Monday, September 20, 2010

so..how did it go???

Today was "turn in day" for our Chester. I like to refer to it as "turn in day", because now the real training begins that "turns Chester into a service dog". And even though it was a day of tears, I want to assure all dear readers, that I feel very much at peace this evening, and I feel it has been a job well done. I'm excited for the future and eagerly await progress reports.

For those of you who know me personally, you know that God and my faith are a HUGE part of my life. I live knowing that God is in every part of my life. And not to make this a sermon, but as you read at how this day played out, I am certain you can see where the Good Lord was working His wonderful way. So, "we" started out with a photo opt at the farm. Chester has spent much of his first year here, and I wanted "something" that put this on record!!! Then we loaded up and headed out.

I picked up my dear friend Kathleen.. and Ed, Sadie and Abbie went down and picked up Rick. Yup... two trucks headed down to NEADS.



We arrived safe and sound on this beautiful fall day. I was so pleased to have all this company with Chester and I. Course, my family had not ever been here, so it was nice to show them around. Now, when I talk about NEADS.. they have a clear picture of "what it is".







I took Chester out for a little "pit" stop and the others went in to do the same. When I entered the building, a man came out to the lobby with a beautiful yellow lab. He sat and waited for a while and we smiled at each other. He kept petting his dog, talking to him and telling him what "a good boy" he was. I asked him... "is this your dog".. a huge smile appeared on his face, and he answered "yes, I was matched with him last week"... "he is such a joy and you can't believe how much my life has changed in just this short time". He then asked about Chester, and when he found out I was a puppy raiser and that Chester was being turned in, he nearly teared up and said... "thank you so much for what you do.... people like you do so much for people like me"...( Okay... it was all I could do to already keep it together. )

Then one of the trainers, Brian, came out and said to the man.. "ready to train, we'll head up to the training room". I asked Brian if we could take a quick look at the training room before they started (I wanted Ed and everyone to see it) and Brian said to me... 'come on up and watch us work". This was such a gift for me, because as hard as it was to be turning Chester in... to have the opportunity to talk with this gentlemen and THEN watched them work together, brought back to me... "why" I had decided to give this a try. Definitely the Good Lord.. reminding me what "it" was all about.



This is what we got to see (among several tasks)... this beautiful dog.. turning on the lights for his owner..... he also fetched the phone.. opened the refrig and got an item out of it...











Opened a door... and closed it behind him.... and several other things. The whole time, this dog worked with such a happy "I can do it" spirit.. and as each task was done better and "more correctly" his owner's confidence grew and grew. You could see it before your very eyes!!! Such a gift for me to see this... I could have stayed and watched it all day.....





Then Dave took us up to the puppy house. There are LOTS of puppies in right now.. and both Kathleen and I have been told, that we will have puppies again by the first part of October!!!! So, I really only have a "couple of weeks off, and it will all begin again" (YAHOO!!!) I don't know "what" we'll get, there were lots of goldens there, so we might end up with goldens again... but there were labs too.. so, guess we'll see when the time comes....


any who, back to Chester.... we took time for some "good bye photos"... here's a good one of the fam..... (missing Kas and Nate!!!)







and then my two buddies... Rick who has been a huge support and sort of co-trainer of Chester (he worked him in many obedience classes!!!) and dear Kathleen... who is about to get her 14TH service puppy to raise and who "talked" me into this whole project!!!!!!








And one last kiss (until we all meet again at graduation).....









And then..... the final walk together.... for me, the end of a good time and many wonderful memories.. and for the golden boy...
one step closer to his future....
"best wishes "buddy"... I will always love you and will always hold onto that little spot in my heart that belongs just to you... and tonite.. in my prayers, I will pray for your future owner and all the wonderful things that you will bring to their life.. because you certainly brought it to mine...."