Juneau's Journal 11/7/09 - Brave Dog

I am a brave dog!

I'm almost over my cough and today Sheri took me in a ride in the car.

The car kinda scares me. I'm not used to it and it's weird. It moves and it's like the floor is moving under me and the room is tilting and I never know what it's going to do. This is only my 3rd car ride with Sheri. The first was when she brought me home from the shelter exactly 3 weeks ago. I already told you about that.

The second was with Pearl two weeks ago. Although we'd practiced just sitting in the car a couple of times, this was a full ride. Sheri got in first and then I felt good enough to get in after her. We were in the back seat when Pearl jumped in,too! Pearl loves being in the car and she's real happy in there. I sort of felt since she thought it was okay, maybe it was. Plus Sheri kept petting me and telling me what a brave dog I was and giving me and Pearl treats just for being in there.

She finally got out, but then got back in right away but in the front seat. That time we drove for about 10 minutes. When we parked, we got out and went on a hike. It was really neat. I didn't realize I was starting to get sick, so I couldn't run around as much as Pearl did - she's crazy out there having so much fun. She even jumps around in the water! She enjoyed it so much, I felt like it was a fun place and I started to enjoy it, too. We saw other dogs and people and men and even some small kids. At first, I was pretty shy, but after more and more of them went by, all of them nice, I realized they were okay and I relaxed.

Anyway, today, 2 weeks later, Sheri and I got in the car, just the two of us. First she got in the back seat and motioned for me to join her. I climbed in and she gave me a treat just for doing that. I wagged my tail and it was like I knew where I was and I was okay. We stayed back there a little and then Sheri climbed into the front seat, started the car and off we went.

Where were we going this time, I wondered. Should I worry?

I did a little on the left turns. Sheri tries to be smooth on those, but the floor still shifts around and the whole room tilts. I started getting a little nervous. Sheri could tell because my cheeks started puffing out a little. She kept reassuring me and I calmed down and breathed more slowly. I even sat down and lied down a few times, just looking out the window and watching things go by.

We finally pulled up in front of a store that sells tires. Sheri and I both went into the store after they told Sheri she could bring me in. I hate going through doors because at the shelter, I never knew what was going to happen. None of us did. They'd yank us through doors and then lock us up. It was frightening. Some of us got pulled through doors and never came back.

Anyway,Sheri never pulls me through a door. She just stands in the doorway, holding it open and waits for me to go through. So we finally went into the tire store. Tile floors, I can do that. Guys behind a high counter, not too interested in me - no problem. She had to get a tire replaced on her car. I waited with her at the counter very quietly and she kept telling me what I good girl I was.

We had to wait in another room while they replaced the tire. There was a football game on and newspapers to read. Another woman was in the room and a few men came and went. I just lied on the tile floor. It really wasn't a big deal. Sheri petted me and read the paper. It was very calm in there. I just relaxed and stretched out.

After a little bit, our car was ready. We went back to the front room and Sheri paid the guy at the counter. Then we left. We walked around in the grass a little. I think Sheri wanted to be sure I was "okay" before the ride home.

We both got into the back seat. It was a little different doing this in a new place instead of Sheri's garage where we always have been. But I did it. I got a treat, too! We drove home with no problems. I'm still getting used to the car but it's a little easier each time. I was really tired when we got home. I ate dinner and took a long nap.

The whole time, Sheri kept telling me what a brave dog I am. If that means trusting someone you love when you're scared, then I am!

Juneau's Journal 11/5/09

I am feeling so much better this week.

When Sheri first adopted me from San Marcos Animal Shelter a little over 2 weeks ago, I was really scared of everything. But I liked her. I trusted her the minute I met her and I wanted so bad for her to take me with her.

When she first took me out to the fenced yard at the shelter, I was so happy to get this chance that I stuck by her every second. She sat down on the grass with me - I couldn't believe it, she was down at my level. I was so relieved that someone was being kind to me that I just crawled up into her lap. I know I was smelly, I'd been out on the streets for so long, just looking for something to eat and a safe place where no one would hurt me. Anyway, I put my head in her lap and she just petted me.

She got up and walked around the yard. There were dozens of barking dogs all in their kennels yammering at us. I knew how they felt. They wanted out, just like I did. We are all desperate for it.

Well, she took me home that day. I was still so scared, because it'd been so bad for so long, I think. I didn't really understand what was happening and I kind of had an accident - a couple of pretty stinky ones, in the back of her car on the way home. I'm not used to cars. I was afraid to get in hers even though she tried to lure me with treats.

How did she finally get me in? She never forced me. She never forces me to do anything. She just climbed into the back seat herself and them motioned for me to join her. No problem - I just wanted to be with her anyway because she was nice to me. I hopped in and she told me I was a good dog.

She drove to Tractor Supply where she bought me a new crate with a soft white fleece pad, a leash, toys and three kinds of treats. It was a smelly ride home, and I slid all over the box holding the giant crate, but I never complained and neither did she.

We got to her house and I met the most curious assortment of animals. A border collie-type dog named Pearl and quite a few cats. Two black ones, a grey striped one, a little brown one and a black and white one. All of them were pretty curious about me. Me - I felt so shy. I just tried to make myself small so no one would get mad at me.

Sheri fed me some great dog food soaked in water and gave me a new bone to chew on. I loved the food. It was so good and it was all mine! No one to fight for it. No one to wait after before I gobbled it up. I really couldn't enjoy the bone. I just sort of ignored it. I was still way too wound up to relax enough to chew on it.

That night, I fell asleep on my soft white pad inside my crate. it'd been a long day and I was too tired to think or even to be scared.

As I drifted off to sleep, I heard Sheri telling me, "You're safe now. From now on you're going to be loved and safe. I promise."

Nobody slept last night

Yesterday we had a meeting - me, the training staff and our facility manager. We were discussing a dog behavior issue - what happened, what to do about it - all pros and cons.

At times, most of us got pretty emotional. We kept reminding ourselves to focus on the issue and not let our passion for our view of what was right distract us from objectively examining the issue.

After 2 hours, we concluded the meeting. It was beyond quitting time for the day. We didn't make a decision. The purpose of the meeting was just to sort through all of the factors.

I didn't sleep much last night. I kept tossing and turning thinking about what we talked about and how to solve it. In my half conscious state, I did get emotional and my mind kept relentlessly factoring information and formulating solutions.

Today I spoke with our Facility Manager. She didn't sleep either.

Later, I spoke with our Training Director. She also had spent a restless night without any sleep.

I smiled.

Isn't that great!

Why?

Because each of us cares so darn much about this organization and about every person and animal that comes through it, that we were each disturbed to the point of sleeplessness. That shows true devotion. True caring. True selflessness.

We will continue to work out the solution to this particular issue. And the next one. And so forth.

And everyone can know - these people really care.

Sgt. Paul Conner

We all got back from a memorial service yesterday in Killeen for Paul Conner. He is the Army Sergeant who was our first injured combat veteran to get a Hearing Dog.

We all had such a good time with him during the week when he was part of our February Team Training class. Despite his TBI, he had made enormous progress with the training and we got to see a new side of him – the generous fun side – when he brought cinnamon rolls from the local bakery to the staff every morning.

10 days after we moved Zest into his apartment, we got a notice he had died. They don’t know the cause, but I think it might have been heart failure. He always said they had him on a lot of meds b/c of his PTSD and he’d been hospitalized a few months earlier when as he put it, his heart stopped.

I happened to be in Killeen the day the news came in, so after the conference, I swung by his apartment and picked up Zest and all of the things Paul had bought for her care. A woman he’d met at the American Legion helped me load two crates, 60 lbs of dog food, bags of toys, treats and brushes and her food and water bowls. Both of us went to Dairy Queen on the way home. I haven’t had a dip cone in probably 10 years, but we both needed it.

I learned a lot more about Paul at his memorial service. Everyone spoke about his generosity. About how he was always the first to volunteer. About how he always brought back loads of candy and toys for the kids at their Christmas parties. How in Iraq, he always managed to get the men what they needed. One time, they wanted air conditioners. It took him a month, but he got them. Then a couple of weeks later, they couldn’t find their flash lights and asked Paul where they were. He said, “You got your AC, didn’t you?” Even his landlord spoke about how much he liked Paul. They were eating buddies. They favorite restaurant was Hunan and then after a big meal, Paul would get them to window shop for sales on electronic gadgets to walk off the meal. His friend, Helen – the woman who helped me at his apt., made a scrapbook for everyone to sign and it had the Hunan menu in it.

The American Legion building in Killeen was a modest little structure. A classic dimly lit smoky bar, illuminated by classic neon beer signs with a room in the back for meetings. That back room was where we had the memorial.

It was profound to learn about this man through the eyes of his family and friends. We met him only through one facet of his life – his injuries and his attempts to recover. We were just starting to see the other facets – fun, generosity, enthusiasm, productivity. I imagined him as isolated other than what we were going to bring him with his new Hearing Dog. I was so pleased to see what a full life he had. It was a real lesson for me to appreciate someone as a whole person and not just the vulnerable part of them that brings them to us for help.

I really dislike mortality. It’s not fair that this happened just when things were opening up for Paul. It’s not fair that the other guys in his vehicle were killed and that the female soldier was so tragically injured. It’s not fair that Paul had nightmares for 3 years about what he had to do, and it’s not fair that the medicine he took for it may have damaged him in other ways.

These people are very straightforward. They are proud to serve. They are dedicated to serving and to helping each other. They are very modest. They take care of each other. They are not fancy people, but they are the foundation that keeps all of us secure. I’m glad we could be a little part of a good thing for them. I wish we could have been more.

The sun has finally come out today after two weeks of rain and dark skies. This is a good day for the sun to be out.

Sheri

ok to euthanize

Yesterday our staff visited the San Antonio Animal Care Services - their city shelter. It is a new facility, very clean and the staff and volunteers seem pleasant.

We went through two buildings with runs full of dogs classified as "stray". In fact, the staff designates the buildings as Stray 1 and Stray 2.

There were lots of dogs eager to get out of their cages. Some were thin, some had injuries, all had stories - we just don't know what they are. Most of them looked healthy, robust and irresistably endearing. There were dogs of all sizes, mostly young adults.

Each run had the dog's information in a plastic envelope attached to the front gate: the dog's breed, age, where it had been found, any meds. Many had this handwritten in black ink:

ok to euth 9/25

That meant okay to euthanize, September 25. That's Thursday. That's tomorrow.

One dog was lying in the back of her kennel. Unlike the other dogs, she didn't get up to greet us as we stopped at her kennel. She was nursing an injured hind leg. She was young, blonde fur, maybe a small lab. She had that written on the card on her door.

I know this is a fact of life. I know we can't save them all. I know we're doing our best and that we have to choose dogs that are likely to work in our training program: be able to master the behaviors, be good in public and do it all for a novice handler - the person getting the Hearing or Service Dog.

But...

This shelter euthanizes 95% of its dogs.

They try to get rescue groups to take many of them. They don't push adoption much in their community because other facilities do. There were a handful of people looking for pets.

This is my 20th year doing this and it's still as fresh as the first time I ever saw an animal in need and wanted to help.

After we had dinner. After we drove back to Dripping Springs and dropped people off. After I made it home to Austin and settled in for the evening. Even though I took deep breaths, I couldn't hold back the tears. I just couldn't get it out of my head. "ok to euth 9/25". That brown eyed, yellow lab lying in the back of her kennel nursing her hurt leg. And all the rest of them.

Will it be peaceful for them when it happens? Will any one of them get adopted before it's time?

It's not just 9/25. It's a lot more. It's not just her. It's a lot more.

I have six pets, all from shelters. Well 5 from shelters, one from a tree at an abandoned house.

Does anyone need a pet? Do you know ANYone who is ready for some love, gratitude and affection in his or her life?

Don't wait! An animal needs you so much! Please take a drive to the San Antonio shelter if you live there - it's easy to find - it's on Hwy 151. Or if you live in Austin, we have a city shelter here near Cesar Chavez.

www.petfinder.com is also an excellent site. You put in your zip code, and choose the kind of animal you're interested in and it gives you photos, bios and contact info for animals starting with those at places closest to you. You can even sort by age and gender.

I know you love animals or you wouldn't be reading this. If this blog moves anyone to go adopt a dog or cat from a shelter, it will unbreak my heart just a little bit.

Thank you,

Sheri

Vroom, vroom!

Thanks to our friends at Roger Beasley Volvo, we were able to replace our '03 Dodge Caravan of nearly 200,000 miles with a slightly used 2008 Dodge Caravan at an extremely reasonable price complete with trade in. (Now, they have a paperweight in the shape of an '03 Dodge van!)

We've gotten such a great response from my Scion XB being wrapped in graphics, that I wanted to do the same with the new vehicle.

Rick Clark helped design the graphics, which will be applied by AccuGraphics in Austin.

Here's what the van will look like from the sidesThis is Service Dog team Chris Hyatt and "JJ" of Austin. We adopted JJ from the San Antonio animal shelter. I really want to emphasize that we adopt shelter dogs and turn them from strays to stars.

and from the rear:This is brand new Hearing Dog team Candice Benavides and "Cookie". They just completed their 5 day training course at our facility last week. THSD Sr. Trainer Susan Ramsbottom moves Cookie into Candice's home tomorrow! That will begin their 13 weeks of In-home training. We adopted Cookie from Citizens for Animal Protection in Houston.

I'm excited about our progress and proud to show it on our vehicles. See y'all on the road!

Sheri

All Hands on Deck!

Alrighty - it's only 1 in the afternoon, but seems like a full day already.

We had a great 3rd quarter board meeting first thing this morning. Have I told you I love our board? I love our board.

You can check them out under "About Us" on the main page. Give our webmaster a few minutes to update the list - we added a real winner today: David Stein, owner and partner in Roger Beasley Volvo, Audi, Porsche and Georgetown Subaru.

David and his wife Jenny have supported THSD for years! The Saab dealership has been a dog walk sponsor for the last 6 years - this year it was Subaru. David helped us trade in our well worn Dodge van for an almost new one at ZERO markup! Our In-home Trainer, Susan Ramsbottom put thousands of miles on the old van driving all over Texas. These days she's got:

Mondays - Hearing Dog team, Sanger (near Dallas)
Tuesdays - Hearing Dog team, San Antonio
Wednesdays - Service Dog team, Houston
about to start - Hearing Dog team, San Diego (south of Corpus Christi)

So thanks to David, we can keep Susan safe on the road!

Our extensive in-home training is part of what makes our program shine.

Upcoming Stuff

20th Anniversary Events

• Toy Hearing & Service Dogs - this project is finally starting to materialize. After final approval of the latest dog vest from China (ahem, they're orange not brown), we'll be able to start production. 45 days to make the dogs and 30 days to ship. Hopefully, they'll be here in time for the December holidays!
• Starting a Hall of Honor for THSD Grads for Outstanding Achievement.
  

Holidays

• Scooby's Haunted Carnival Sat. 10/25 - we need volunteers to help with the games and also cakes cakes cakes for our Magic Cake Walk. Email Debbie@servicedogs.org to get involved.
• Holiday Open House Sat. 12/13 - Pot luck or bring a donation or dog toy. Email Debbie@servicedogs to RSVP

Training Seminars (see our website Calendar)

• Intro to Service Dog Training Oct. 16-17, Becky McClintock
  
• How to Read Your Dog Like A Book Nov. 8-9, Steve White

And we have the coolest team in training this week: Candice Benavides and Hearing Dog Cookie. Candy's leaving a day early b/c of the stupid hurricane. She's in San Diego near Corpus Chrisit. Scary! We'll move Cookie in with her next week, but you get to see them now.

Candice already has gotten a Corpus Christi TV station and the Corpus Christi Caller Times to do stories on her and Cookie. That's wonderful - she's a real go getter!

Candy & Cookie...well now, I'm really hungry. Gee, I already had spaghetti and eggs for breakfast. (Stop that - it's quite normal, esp. w/ soy sauce.) You'd think that would last longer. Okay, off to stoke up.

Onward,

Sheri