Two Days From Now

Two days from now she will leave my arms, with a swish of her tail she will trot away.

For sixteen months I've loved her and help shape her, into the dog I hoped she'd become.

Now, it's she her turn to decide where her life's path will lead.

But this I know, Two Days From Now my heart will ache yet my hope resides;
resides in a place that may come in the future-
where a new friend I'll meet with their welcoming smile
as Francie leaves me once more, to go to them - the goal all along.


April 2009 Francie's arrival Aug 2010 - tired after play

Francie Through the Months

A rainy January. Us at the dog park.

Age 11 months (10 months in, 7 to go)

When Linda and I picked up Francie II from CCI in April of last year (we're co-raising this puppy together; sharing all the joys and trials) we started taking photos each month to capture her development and how quickly she's changed, as she's grown. This month was tricky with our schedules plus with the winter rains that San Diego has been blessed with, it was tricky finding a time between storms to get the January shot. We ended up taking the picture at our dog park rather than the usual spot we had been using.

But at last, here it is above - Francie at age 11 months; next month she'll turn 1 year old. We keep in touch with some of her siblings. We learned Flower was released from Program in the North Central (Ohio) Region for excessive fear. Poor dear, she has selected another career and will find the right home for herself I'm confident.

Two pups Francie's age that are in her training class, have come into season (pups Garden and America). But each female is different just as in humans. Yet Lyn and I will keep a watch. The females are boarded at CCI's campus for 3 weeks while in heat to avoid accidentally matings.

I received my postcard this week, in the mail announcing Feb 20 as the next CCI graduation (see http://www.cci.org/site/c.cdKGIRNqEmG/b.4011071/k.A894/Southwest_Region.htm) and May's date as well. That means the next postcard I receive will be for Francie's turn-in, in August. Oh my. I don't want to even think about that yet as I just know this year will fly by.

To see the changes in her since we picked her up at 8 weeks here she is in April, June, Aug, Oct. of last year.

8 weeks old and 4 months

6 months and 8 months

Our girl at Puppy Social 2 weeks ago.

Play time, so she's stopping just long enough from running for me to take this shot...

I have been associated with and volunteering for Canine Companions for Independence since 1996. And like many of it's volunteers, most of the time I feel I get far more back, then what I give - the friends I have made, the love from the pups I receive and witnessing the miracles the partnerships create!

Some years back CCI began an annual tradition of recognizing volunteers by having a party in January. Today those that could, met at the SW Regional Center in Oceanside and were spoiled by the CCI staff. They served us wonderful pasta, a garden salad and cake. Trophies were awarded to volunteers that routinely go over and above in their efforts. There was a raffle with great prizes, and fun games to play.

Today's theme was the Olympics. The staff came in carrying American flags to the Olympic theme song. One of the trainers was dressed in drag as an ice dancer. It was a fun afternoon.

me with Francie

Here are some shots I took from today and a few fun videos of one of our doggy games: Doggy Down. It's like musical chairs but when the music stops the PR commands their pup "down". The slowest pup to respond drops out until the champion is the last dog "laying" so to speak.

Francie did okay and made it to about the top 5 out of 10 for her age group (7 - 12 months old).

The staff arrives in a procession with American flags.

Gloria with new arrival she is fostering - "Harrison"

The first one is of the graduate teams playing the game. Daniel is a good sport when Cinnamon is too distracted with Francie being right there, to promptly do his down.

In this second video it's a crack up because the one dog has his butt in the air and is too busy trying to rub off his halti. Too funny! (this is puppies aged 13 - 18 months)

This third video is sweet as service dog Marissa hears to the command but just doesn't execute it fast enough...

So great seeing all the new babies; here's Davi with a fluff muffin.

Love seeing the new babies that have arrived at campus...

Welcome Home New Vets

Sometimes I want to blog about something that happened, and well I just don't get to the computer for awhile. So it goes in this case, as it went with yesterday's post.

Back in August I experienced some things I'll share here;

days filled with appreciation and wonder.

I volunteered at the CCI booth for "Welcome Home New Vets" at the local VA Hospital.

This was a privilege. An information fair was put on to help returning injured veterans know what resources are available for them. The hallways were filled with vendors promoting what they offered that could help with various injuries.

I worked the booth with Jim and two pups in training, which are always a natural draw for folks.

CCI launched an initiative last summer to actively outreach to military veterans so that they know the benefits that a trained service dog can provide them. See this link here: http://www.cci.org/site/c.cdKGIRNqEmG/b.4011033/k.D44E/Veterans.htm

I’m used to volunteering to work CCI booths when most of the questions are about donating time or money or answering questions about puppy raising. This booth duty was different. As it was quite sobering to meet these young men; men that have given so much for the benefit of others; soldiers working for freedom in the world. What was so remarkable was seeing these young men with their various disabilities just going about getting on with their lives.

I saw a dad in a wheel chair with his wife and two little kids, one wanting to climb up on his lap to "ride" as he had just parked his wheel chair van and was wheeling into the hospital from the parking lot as I came out to toilet one of the training pups. I thanked him for his contribution. (I have stopped using the word “sacrifice” when thanking veterans I see now). For I realize most don’t consider it a sacrifice. They truly consider it a service to their country. It makes me so proud, so honored to live in America.

As an additional note ~ ~
On Saturday 8/22 CCI had their largest graduation ceremony to date with 23 people/dog teams (two classes- June and August) graduating. Normally there are 4 classes, one each quarter, so this was awesome to see so many new teams going out into a new world - a world filled MORE independence, thanks to four paws trotting along side of them. Three of the graduating teams were Iraq veterans – they all received standing ovations.

It was very moving.

Change of the Hound Ceremony (Navy Style!)

Thursday, April 23, 2009
What a fun day at the DDDC (Defense Distribution Depot San Diego, California )where my friend and fellow puppy-raiser Jim, works. {see this link on the DDDC, if interested -interesting Naval history: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/san-diego-navsta.htm }

Since Jim is turning-in Napal back to Canine Companions for Advance Training, and he now has little Tatiana as his 4th CCI service pup in training, they had a “passing of the torch” so to speak.
As a civilian employee Jim oversees logistics for the U.S. Navy and in true Naval style they had a “Changing of the Hound” modeled completely after the Navy’s Change of Command.

Change of Command is a brief formal ceremony whereby one Commanding officer steps down and another assumes command of a particular ship or station. In this situation the order was read to “relieve Napal II of his dog duties at DDDC and to report to CCI in Oceanside, CA on May 16, 2009. Whereby Tatiana II is now installed as the new hound in command”. Even the Captain, in full uniform read Napal’s “orders” and Napal’s resume from his experience as chief hound at DDDC. It was all very regal and Jim did a neat job modeling the ceremony in every detail. Napal even picked up the flag draped bone to pass to Tatiana ceremoniously.

I briefly spoke about CCI and the significant contribution facilities/employers such as the DDDC play by permitting pups in training to be on premises, to learn how to behave in public.

It was a neat ceremony and celebration and even Terrence’s Breeder/Caretakers Gayle and Greg came down, all the way from Napa! And they brought K9 Terrence (Napal and Tatiana’s dad). Also, Jim’s first CCI pup Gigi (gorgeous golden) came with her new dad. And several of us puppy raisers were there to lend support with our pups in training. We had a yummy lunch with franks and beans and the dogs then had a good chase and romp around the large room.

See the photos and video clip here.









The blonde dog here is a puppy that knows and obviously LOVES Jim and then his Gigi too comes up to love him. The second video is Francie ripping it up with breeder male; Terrence.

Francie Fantastic

Are you a Francie Fan?

You may just be after you see this new service puppy that Lyn and I will be raising for Canine Companions for Independence for the next 16 months. She is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E as only a golden retriever/black lab pup could be! Hard to fathom that something so tiny and uncoordinated will grow into a well-mannered companion, helping someone live a life more fully.

There are also some photos of her sister Fay whom she travelled with, down from CCI National located in Santa Rosa, CA. Fay's puppy raiser parents are in Murrietta so the sisters will get to see each other from time to time.

Here's Kerry, my release COC (change of career) girl with her new little sister.

Lyn kept Francie for her first night and will keep her through Tuesday. I will then take over for the following four days. We'll alternate and also swap around as our calendars require. Francie will benefit from exposure to two home environment and twice the love!

Francie is generally quiet and settles right down in her crate for nap times. She pretty much eats all her kibble leaving just a few nuggets at each meal.

She LOVES her two big sisters (my Kerry III, age 7) and her "sis" Aunt Ronie (age 3.5) at Lyn's home. Franice's favorite toy is a squeaky stuffed green bone that has fuzzy on one end. She also adores a long purple snake! She just loves to "attack" these. She is favoring carrying her leash and we will naturally discourage this. But what a face! I just adore her and am so happy to again be raising another pup for CCI. It will be a fun journey and Lyn and I will enjoy sharing it.

Here is a darling video of Francie playing in her CCI playpen after arriving in Oceanside at the SW regional campus. Welcome little Francie, we love you already and know your "Francie Fans" will grow in number as people fall for you!

CCI Graduation Day

A quick post to my blog before this Saturday takes me off and running. The storms are taking a brief break before they say the biggest rain storm is yet to come today- with possible thunder. My!
I hope it holds off for the doggie graduation today. I'll take my neighbor Jan with me for her first time, up to the Mission for Canine Companions' graduation of the February's class today. Maybe seeing all the partnerships will change her mind back to wanting to raise a pup with me come April.
It will be great to see so many friends and I love seeing the miracle in progress of these teams heading out into the world; the dogs assisting the new graducates to provide them a more independent life. I'll try to post a few photos here later.