will be trained to size up overhead obstacles, learning to lead a blind person around an object that is too low for the person to pass under.

So far, Geisha is doing well.

Since her training began last month, the dog has become more obedient and has learned road work skills. She is now ready to go into town and learn how to judge the depth of curbs, said Lori Blau, Geisha's trainer at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael.

``She seems like a very sweet, sensitive little girl,'' Blau said. ``She's responding to her training very well.''

Kimberly misses Geisha's companionship. But one thing makes the loss a little easier. Four-month-old Hasha - a blond Labrador who will undergo the same training as her predecessor - was adopted by the Chierichetti family the same day Geisha was returned.

``Geisha was a very special puppy,'' Chierichetti said. ``We thought adopting and training another one would help fill the void.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo: (1--ran in SIMI, CONEJO, AV and SAC editions--color in SIMI a nd CONEJO) Kimberly Chierichetti, 9, kisses Geisha before taking her to the kennel. ``I'm sad. But Geisha will be someone else's eyes,'' she said.

(2--ran in SIMI and CONEJO--color) Kimberly takes a stroll along a lagoon near Point Mugu beach on a trip with Geisha, whom she raised from an 8-month-old pup.

(3--ran in SIMI and CONEJO) Kimberly Chierichetti says her final goodbye to Geisha at a Topanga Canyon kennel as brother Joey and her father, holding the family's new Labrador puppy, offer their sympathy.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News