Sunday, April 07, 2013

neads spring graduation


Today was the Spring graduation for NEADS, I just love going to graduations, I can always count on a good cry!!!! The whole chapter met first for breakfast at one of our favorite places. Not only is the food amazing, but they like having us and the dogs come to visit....
We had four dogs under the table and not one of them made a peep, or even were known they were there until we left. You should have seen the other folks eating at the restaurant when we all filed out... the comments were all over the place... "they had four dogs with them?" "we never even heard them" "can you believe how well behaved they are?" I just love hearing those sorts of comments!!!! (Rylie of course, was perfect!!!)
Now, not only is this a special day for the new teams.. but it is for us as well. Unknown to Linda - our chapter leader - she is being awarded today for her 20 ( TWENTY!!!) years of volunteering as the chapter leader for Maine!!!! This has all been kept a very big secret and has been in the works for months. And even as Linda traveled down to the graduation with us... her family is coming too....Rylie had to squish in the back with the presents that we were bringing for Linda!!!

And here we all are... this group is Kathleen with Mercury, Linda and Otis, Me with Rylie and Cam... Rick has Moxie and Linda has Merv..... this group will all be different a few months from now, but that's how it works in the "puppy raising" .....










It still amazes me at how comfortable the puppies are in public. I mean, I know they're suppose to be, and it's what we are always working towards, and even though this picture doesn't really show it... the hall ways were crowded, and anytime we stopped to chat, this is what the dogs do... lay quietly and wait.... such good puppies!!!!





And here we go... I was so excited, I couldn't wait to hear about the teams, but I was really happy about Linda's award ....











While the other dogs laid on the floor, Camille insisted on being in her own chair.... she's not special or anything (????) is she








And here are this spring's graduates..... I think there were 28 new teams consisting of facilitated dogs (those are the kid's dog), veterans, hearing dogs, and ministry dogs....
Now, this young man was quite special to us... last summer when we were out with Bogey, we came upon a family who told us that their son was waiting for his NEADS dog... well, surprise to us... he has been matched and was at the graduation. I think having to be on stage was a bit overwhelming for him, so he found his comfort laying quietly beside his friend... they were so sweet together, and this is the work of the kids dogs...... (which I think would be a great job for Rylie!!!)
The guest speaker was a marine... and he is now in charge of a group of students who have given many volunteer hours to NEADS. He told a wonderful story of a dog that he had lost and that his new dog was a "career-change NEADS" dog... I cried threw his whole talk.....
And then... came "the moment"... Linda's award. She still had no idea that this moment was strictly for her... Gerry started telling about the Maine puppy chapter and its' history and then ended with the presentation of the award... Linda was completely caught off guard... it was wonderful!!!!!
She is the second person that NEADS has awarded this honor.... this is a lead crystal vase with her name engraved in it...... and then when she realized her family was there to see it all... she could hardly find the words.....
Back to the graduation.... there were four veteran dogs... I can't get threw any of their speeches without crying!!!!!
And then, they added this time, a great demo of "what" the dogs are trained to do... they had this whole set up and demoed turning on lights, opening the refrig... opening dogs, and fetching objects... it's great for people,. who don't know the talent of these dogs, to see....
Three dogs were hearing dogs... and to quote this beautiful lady.. "If God said to me I can make you hear again, but you wouldn't be able to have a dog.... I would choose to remain deaf and live my life just like I do... with a dog..."... (OK need I say more as to why I choose to raise puppies~!!!) On top of that, her little dog was a shelter rescue - which they often use as the hearing dogs!!!! Pretty neat to be an "unwanted shelter dog to a highly important hearing dog!!!!"
After graduation, we took a few moments to talk and get some photos...
Linda still can't believe that she was awarded and that we all kept it quiet until the very end.....
Oh, and look who else made it graduation... there's our Ginger!!!! She is always so happy and excited to see us, and we think of Pastor Jane as part of the Maine chapter..... I just love this dog, and Pastor Jane had even more stories to share about their ministry.... This dog is without a doubt, a very precious gift of God....







And with any NEADS event, trainings or graduations, by the end of the day.. this is what the puppies are beginning to look like. Marv - the big yellow lab in the back - has been given the word that he will be turned in when we go next month for check in. And Rylie is going on a puppy swap to the prison...I will be getting her sister, Hope for a while, as they feel she needs a break from the prison program and Rylie will go in and start her experience there. One thing about puppy raising, it's always changing but the outcome is priceless....