Louie wants a dog, and he's willing to go to outrageous lengths to get one, but every single attempt always proved futile, even when playing burglar, breaking into his own house with Tommy playing a guard dog. His parents refuse him every time. All seemed lost, until Louie heard about the guide dog program. It started when he was at the donut shop, getting his usual half dozen, when in came an elderly blind man, Vic, who kept bumping into things and even whacking Louie with his cane. Mr. Stevenson suggested he get a dog, but Vic was too stubborn to consider the idea. But for Louie, it was perfect: guide dogs start out as puppies (well, they ALL do, duh), but the puppies are given to kids to raise, then they enter the training classes to be guides. He presents the idea to his parents, and while Ora immediately loved the idea, Andy of course was skeptical, until Louie pointed out that a majority of the people who use guide dogs are war veterans, and then he's all for it. Hooray! They go to pick up the newest member of the Anderson family: Scout, and his whole trunk full of accessories: food, bed, leash, etc., Fortunately, this is a puppy that came with an instruction book, and a very strict one at that. The dog wasn't allowed to sleep in Louie's bed, so he slept with it in the dog's bed. He even gets to take Scout to school, where he becomes a hit in the classroom. While all this was going on, Andy was having a little adventure of his own, which started when he was cited for parking in a handicap spot, or rather, the Rambler's front tire was sitting an inch inside the handicap spot. While that could easily be resolved in court, Andy decided to take it a step further and petition for war veterans to be able to use handicapped parking spots, mainly because they're war veterans. Entitled, much? He even stands on a street corner in his war uniform to try and get signatures. Needless to say, it doesn't quite work out as he'd hoped.
One afternoon, while Louie and Scout where in the grocery store, they witness old Vic trip over a display stand, and even after they come to help him, he rebuffs them and walks away. Something tells me he'll change his mind by the end of the episode. I dunno, I got a good feeling about this one. Well, as Scout grew and grew, Louie knew it would be only a matter of time before he'd have to give him up, however he discovers a loophole in the book: if the dog is not able to perform its guide dog duties, the puppy raiser gets to keep him. But, despite Louie's best efforts, Scout is a fully disciplined guide dog. He didn't want to accept the harsh truth, but his parents told him it had to be this way. Determined to keep him anyway, Louie takes HIS dog and goes downtown, and just as Andy found him, Scout suddenly snapped into action and saved old Vic from crossing at a busy intersection. In the process of helping the old man to his feet, Andy dropped his brief case and accidentally forgot a certain envelope as he packed up and headed to court, where he stood before the judge and pleaded his case about how war veterans should be afforded the same treatment and the same privileges as handicapped people. After he and the judge reenact A Few Good Men, Andy goes to show him photos of reserved parking spaces, but they were in that envelope he dropped. Fortunately, Louie and Scout bring it to the courtroom just in time, but seeing that guide dog suddenly opens Andy's eyes. He decided to dismiss his case, as he realized there are people who need reserved parking spaces more. Then, came the sad day when Louie and Scout had to part ways. Eventually, the dog passed his courses and was going to graduate. And who should be there, but Scout's new owner, Vic (See, I told you). He's had a complete change of heart, and Louie was proud of himself for making a big difference in someone else's life.
I don't know, do you think Louie's parents were unreasonable about not letting him have a dog? Sure, he can be a tad irresponsible and a bit on the lazy side, and his parents know him. It's something many parents wrestle with, whether or not their child can properly take care of a dog, because more often than not, the responsibility falls on Mom and Dad's shoulders. Do I think they were unreasonable? Actually, I do. Just a little. Perhaps having Scout will make Andy and Ora change their minds about having a dog in the house. Probably not. As far as Andy and the parking spaces, his wanting to park there simply because he's a veteran was indeed unreasonable, but he did have a right to fight his ticket as he was only on the reserved spot by a few inches. Trivial stuff. So anyway, if you like dogs, you wanna get an insight on how the guide dogs program works, then I do recommend Life With Louie: Blinded by Love. Also, this was Norman Fell's final acting performance before he died. RIP, you gave'em hell, Fell.
One afternoon, while Louie and Scout where in the grocery store, they witness old Vic trip over a display stand, and even after they come to help him, he rebuffs them and walks away. Something tells me he'll change his mind by the end of the episode. I dunno, I got a good feeling about this one. Well, as Scout grew and grew, Louie knew it would be only a matter of time before he'd have to give him up, however he discovers a loophole in the book: if the dog is not able to perform its guide dog duties, the puppy raiser gets to keep him. But, despite Louie's best efforts, Scout is a fully disciplined guide dog. He didn't want to accept the harsh truth, but his parents told him it had to be this way. Determined to keep him anyway, Louie takes HIS dog and goes downtown, and just as Andy found him, Scout suddenly snapped into action and saved old Vic from crossing at a busy intersection. In the process of helping the old man to his feet, Andy dropped his brief case and accidentally forgot a certain envelope as he packed up and headed to court, where he stood before the judge and pleaded his case about how war veterans should be afforded the same treatment and the same privileges as handicapped people. After he and the judge reenact A Few Good Men, Andy goes to show him photos of reserved parking spaces, but they were in that envelope he dropped. Fortunately, Louie and Scout bring it to the courtroom just in time, but seeing that guide dog suddenly opens Andy's eyes. He decided to dismiss his case, as he realized there are people who need reserved parking spaces more. Then, came the sad day when Louie and Scout had to part ways. Eventually, the dog passed his courses and was going to graduate. And who should be there, but Scout's new owner, Vic (See, I told you). He's had a complete change of heart, and Louie was proud of himself for making a big difference in someone else's life.
I don't know, do you think Louie's parents were unreasonable about not letting him have a dog? Sure, he can be a tad irresponsible and a bit on the lazy side, and his parents know him. It's something many parents wrestle with, whether or not their child can properly take care of a dog, because more often than not, the responsibility falls on Mom and Dad's shoulders. Do I think they were unreasonable? Actually, I do. Just a little. Perhaps having Scout will make Andy and Ora change their minds about having a dog in the house. Probably not. As far as Andy and the parking spaces, his wanting to park there simply because he's a veteran was indeed unreasonable, but he did have a right to fight his ticket as he was only on the reserved spot by a few inches. Trivial stuff. So anyway, if you like dogs, you wanna get an insight on how the guide dogs program works, then I do recommend Life With Louie: Blinded by Love. Also, this was Norman Fell's final acting performance before he died. RIP, you gave'em hell, Fell.