It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year/Giving Thanks!

It is the most wonderful time of the year, or so I hear.  This is the time of year where some people give thanks for the things one has, try to look back at the year at what one did and did not do and ultimately look toward the future to what we all can do better.  At this time of year, I look at my Nin and cannot believe my good fortune; not only have I been gifted with one amazing dog but three, each with his/her own skills, personalities, and unique form of companionship which cannot be matched by any other.  There is so much that went into the making of each of these dogs.  Each one has been a gift that I can never begin to repay any of the people who made the dog’s journey to me possible.

I first heard about Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) when my parents (so rudely) moved me to Santa Rosa, California the summer before my junior year of high school.  Santa Rosa is CCI’s National headquarters, so you could not go to the downtown or around the City without seeing the dogs with the trainers practicing their skills.  It was not long after our move that my family began to discuss with me about how I should get a dog, how great would that be?  Now as a teenager, anything that draws extra attention to you is not a good.  Having a disability and being a wheelchair user was bad enough and the last thing I wanted was a dog following me around EVERYWHERE.  Watching the news one night, I saw this public interest story on CCI and the segment showed a little boy with his dog and the dog was by his side at all times, he (the dog) even slept in his bed.  I kept thinking to myself that I was not going to have a dog sleeping in my bed – yuck, not to mention, how was I ever going to go on a date with a dog tagging along.  So, a service dog was an idea I put in the back of my head and forgot about, until the middle of college. 

Growing up my Dad had always said that if I got into graduate school he would pay for wherever I wanted to go (a statement he and his bank account are still regretting to this day!).  I don’t think he knew I was paying attention but when it came time for graduate school one of my requirements was that I was out of state and away from home.  Not that I went to college close to home my school was 600 miles from Mom and Dad, the furthest that I could have gone without leaving the state, which then was my also a Mom and Dad requirement, but for me it was still too close because extended family was close.    As I started looking at far away graduate schools, Mom started reminding me that if something went wrong there was not going to be family close by to help.  I would be alone and this might be a good time to look at the Service Dogs again, so reluctantly I did and I applied. 

Ivan and I

I was called by CCI the summer before I left for graduate school in Philadelphia.  In fact, I received the phone call while I was looking for a place to live in Philadelphia.  I had never been to the East Coast and was shocked at how inaccessible the world was outside of the West.  I was not sure how I was going to survive on this very old campus in this old city, so the call from CCI was actually welcome. 

My first dog was Ivan, a big beautiful Golden Retriever.  Now this dog hated me when we first met, in fact for about the first month we were together he hated me – I was not too fond of him either.  The trainer kept telling me that, unlike a lot of the other dogs I was seeing, he takes a long time to bond but when he does we will be bonded for life.  At that point, I questioned Jackie’s, our trainer, sanity and knowledge.  She was right though.  Ivan bonded and we were inseparatable.  It took about six months before he made it onto the bed but he did and I did not go anywhere without him, including dates!  He made grad school possible for me.  He was not a real social dog.  He was content being with me and that was perfect for school, a thesis, work and internships (field placements).  I had lots of hours doing counseling so he had to sit quietly under a desk and his personality was perfect for that type of work.  The trainers in all of their skills and wisdom had given me the perfect dog. 

I was heartbroken when it was time to retire Ivan, but I did it.  I remember hearing that Texas A&M had an animal cloning program and for 6.5M you could have your animal cloned.  I know I would joke about collecting money for a cloning fund for Ivan and Jan, a very wise puppy raiser said, “that means that Ivan is the only perfect dog for you and you’ll never have a chance to see if there is another.”  I had no idea what she meant when she said that to me until I met Steeler. 

Steeler was the next dog.  Steeler was/is nothing like Ivan.  Steeler is a big Black Lab, Golden Retriever cross that I was in love with from the first moment I met him.  He picked me, I did not pick him.  In class he would only work for me and no one else.  He bonded instantly and had three times the energy that Ivan had.  He liked attention but still wanted his quiet corner.  He would have never lasted through the long lectures and long nights of grad school but was perfect for my career that involved lots of traveling, in lots of new places and lots of people.  Again, an absolutely perfect dog for the place I was in my life.  Another perfect CCI match. 

Now, that brings me the Nin!  What can I say?  She has three times the energy that Steeler has and then sleeps harder than anyone human or canine I have ever met.  She is precocious, silly, extremely loving, and once again my best friend.  She came into my life when I was not traveling for work but still rushing around and she keeps up and does not miss a beat.  Before Nin, I was looking at my life and getting sad at the things that I did not have; a husband (or boyfriend), family close, the things that friends my age have.  Nin came into my life and reminded me to laugh and that is a gift and what I needed at this time of my life.  CCI somehow knew and gave her to me, she would not have been a good fit at another point in my life, but she is a good fit now. 

Steeler and Puppy Raiser Jeanne

Not only did I get these amazing dogs, that are special and talented but they also came with people, Puppy Raisers.  Puppy Raisers are amazing souls that give up their time and their heart to socialize and train the dogs when they are puppies.  I did not get to know Ivan’s puppy raisers and I missed out on his early years but I can just imagine what he was like.  Steeler came with two puppy raisers, he was co-raised by Jeanne and John and Nin was raised by Buddy.  I cannot begin to explain how special these people are to me, I consider them family and I am truly thankful that they gave me the best gift ever.  Puppy raiser do not get paid, they often times don’t even get a lot of recognition but are people that give a piece of themselves with each puppy they raise and are kind enough to hand us the leash at graduation trusting that we will care for and love that piece of their heart. 

  

Before the Puppy Raisers are Breeder Caretakers.  These are the people that take care of the breeder dogs and make sure that the puppies are born in a safe and loving environment.  They take care of the puppies during their first 8 weeks of life.  They take them to their vet appointments, start the socialization process, hold the puppies to get them acclimated to people and begin to teach them appropriate play.  Breeder caretakers lose sleep, worry, give lots of love and never complain. Remarkable people!     



  

Nin as a Puppy (look at those ears!)



After the puppy raisers there are the CCI trainers, another set of gifted souls.  These folks have patience with us students as they watch us work with the dogs that they have trained and nurtured.  They are there when we have questions, no matter how small or even when we need a shoulder to cry on about our aging dog.  They give each one of us a piece of themselves each day and are amazing. 

So it is fitting at this time of year, I remember the dogs of Christmas past, the dogs of Christmas future (my best friends) and thank all of the truly wonderful people who made it possible for me to have had Ivan and Steeler (my heart) and have my (little crazy and neurotic) Nin with me this holiday season!