Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I am now a Registered Service Dog


I know it's been a while since I last posted but I have been one busy pup. Mom took me on a bike ride - no I didn't ride in a basket; I have to run along beside her and I know now that I am really out of shape. I don't get the exercise I should when I am playing around with my friend Tess who happens to be a Yorkie or Yorkshire Terrier. It's funny how both of our breeds have those little nicknames; like mine is Sheltie for Shetland Sheepdog. Well Tess has this little habit of kissing me right inside the mouth. Not on my butt but right inside my mouth. Tess's mom is bummed that she has to stop her little girl from doing such a disgusting habit because it could cause germs to spread; but my mom and dad kiss like that I think all the time? Why can't we?

Well Mom finally got all the paperwork completed last week and we just got the cards, patches, and certificate in the mail from RegisteredServiceDogs.com. It's not absolutely necessary to get all of this done but it does help quite a bit from naive business owners who do not know the law. If mom ever needs to travel; she should not have a problem taking me with her at all. In fact if want to go the mall, the movies, or even restaurants; we can with out a problem.

I got to go to Costco with her and to the mall and no one ever questions her. I am so happy that she got me this comfortable vest that she ordered when she was at a Pet Convention in San Mateo CA in September of last year. We hope to go again. We met a wonderful lady who specially made the vest for me. It took many months to finally receive that vest; but was it worth the weight. It's so much better than the vests they sell at ActiveDogs.com. You can get great patches at ActiveDogs.com, but for vests; I recommend one made like this one with velcro that attaches across my tummy and across my chest. It is so comfy and I hate when mommy has to take it off = I love wearing it! Here's to more fun in my new Service Vest!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Taking care of mom....

Well Mom hasn't had a very easy week at all. I was so scared for her exactly one week ago today. She was crying and screaming in pain and my dad had to call all those people with flashing lights to come and get her. I know the drill so well and I stayed in my corner until dad told me it was OK to move. I wanted so bad to go give mom a kiss good bye before she left. I felt so horrible all night and all day the following day worrying about my mom. My brother Tonto was also worried and he cried and cried until it got on my nerves. I didn't go and chase him to make him stop because I too felt the same.

My dad took me the following day which was a week ago tomorrow to go visit Mom. She was so happy to see me and I was so happy that I got to go visit her several days in a row in the hospital last week. She shared a room with a very nice lady for which I got to provide my special pet therapy to and of course spread lots of smiles everywhere I went. The nurses loved me and so did the doctors. I just jumped up on that bed with my pretty smile and it seemed to make all the pains go away for both my mom and her new friend in the hospital.

Well mom finally got released from the hospital on Monday and it's been a few days and she's slowly getting stronger and stronger each day. She isn't eating the way she used to and hasn't for quite a while. I don't beg for anything she eats these days because it just doesn't smell all that appetizing. I keep hearing her gag as she eats but she is eating (I think it's baby food) what she needs to eat to get stronger. I can tell she is much smaller than most tall people or that she is skinny. She also has to carry this heavy pack around for most of the morning and evening hours that also feeds her through her veins somehow. What a fighter my mom is.

She took me out this morning to play some ball just a little bit and because she is so weak; we have been limited on my walks. I don't mind all that much and I completely understand; I just want her to feel better and I'm so glad to have her back at home keeping me company.



1-800-PetMeds

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Mom came home for 1 day...

Well my mom came home from the hospital for just 1 day and spent one night at home. I was so happy she was back but she wasn't feeling herself. She seemed to be in lots of pain and I tried to get close to her so that she could pet me and get out some of her frustrations from the pain on me. My fur is just like medicine but this time it was different. She was crying and making lots of noises that scared me but I knew that I needed to be right by her side no matter what.

My brother Tonto took care of her while I was gone on a walk with dad as you can see right her. We mostly worked as a team trying to make her as comfortable as possible. On Thursday she mostly lied down on the couch sleeping off the pain but I could tell something was seriously wrong with her. I slept right down below her on the floor just in case she needed me.

Later that night (Thursday night), Dad did the drill of locking me and Tonto out on the patio as all these men came inside and took her away on this rolling bed thing. I watched carefully and saddened that my mom was going to go away again and would not be at home with us. I've been worried about her and hoping she is going to be OK.

I did get to go see her last night in the hospital and she appeared to be in much better shape last night and I even got to see and meet her room mate in the hospital who very nice and loved having the doggie therapy that I offered. I tried my best not to give out my French Kisses but sometimes I let myself get the best of me and I think I learned how to do those from Mom and Dad but my neighbor who is only 14 years old taught me even more how to do that but letting me lick the inside of her mouth for long periods of time. Mom and Dad don't like when I do that but I try my best not too but sometimes I can't help but give some very intimate kisses!

We had fun together and then I got to go home and will be visiting again with her soon! Till then let's hope my mommy gets better and can come home soon!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Getting your Dog Certified for Therapy and/or Service Work..

My mom relayed this information to me and I thought it might be of importance to any you interested in becoming a therapy dog.

To get things completely clear; I'm technically not the whole 9 yards a therapy dog but do a job that helps my mother and she is still able to go inside public establishments with her. I have the legal vests and patches that authorities never question nor are they allowed to.. Should she have a panic attack I am there to help her get through it and it usually takes just a few seconds. I will tap her leg to let her know that she needs to get down to my level and that's where the therapy begins. I lick her and hug her as she therapeutically pets my never ending soft fur. It makes all the difference to her since she doesn't have any children; why can't I come along? She's gone through enough in life for some greedy angry person to question why my mother needs a service dog. Yes there are those few people who feel inadequate in their lives that they have to complain about someone who is disabled and we hope to change those people's minds and give them heart and soul.

This should help all you doggies who interested in getting to work. It's not required at all by law that you have any card or paperwork to be a service dog. A Canine Good Citizen will help you doggies who may have manners that your owners are concerned about and you will have all the requirements of being out in public. A doctor can recommend a service dog for your person as in my case. Now do remember that it's not absolutely required but you can register with this website as I just did. What happens is that they will mail you some forms for your parent to fill out and get signed by a doctor. It's very easy to do.

I promise to provide you all with updates as to what happens next after I register. Here is the information this website requires so it's not a totally difficult site for your parents to fill out. Please do check out the whole site if you can.

http://www.registeredservicedogs.com/

OK I fill this out they will send me a form in the mail for which my mom will fill out some more and then she takes the rest of the form to either her oncologist or psychologist. I know either of those doctors will be more than willing to fill out the form. Then she has to mail in that form in the address provided in the form and send a check or credit card payment. That's a little sketchy but we will research with the Better Business Bureau to make sure that they are a legitimate business model and they are not just taking money for nothing.

They also support Federal Law which makes it quite clear for service animals like myself. Again feel free to print this out when your person takes you out in public.

http://www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm

This website makes it easy for your to get your dog certified. I am now a Service Dog and my mom's Psychiatrist is 110% behind signing these forms once they arrive in the mail. I'm not sure how much it costs but I bet you could have your parents check out the whole site for you. I for one want my own Service Dog ID even though I am allowed inside most restaurant and shopping malls.

The only thing wrong with me me is that I just have the cute factor in that my beautiful smile makes everyone around me want to pet me and just love on me so I provide the general public with free dog therapy. I don't see anything wrong with that; it makes the world a much more peaceful place to live. I'm so soft and irresistible I know! No one can keep their hands off my shiny white and blue fur!) Since I am not guiding my mom as a guide dog does, my mom does see anything wrong with sharing me with a world that needs me. I'm too darn cute for my own good so that's why I am choosing to work in Therapy. I want others to feel good!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Mom's getting out of the Hospital Tomorrow...

I'm so excited that my mom will be out of the hospital tomorrow and she will be at home with me and the rest of the family. Since she just had a major surgery last week so I plan to sleep right at her feet so that I can be there if she needs me. I always enjoy watching over my mommy very carefully and will be up in an instant should she need me. I have to admit sometimes I get a little jeolous of my brother at times and will some herd him away from my mommy. She doesn't need him at the moment; She had me. Why would she need a cat too; especially if there happen to be any snack involved.

Sometimes my parents will get into an argument; I always tend to side with mom and sometimes I will hide behind mommy. I don't like it all when they yell at each other; that's why I always feel safe right behind her. She almost tripped over me a few times but I can't help myself feeling so safe next to her. I do love it so much when my daddy will apologize and they make up; it's so beautiful and sweet and I love to be in the middle of it all. They hug each other and I get excited and then Tonto will start hugging me everytime. I'm kinda glad he doesn't have a tail like some cats but he's an OK cat.

I've been getting really close with my dad lately since my mom hasn't been sleeping at our home in over 2 and half weeks (close to 3 weeks). I sure do miss her and at nighttime it's so sad and depressing for my dad so I make extra sure to take care of him. I snuggle on the bed with him and he really likes it when I roll over onto my tummy for him to rub it. It always makes him laugh and I love the way dad laughs. He has the best laugh ever!

I provide him with lots of therapy; because he gets pretty stressed because my mom is so sick and he worries himself sick because he is afraid of her loosing her life to this cancer. I'm there to cheer him up. My soft fur always provides him soft warmth and support through these tough times. Sometimes him seeing my tail wag at him or me yawning and doing my little squeak bear sound will usually bring about a smile or a laugh.

If it weren't for me; my parents might both need to be on medication for Depression but because of me; being the therapy dog that I am; they do not. I make them both plenty happy despite all they are going through. I don't how my mom gets through what she does but I gotta feeling it must be me. They just need my beautiful Sheltie presence; the way that I carry myself makes them smile and my ears go back to show them my beautiful smile and of course my soft little kisses. Life really is too short to not have a dog in your life.

Imagine coming home to a dog like me if you've had a rough day at work or where ever; you've had a rough day of people being selfish and mean to you or lots of accidents that weren't so pleasant all kinds of thing that maybe make a day horrible; I'm always there to walk gently up to you wagging my beautiful fluffy tail and smiling at you, wiggling my cute fluffy body and so very happy to see you that all that bad stuff that happened doesn't make any difference at all at this very moment. So dig in!

Mom, I can't wait for you to get home. I won't care if you have lost all of your hair and I understand that you will be starting chemo next week and that will not make you feel so good. I will be there for you no matter what. I'm a dog that is non-judgmental and therefore I will never judge you and will be there for you no matter what. Everyday is a new day and I live in the right now. Right now I can't wait for you to come home; I miss you so much and it will be a new day just you and me!

Skype to the Hospital?


Well my daddy brought me to the hospital tonight to see my mom and it was wonderful just to see her. She had been crying because we had not been able to see her yesterday; they are hoping she might get to go home on Wednesday or Thursday and I can't wait! Neither can she.

I can always tell she is sad and last night when we talked over Skype she was crying and touching the screen at us. She misses us like crazy and we miss her. It really makes me a sad puppy when my mom is sad. I usually do a good job of making her smile and I always know which buttons to push which makes me that special therapy for her. She needs me more than ever as she battles this deadly disease.

Well tonight, we all go to take a short nap until a nurse came in to wake up my mom (apparently she hasn't been able sleep and now I know why) She gets way too many interruptions in her room; about every 10 minutes it seems she needs to have her temperature taken and so much more. I can't get over all that my mom has been through and I plan to take such good care of her when she finally gets home. She deserves lots and lots of Blue Belle kisses!)

Well on Sunday, when we couldn't come and visit her; my dad and her talked on the phone and installed something called "Skype" on both Macs since most MAC puters come equipped with webcams?; only the sound for my mom could not be heard. I would see her but she looked just like she was stuck in a bubble and couldn't talk. Tonto really did think she was hurt in there and was very afraid that daddy would put him inside that box with mommy. He squirmed and squiggled, screamed Owwwww! It was so funny that I had to go chase him and poke him in the butt with my nose.

But anyway back to my visit with mom; we got to spend some good quality time together as brushed me out and used that washless shampoo on me very lightly and then she used plenty of towels to rub that stuff off of me. She brushed me and I looked just like a princess! I feel like a princess too!

Well mom called the company about getting some kind an affiliate membership and they do offer it! Yippee! I will more than glad be the spokemodel on my blog for Active Dogs.com! They do offer all of the required patches needed for your service dog's vest and they will sew on the patches for your ease. I plan to write up reviews of some of the vests because have bought quite a few from them over the years and they are a very nice company with excellent customer service.

I have a homemade vest that I got from a Pet Show that I wouldn't mind sorting here with some patches. It's made of clothe and its' so pretty. I have another red one the mom is going to take the a shop and have them measure me and get it customized just for me. I don't know those fancy words; just a very smart Sheltie!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Service Dogs

So how did a pretty little girl like me get to be a Service Dog? Well, I have already taken 3 complete classes and I graduated and got my Canine Good Citizen which is like a High School Diploma for Dogs.

My mom usually takes me to her psychologists appointments with my red vest on and I actually act as an anti depressant for her? She doesn't have to take those pills because of me and because of her terminal cancer why can't she bring her child with her everywhere she goes? She is on lots of medication to keep her alive and I just happen to make it that much easier for her. I help prevent her from massive anxiety attacks which she doesn't suffer too much from but can easily become stressed enough to get one if she gets upset; it can easily progress into that. I know exactly what to do in order to calm her down and I'm so very patient with her just like any loving dog would be.

I know that even policeman are not authorized to even view her paper work, they can ask for the paperwork on me, but they are not to view the paperwork because of privacy laws that protect patients medical records. It's great to be my mom's service dog and the "Americans with Disabilities Act" prevents any type of discrimination for my mom. In fact this very document will help you with your service dog if you are ever stopped; these are the laws and businesses are required to follow those laws. She is allowed to take me anywhere even grocery stores but she won't do that; she feel guilty. I love going inside grocery stores but I understand because everything is so yummy and I want to smell everything. It is illegal for anyone to question her bringing me inside with her; I am a service dog and it is therefore illegal for her to be denied access with me. That's what I love about America. No one can shove their power against my poor mom.

Another Hospital Visit...

Well I know it's been a long time since my last blog. Sorry I have been one busy puppy but I hope to keep you all updated on my fun with my family which includes my dad, of course my mom, and my brother Tonto..

Right now mom is in the hospital and she just had her 6th major Abdominal surgery. I have been coming along with my dad to each and every evening to go and visit her in the hospital. It's so boring in there but I really do miss my mom so I put up with it like a good doggie should.

I will usually jump up on the bed with her and give her lots of kisses for a little while because I miss her so much. I wiggle and squirm at first and of course I smile at her but I don't make any noise because you are supposed to be quiet in hospitals because there are lots of other sick patients just like my mom.

I also help out by providing my special therapy to the doctors and nurses on the second floor of the surgery center. They usually see me walking in with my dad and they immediately have to come inside and visit with me while I am visiting with my mom. It really helps them to see my pretty face and soft fur while they are doing a very stressful job of taking care of so many sick people.

When ever I go to the hospital to visit; I always have to wear my service dog vest. I like my thin light blue one the best because the heavy red service dog one tends to be a little on the heavy, hot and uncomfy side. My dad can tell I don't like to wear the red one that much because it has been so hot in July for a Blue Merle Sheltie. It's comfy and sporty and doesn't confine me too much. I promise to do a post on all my service dog vests so that you can get one too! Mom just has to iron out the details with the companies that provide them.

We get stopped all the time while in the hospital; I think it's cause I'm so dog gone cute. I bring so many smiles with me and I am ready for service 24 x 7 cheering strangers up. I love making people happy.

Little kids tend to scare me sometimes because they usually hurt my feelings when they cry or scream at me. I don't mean to hurt any body nor scare anyone. I usually don't know what to do except try to hide myself from little kids. I do love them and barely resist giving them a Blue Belle kiss but I can tell when they have had enough of me.

I don't want to smother anyone; just make them happy. Well that concludes this post on what it has been like to visit my mom in the hospital. I hope to blog about all things helpful for those who wish to get into service dog work and to help other patients get their dogs certified.

If you want your dog's fur to be as pretty and soft as mine, check out Wysong for the very best in holistic pet food. My parents are happy about this food because it doesn't have as much fat as most pet foods and it makes me go solid each time. Sorry just being honest! I love Wysong!



Holistic Dog Nutrition