here we go again!!!!!

soooo..... yesterday morning, I was up bright and early. I first had to attend to our doggies and the guest doggies that we have here for the Thanksgiving holiday... but then I was out the door and heading down to get Kathleen. It was NEADS fall graduation day, and we were going to see that.. plus.... pick up our new service puppies!!!!! (It's only been two months since I turned Chester in.. but who's counting??) We met up with Linda (chapter leader) and Teena, and the four of us were on the road. This picture is the first that I have seen of Christmas trees... hard to think it IS that time again....



Along with the graduation, we also attended the Annual Meeting, NEADS is going thru some growing pains (changes) right now and we wanted to be sure that the puppy chapters are still a part of their game plan. The prison programs for NEADS has been more than successful, but we full time puppy raisers still want to play a big part of the future... and it turns out, that yes... we still will. There are some puppies that will make good service dogs, but the prison program doesn't work for everyone .. so the full time raisers will have "those" puppies to bring up. I know I have only raised one dog, but I am hooked and would have been so sad to think that this opportunity might not have happened again.









Suzan and Logan were also there. Logan is such a good dog, and she is a real ambassador as to "what a service dog is all about"










course, the graduation wasn't without it's wonderful stories... you'd think by now I would remember to bring that box of tissues with me... there were 21 graduates this time around. Not all of them could make it, so some will be attending the spring graduation.









There was a yellow lab named "Jonesy".... I think the photos will tell you his story....

This dog went to a veteran who is a New Hampshire boy......

and look who I had the GREAT pleasure of seeing again... remember the gentleman that we watched train the day I took Chester back.... well, today was their graduation day!!! They are both doing very well, and this gentleman as it turns out is a veteran......

Another surprise... Kathleen got to meet up with Kelly again!!!! Kelly is still in training, she went onto the prison program after Kathleen turned her in and sadly "fell apart" in the program. So NEADS has placed her with a family who will continue to do the training.

Since she is such a "sweet" dog, NEADS has hopes that she might go into the ministry dog program, and perhaps a Canine for Kids... either way, they haven't given up on her talents, but it may take a little while to draw them out. Does a puppy forget it's raiser??? By the looks of Kelly... I would say not (can't wait to see Chester one day again!!!)

and then --- finally ---- "my" new little girl!!! This is Ginger!!! she was born on September 1, and comes from ---- Maine!!! (of all places)

Kathleen will be raising Ginger's brother - Leo!!!

So the Maine puppy chapter has two new members for the next year or so......

yup................. here we go again!!!!!