PAWED PARTNERS AID BLIND; DOGS, HOST FAMILIES SHOW SPIRIT, SACRIFICE IN BATTLE TO HELP THE UNSIGHTED.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Twelve years ago, John Faitro suffered kidney failure that robbed him of his sight. The loss of his eyes sent him into a spiral of depression.

``I was totally depressed,'' said Faitro, who is 29 years old and a Simi Valley resident. ``I kept on thinking I was going to get it back. I was in denial. I thought my life was over. . . . I just sat around the house feeling sorry for myself.''

Faitro's wife also felt the effects of his blindness, as he relied on her for his every need.

``I was hanging on her coattails all the time,'' he said. ``I was totally dependent on her. I was addicted to her.''

Five years later, his wife made a trip to the supermarket, where she encountered a guide dog in training. That discovery changed her family's life forever.

Faitro entered a 29-day training session with Guide Dogs of America, an international program that operates locally in Sylmar, is celebrating 50 years of providing free guide dogs to the blind.

During the first few days, Faitro learned the layout of the facility on his own. He was then paired with his new guide dog, Francey, a golden retriever. Within days he was back to his old self.

``Being able to walk with the dog the first time was just wonderful,'' Faitro said. ``They love you right away. It takes six months to get respect.''

Initially guide dogs are happy to be away from their trainers and sometimes see what they can get away with, he said.

``After a while she knows me,'' Faitro said. ``I move the harness and she goes where I want to go.''

Once Faitro, now 41, had a diabetic reaction while on a walk with Francey.

``I was out of it and she just took me home,'' he said. ``They're just smart animals.''

Now Faitro cooks and cleans, and he and Francey make trips to church or to the barber, but being paired with Francey gave him more than just the ability to walk down the street.

``It gave me the confidence to do other things,'' he said. ``She totally changed my marriage and everything else. I just want to do everything myself now.''

That feeling of independence is what puppy raisers like Lisa Schattl of Thousand Oaks focus on when they agree to help train a puppy to maturity. Schattl and her family are raising Milo, a 4-month-old black lab.

``The toughest part isn't the chewing, isn't the potty training,'' Schattl said. ``It's knowing that one day you've got to give him back.''

The family is enjoying the time it has with Milo, with an eye toward the day he will be someone else's companion, said Schattl, who runs a home-based alarm security company with her husband.

``That's going to be one of the hardest days the family has to face,'' she said. ``Our goal is to raise the best guide dog we can. It's also going to be very rewarding. I would love to keep him, but with his temperament he's going to be a wonderful guide dog.''

Schattl had considered getting a puppy in training for several years, but procrastinated until her husband tricked her after a visit to Guide Dogs.

``He signed me up and he didn't tell me about it until we were driving home,'' she said. ``It was the best thing that my husband ever did.''

Puppies spend 18 to 22 months with a raiser before going for an intense training program that lasts four to six months. After that, 60 percent graduate to become guide dogs. The rest make career changes because of health problems,

temperament, allergies or a weakness for distractions.

The Schattls take Milo into public to get him used to a variety of stimuli he might encounter if he becomes a full-fledged guide dog.

``He wants to go up to all the little kids and say hello,'' Schattl said.

Everywhere Milo goes, he sports a bright yellow bib to alert business owners that he's allowed in their stores or restaurants.

``Once they realize he is a guide dog in training I go about my business,'' she said. ``I get very positive reactions.''

Milo has made excursions to numerous public places, including the beach, Ventura Harbor, restaurants, malls, video stores and retail stores.

``We've been to about eight to 10 restaurants already,'' Schattl said. ``He's supposed to go under the table and lay down. By the time we're ready to leave, he's asleep.''

During the day Milo spends time playing with the Schattls' 13-year-old golden retriever, Sandy, or their 5-year-old yellow lab, Suzy Q.

``At first they weren't too happy to see this puppy come into their home,'' she said.

Schattl's two children, Kristi, 12, and Kevin, 9, enjoy being foster parents to Milo too, even as they steel themselves for the day they have to say goodbye to him.

``They love the response we get from people, the smiles we get from people,'' Schattl said. ``They've seen what these dogs can do and how they can change someone's life.''

THE FACTS

Guide Dogs of America will celebrate its 50th anniversary with its major fund-raiser Aug. 24, a golf tournament at the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. For more information on the tournament, call [phone]. For more information on puppy raising or Guide Dogs of America, call [phone].

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) (Ran in Simi Edition only) Near his Simi home, John Faitro walks his dog, Francey, who Faitro says has made him more independent.

Terri Thuente/Daily News

(2--Color) (Ran in Conejo Edition only) From left, Kevin, Kristi and Lisa Schattl pose with dogs, from left, SuzyQ, Milo and Sandy.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News