Thought we could share if we had service dogs.

How long have you had one?
What do you have one for?

What kind do you have?
What is the dogs name?

lets share

hugs

I do have a service dog. We've been together 15 years, from his 8 week birthdate

He's a hearing ear guide dog. Well he was originally. He's now deaf from age and spending time with me and loud tv and stereo. He was the first dog trained in South Florida for emergency vehicle alerting. I don't hear the sirens and too many times I was the only car in the intersection..except the fire engine or police car A purebred black labrador. Since he's registered, I'd rather not give his name, ok?

Lots of things...I think... now...don't really matter. I had to put my service dog down Saturday night. He had just another battle to wage and I didn't want him to have to suffer any more. I am overcome with grief.

JD, I feel so much sadness for you... I deeply regret that you have had to lose such an important friend and companion..

This past Monday, I spoke to my psychiatrist about getting his recommendation for an Emotional Support Dog, and he wrote the prescription with enthusiasm and said he would like to receive more information about the laws that govern such support animals. He is a very caring man and I know he will reach out to more of his emotionally needy and isolated patients.

I hope that you will have another dog in your life. You can never replace one friend with another... but there can be another companion who wants to offer love and devotion to you...

Teri

Thanks. I have a new puppy, a labradoodle. He is going to work out I think, though he is just now 3 months old. I didn't think I had the energy to train a new puppy the basics, but he is quite smart.

I have yet to notify the certifying agency of the death of my service dog...perhaps I'll write them, rather than risk a vocal breakdown on the phone. Whenever I think of my dog, my eyes well up and my voice cracks..and if I can't check it I melt into sobbing.

JD...Iam so sorry to hear of the loss of your companion.
He is pain free, young and happy and waits for you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. I love this poem....and it has given me comfort. Perhaps it will comfort you some.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Hugs to you and your new "doodle". You may be surprised to see a lot of traits that were dear to you that your old companion exhibited in your "doodle".........
I believe our old companions watch out for us, even after they are gone-in whatever ways they can.

Leisa

I can't answer any of the questions just yet. I'm still in the process of attaining a dog. Hopefully, I'll be able to start my training over the summer.

Anyway, I'm excited to see this sub-forum here. Now I know where to go to share and learn.

JD...

I'm so sorry about your heartbreak....and they do break our hearts everytime, don't they? Some people (those who don't own their own dogs) simply don't understand how painful it is to lose a beloved companion. FWIW, I do understand.

My dear sister did the most loving thing for me when Shelby Khan, my soul-dog, died. She called me and said to gather up all my photos of Shelby...all my writings/poems...all my memories/stories...and she'd come over so we could talk about Shelby all day long, if I wanted/needed to. She drove the 45 minutes to my house, completely prepared to do just that.

Of course, I didn't need all day....but boy, it sure was nice to know that someone was willing to do that for me when no one else understood.

So I would like to extend that same gesture to you. Please feel free to come here and tell us all about your life with your dog...post pics (if it's allowed?)....whatever you feel comfortable doing at this point. I'm sure after all those years, you have many warm and wonderful stories to tell.

How's the new pup?

Yes - I had a Certified Hearing Guide Dog, a AKC
Samoyed that was donated by a Breeder because
she had so many defects and flaws and she couldn't
even be sold for "cheap".

The Guide Dog Service wasn't sure that she could
be trained but her response and alertness was so
well defined, in spite of her 3.5 years of age, they
decided to give it a shot anyway, and she did very
well, but they had a hard time finding a hearing impaired
person who would take the dog in, until I came along.

Her name was Star - and she and I were meant for
each other, and we hit it off the moment we saw each
other, and the Director had never seen anything like it,
in fact, the dog came home on the same day!

After a few weeks of adjustments - well that's what
the Director said, but she was already adjusted in 5
seconds!

She made herself a home, and we were a team! After
several months of progress, she was certified and all
paperwork, ID's, leash, collar, etc were completed.

But Star was different - she went the extra mile.

She seemed to know when I was going to have a seizure
before I did or anyone else did, for example, she knew
when a Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal) was going to happen,
she would push and shove me to the couch, or floor,
or to my bed, whichever was the closest, and curl up
in a ball and stay there and was so protective and would
not let anyone nearby (except family member).

One episode when we were outside, I don't know what
kind of a seizure I had, but witnesses saw it and called
911, and paramedics and cops were there, but they
just couldn't reach me because of Star, she wouldn't
permit them to be near me, since it was daytime, they
went on a manhunt looking for my son (it was in the summer
and school was out), and by the time they got my son they
were able to get the dog out of the way.

But it only resulted more problems (my son was small and
the dog is a workhorse), so the paramedic had an idea, for
my son and the dog to sit there, while they treated me,
and it worked like a charm. Then they transported me to
the hospital where I was admitted for 3 days, and I was
told Star wouldn't eat at all, and all she would do is look
out the window and wait patiently by the door for me and
just whimper.

Once they got my meds lined up, the Hospital called and
said it was time for me to go home and bring the dog - and
Star just went berserk when she saw me in the room, just
so overjoyed, and once we stopped to get my meds, and
headed home --- she ate like a PIG, ate like there was no
Tomorrow!

Star was very short-lived unfortunately - this is why my
son and I cry off and on.

One day, she couldn't get up, I had to carry her to the Vet,
her hips were gone, and they also found other stuff wrong
with her, and the very next day, the Guide Dog Service took
her away from us (it was part of the contract), and we never
got a chance to say "Good Bye", we weren't even allowed to
even keep her as a family pet. We learned later, she passed
away not long afterwards. She died very young.

Nothing can replace Star.

She wasn't a seizure response dog at all, she was a Certified
Hearing Guide Dog that went the extra mile. She only responded
to Tonic Clonic seizures 3 times before anyone knew about it
and to Complex Partials several times and that was it. Psychological?
I don't think so. There was no way she could have known about
me having Epilepsy, she wasn't trained for it - but she knew.

I was supposed to get another Certified Hearing Guide Dog,
unfortunately that Guide Dog place went under and out of business
due to excessive complaints and tactics and other things that I'm
not aware of ... as this was many years ago.

Both my Son and I miss Star very, very much, and yes, tears are
shed when we see her pictures.

Would she be alive today if she was well?

NO - she wouldn't. Her time would have expired years ago, probably
at least 10 years ago tops or more, for a normal dog's lifespan.



I've been putting in for years applications for Hearing Guide Dogs
and Service Dogs, but the hardest thing is ~ being rejected, all
because I'm on SSDI and SSI - and I do not have sufficient income
even though I'm a homeowner!

I've pretty much given up filling out applications now - I cannot
bear to fill out anymore. My Doctors in the past have gotten so
tired of putting in their letters of recommendations, and only for
me to be "rejected" or "denied" due to lack of income.

IT HURTS! Especially when I live alone, so in exchange, I have my
son living here instead and returned to being a landlord and giving
up my own bedroom and sleeping on the floor and giving up my
privacy because of this.

I apologize if this is long.

Wow your story is so moving southie I thank you for sharing it. I am so sorry for your loss, and your loss too JDPhD. It's so sad to lose any loving companion like that.

I have a guide dog named Julio. I got him before I got RSD. He's a yellow labrador. I'm always amazed at how well he adapts to my changing pain status.