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Back To School
I am so
excited I can hardly stay still
until my foster mother and
father wake up!
Everyone in
the household starts to wake
with the morning light. My
foster parents have done foster
parenting before so they have a
really good routine for me to
follow so we can make it out the
door to go to school.
My day
starts with my foster Dad
getting me up and out of my
bed. After a quick visit to the
bathroom area I return to the
bedroom to get brushed. My
foster mom does an exam of my
eyes, mouth, ears to be sure
they are clean and healthy. She
helps me brush my teeth and than
it is time for breakfast.
My foster
Dad has my breakfast already
prepared and in my favorite
bowl. It is always a healthy
meal so I am ready to meet the
day of learning ahead.
I go to the
door where my foster mom helps
me put on my vest or pack. She
gives me a big hug as I wait
patiently but excitedly by the
door. As the door opens, I
watch her carefully, waiting for
her to tell me that I can go
through the door safely.
I stay
close to her; my school day has
begun before we even leave the
house. I must remember to keep
the leash loose…
You see, I
am a “Sunshine” puppy. I am
going to school with The Gift of
Sunshine, Inc. Service Dogs. I
will learn my manners first and
learn to accept and be calm in
the world around me. If I do
well with my foundation classes
and calming exercises, I will
take the Canine Good Citizen and
Public Access tests that I must
pass to be promoted to the task
training classes.
The task
training classes are where I
will learn how assist a person
with disabilities. I will learn
to retrieve items, open and
close doors, take things off
shelves and deliver them
carefully to the person with a
disability or put it in a
special place like a washer,
dryer, or wash basket. I will
learn to pull the wash basket,
help the person dress and
undress, and bring their cane,
walker or wheelchair to them. I
will turn on and off light
switches and push buttons that
open the heavy doors for the
disabled person.
If I grow
big enough and I learn very
well, I will be taught to assist
a person with Parkinson’s
decease or other mobility
impairment to walk with my
help. I may be taught to bring
a phone or push a button that
will bring help when the person
is having a crisis.
I hear the
teachers and my foster parents
talk about independence and that
I will, one day, help a disabled
person live more independently.
I hear them say that I am doing
very well in my lessons and that
I will be a very good service
dog someday. It takes a
special dog to be a service dog.
I will be
one of those special dogs that
assists special people! That
would be a wonderful thing to be
when I am finished school.
For now I
need to get back to school and
learn my lessons well! I am
going to be a
Service Dog when I am all grown
up!
By Diane
& Raven
For more
information on assistance dog
partnerships:
www.IAADP.org
____________________________________________
http://superfundraiser.com/
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