11/30/08

This year is all but gone. I look back to the many dogs and people I have worked with this year. WOW

I think of Bella. A beautiful in side and out Golden Retriever. Her owner purchased her for a pet for his two small children. He was divorced. He worked shifts of three 24 hr days and nights on. Bella lived in his back yard. The mans parents lived down the block and help take care of Bella while he was at work. The mans children only stayed with their father part time. Bella was only a cute cuddly puppy for a short time. Without the knowledge of what to do with her, she quickly learned her place. I found her on Craig's list at 1 yr old. She was in the way of the mans life and the children had lost intrest in their part time pet. The man had took some classes at the local pet store on clicker training, but to no avail. Bella wanted to please so very badly. She just wanted to be loved. It was no time before I had her healing, sitting, down, stay, even off leash. One thing she couldn't seem to help is urinating every time she got excited, or if she thought you might be unhappy with her. I train service dogs to help people with disabilitys. I found her a home with a husband and wife with a young adult daughter. They greet her outside where if she loses her bladder its ok. Then she goes inside with them and enjoys life to the fullest. They have hopes she will one day be able to be a therapy dog.