Puppy puppy by Thida

We went to the home of some kind CCI Breeder Caretakers and we met their breeder Isabella and nine puppies.

There's nothing like the smell of puppies. They smell of a combo of newborn and dog.

Three puppies dogpiling you at once all trying to lick you.

Little T romped with a puppy and laughed and laughed.

Puppies have round squishy baby bellies that are so fun to pet.

Puppies make huge messes.

Puppy fur is soft like a newborn's.

Several of those puppies stole my heart. I know their names. The rest you call with "Puppy puppy puppy."

But puppies are exhausting and I didn't even have to clean up after them. After our visit I crashed where I lie just like the puppies do.

Proper is proper by Thida

At my interview at Canine Companions for Independence I gave commands to a dog named Proper. She was indeed proper and obeyed my commands. And she was proper for someone because she graduated as a "Skilled Companion" (a service dog for a kid). CCI just had a Team Training and graduation last weekend.

It sounds like a great match because it was obvious Proper loved loved kids. She sniffed my feet and then wiggled her entire butt in the air with happiness cos I smelled of kids. ;)

My daughter had previously said she wanted to name our dog Proper. But she took the news well. She's met several other CCI dogs. So Proper is not so remarkable anymore. Just as amazing though.

Accepted on the waiting list by Thida

Today I was accepted onto the waiting list for a service dog at CCI (Canine Companions for Independence).

Next step (after waiting for up to 2 years) is Team Training for two weeks at their site. It should be good for me since I need to learn how to handle a dog without hurting my wrists. And we all need to learn how to take care of a dog.

My husband and I were nervous about getting accepted. Well especially me. We had only some idea of what their criteria was. I wanted a service dog so badly and I didn't have a good Plan B since the other organizations I looked at didn't seem as a good match for me and my family. It's hard to describe how I feel honored and relieved - not a dream come true since the dream hasn't arrived yet and the dream has no start date but knowing I can gaze into the window and someday have the precious gift inside.

My son really benefited from the CCI interview experience too. He figured out that in fact size is not the criteria to determine whether an animal will knock him down. Last week he walked up to a horse that was over 16 hands high (a large horse) and asked to pet him. The horse is very gentle. And I had just ridden him for my therapeutic riding.

My daughter has been telling everyone we're getting a service dog even before we heard we got accepted. I guess she knew something we didn't. Then she told me her friend from preschool is getting a "service cat." According to the Internet (source of all truth) they do exist but I have no way of determining if this story is true or not.