CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

If anyone is interested in receiving updates while I'm away at Team Training, I have created a new blog to chronicle my new partnership with my successor service dog Leon:

Life With Leon

New blog post! Things had a pretty darn crazy beginning --the first 24 hours were pretty rough due to issues with my host home (bed bugs, anyone?) and having to relocate temporarily (hopefully) to sleeping on the floor in the trainer's office at CPL. It's not too bad, actually --much better than bed bugs. Ew.

Leon is a sweetheart, though he is testing me a bit to see if I'll let him get away with stuff (since I'm a new person and not his trainer.)

More in my journal entry.

First public outing with the dogs!

New blog post! Things are going well! I will be staying here in the office (and sleeping on the air mattress in the trainer's office) for the remainder of team training --which is fine with me --I don't have to travel to get here!

We had our first outing in public with our dogs --and were joined by other CPL teams in the area as well as the trainers and dogs in training --in all, we had 20 dogs and about 40 people! There are 14 dog/person teams in my team training class. (Yes, they had called ahead and made reservations for a time of day when the restaurant was not busy.)

Hrm. If you're worried about his hips, can you say something to the people who are running the course, so they can get him checked out?

I did mention my concern to his trainer. In his records are his PennHip scores (measure how loose/tight the hips are via x-ray) say his hips are a bit looser than the average for Labs, but are okay. His trainer said that he sits with his legs splayed probably because it is comfortable for him to sit that way.

ok, I'm glad to hear it's not really a concern!

The topic I was really dreading...

Really, REALLY hard day today. It's been over a year since I lost her and I still fall apart when this topic comes up.

Darn Metal Lion!

Class trip to a huge botanical garden called Longwood Gardens

I've been trying to keep up with this as you update. (Just went through last night to make sure I caught all of the posts.) It's good to hear that overall, despite the mishaps here and there, things are going over well.

Thanks, Okami! The encouragement really means a lot to me.

Obedience/Service Skills Practice

We are going to the Philadelphia Zoo tomorrow if anyone in the area would like to come say hi --just look for the big group of people with dogs!

I missed posting the last two blog posts. Sorry about that.

Philadelphia Zoo

Baseball game --Leon's POV

Thanks again for all the encouragement, friends! It really does mean a lot!

Only one more week left of team training! I will be going back home to TX with Leon next week!

New posts!

Lecture/Trip to the Mall

Bath Day

Philly Trip/Certification Test/Wrap-Up

Graduation from team training is tomorrow! I fly home to TX on Monday!

Just became a follower!

We've graduated!!!

Also, funny thing happened tonight:

Oh my gosh, you all are going to laugh at me. I was leaving the kennel building after doing laundry. I had Leon do his business before heading back to the office. I was picking up the poop (with a poop bag) and I noticed a brown something off to the side a little.

I, with my hand inside the bag reached for the brown something.

And felt something cold and smooth --that leaped forward as soon as I touched it.

Of course I screamed in surprise --because, you know, poop isn't normally supposed to move.

It was a toad. A freaking toad. I laughed at myself so much. lol

Sorry for the delay

Had a great first week home except for me not feeling well starting yesterday afternoon and lasting most of the day today.

Glad that things sound like they're settling in and doing so well, Sheena. Leon sounds like an awesome dog, and what a Godsend and blessing it has been to watch as this has unfolded over the past several months - from the many prayers over financial issues to the training itself, and now with you back at home...truly amazing. God is so good. <3

Long, but good day

Thanks, Okami. He is such a blessing. I couldn't imagine life without him now.

Finances could still use prayer --still have to pay to meet with a local trainer for 12 sessions since I live too far away from CPL for grad support classes. Also still need to raise my donation to CPL to "pay" for Leon.

Okay Day

We went to the movies today.

Sheenar (post: 1490841) wrote:Thanks, Okami. He is such a blessing. I couldn't imagine life without him now.

Yeah! Leon seems to be a great fit! I'll continue to be in prayer for your finances and everything~God's handled it all so far, and He'll continue to see you through!

I met a young man with a slightly more advanced Cerebral Palsy than I have this weekend, he had come up to me and my friends with his service dog to show us her new vest. When my best friend told him I also have CP, his face lit up, and we got to talking for a bit...and he laughed as he said that must have been why his dog was taken so fondly to me, that she must sense I have the same thing as him. It was sweet.

Aw, that is so sweet! <3

Progress!

Leon and I still have some rough patches to iron out --as happens in a new partnership. He's still a young dog at 2, so he's got some more maturing to do and we are still learning to work together.

He did do a lot better today with the golf cart at church! Had to be coaxed into getting on, but sat quietly while riding and accepted treats from me. He was in a hurry to get off when we got to my car, though! Some more work on this and time --and he'll be okay in this area.

Glad to see Leon's back to his normal self.

Thank you, Rocklobster!