A Story of Thanksgiving and a Christmas Join forces in the following ThanksMas message.
Have you ever had a sense of urgency about the necessity of being at a certain place in time?
Have you ever had that gut feeling that you are meant to and supposed to do something?
Have you ever had those intuitive feelings become reality?
Once upon a time when a Pet Partner Team visited the Ronald McDonald House, a dream was planted, sprouted and bloomed during visits with my therapy dog, Hero. We ventured through the doors not knowing what to expect. We were told to wait as we had a request visit for a special patient. She missed her dog and had been under treatment for months. It was the holiday season, and a dog was what the doctor ordered. Since she lived a great distance from the Ronald McDonald House, we were called in, as her dog could not come and visit at the time. The Universe took over from there and God's plan began to unfold. The first visit became one, then two, then three, until we lost count over the period of time she was under treatment. Her mom was there with her and the four of us became fast friends.
This is the true saga of a young lady named Chelsea; her mom, Julia and their beloved pup "Socrates." During our visits, years ago, they would ask can our pup become a service dog for Chelsea, as she is going to need one as time goes on. It was unclear how her condition might progress after treatment. Our conversations would cover temperament necessary to be a service dog, careful attention to proper socialization, and impeccable training skills. Owning a service dog is a privilege and heavy responsibility, especially for a young person. With her mom's help, Chelsea was able to successfully train Socrates. He did in fact have the proper temperament, and their bond was so strong, it was a perfect match. A match made in heaven would be an understatement.
Through the years, we have stayed in touch, but for some reason even more frequently in recent months. Perhaps due to the wonders of facebook and blogging, etc. Julia and Chelsea shared their account of their journey to date with Socrates as he accompanies her to college. He has indeed become a valuable asset to her ability to succeed at the college level and is a welcome face in the halls of education.
In the words of Chelsea, here is Socrates' story.
"We got Socrates from a ChowChow rescue in Texas after weeks of looking. My mom found a website and saw that a ChowChow had been rescued and had puppies. Surprise!!!! There were nine puppies. Socrates was the chubbiest one and wore a red collar. At first, we thought he was already taken, but when my mom called, lucky for me, she was told the original potential adopter had backed out, they never came to pick him up AND HE WAS MINE !!!!!
Socrates came to us on a plane. He was so, so very sweet. He was as sweet as I thought he would be. I was 12 at the time I got him. The first few days I began his training. He was such a smart puppy. He learned and picked up on everything immediately. I am so proud that I was able to train him to be so obedient and such a good boy. Now many years later, he is my emotional support dog and goes with me to the university. He is doing so well. He listens very well, and is very good at staying focused on his job, which is to stay with me. It is very important for a service dog to stay focused on his main responsibility. He keeps me grounded and keeps me focused to make sure his needs are met. He helps me be able to feel safe and secure, and not just center on myself. When I have to stay late at school, he keeps me safe. He is very watchful and would protect me in any situation. I could not imagine what my life would be like without him."
Chelsea's dream and goal is to become a veterinarian. She is well on her way to reaching her goal and is an exemplary student. Those many years ago it was hard to hold on to that dream and hope in the face of overwhelming odds, but Chelsea and Julia did, along with their family.
This holiday season we wish each and every one of you a Christmas miracle. We urge you to be thankful for every little blessing in your life, even during challenging times it is important to remember there is always hope. When life whispers, its too difficult, give up.....do not listen.....keep the image in your heart and mind of the possibilities of good things happening. They do.
Thank you to Chelsea and Julia for sharing your story about Socrates. We look forward to hearing more as you continue pursuing your goals and dreams. We are very thankful for you.
If you have a dog and think you would like to train your dog to become your service dog, please contact a certified professional force free teacher/trainer. Please have your dog evaluated and make sure the job you want to give your dog matches his or her abilities and inherent skills. Most importantly, like Chelsea, make sure you have a very strong bond with your dog. You can learn more about Bond Based Teaching by looking up Force Free Teachers/Trainers. Reward based and force free teachers/trainers are available to help you develop the skillsets you need to have in order for your dog to help you in public. It is very important to work with a teacher/trainer, and imperative that you make sure your dog meets all the criteria for your safety, the dogs safety and public safety. For more information, please respond to kyndeness4k9s@gmail.com with your contact information and we will get back with you immediately.
Happy Trails and Tails,
Heddie
