Let the Countdown Begin!

My friend Deb recently lost her hearing dog to cancer. It was a shock and a great loss. A loss for Deb who depended on Merril to alert her to everything from timers for baking her famous cookies, to letting her know one of her neighbours was at the door.  Merril's loss was also felt in the neighbourhood by people who came to know and love her.  Still, Deb needs a new dog, and she just got "The News".  A new dog is in the wings! 

Congratulations, Deb!  We all miss Merril, but we're all so happy that you're going to be getting a new dog!  Whee!

At the Church. Yet Again.

Christmas Eve. The place is packed. Bosley is safely under the pew ahead of me, and I have his leash attached to a hook on the back of the pew ahead of me.  All is well throughout the entire service. Until the very end..... when he or his pew mate Red (also under the pew) let rip. 

Talk about clearing out a church ... or at least clearing out the immediate area.  PEW indeed.

Depression and the Dog

I am currenly rather severely depressed.  It is amazing how the dog picks up on that  and acts accordingly.  He is always an affectionate dog, but he is currently going out of his way to lick my hand, nudge my hip with his head, or cuddle up beside me.  Dogs are wonderful creatures, and a helluva lot more dependable than people are.

As for Christmas -- Ho Ho Har-dee-Ho.

Church Fun Again

Bosley and I were at the Longest Night service at the church.  The dog was sleeping under the pew, and all was well.  As Bosley is approaching 7 years of age (in May) I no longer hold onto the leash as religiously as I used to. Big mistake.  I looked at my feet and no dog.  Looked in the middle of the aisle, and there was the dog, curled up fast asleep.  I hissed at him to get back beside me under the pew.  He made a few grumbling sounds but complied.

Later on, we all got up to light a candle for those who had departed this life.  I got up and turned to make sure my friend Laura and her canine vision dog were okay and if Laura needed any help.  Turned around to pick up Bosley's leash.  No Bosley. Looked around.  He was already in line, waiting his turn, presumably to light his own candle.  I hissed his name again, and he looked over his shoulder as if to say, "Yeah? What?  You're so slow!"  People caught his leash and handed him down the line to me.

There is never a dull moment with these wonderful dogs.

Lecturing at Georgian College in Orillia

What a neat class!  A group of DSWs who wanted to know about hearing loss and hearing ear dogs, as well as vision loss and canine vision dogs.  Laura, Red, Bosley and I had a grand old time talking about dogs and accessibility and plain old common sense.  I think the class enjoyed our anecdotes more than talking about dry-bones accessibility and hearing/vision loss.

The dogs had a ball.  We took off harness and vest, and gave them the run of the room.  As you can imagine, both dogs were a hit.

The Process of Getting a Second Dog

First of all, Bosley is still with me, and I'm not shopping around for another dog.  My friend in Nova Scotia is, however.  She lost her beautiful Merril to cancer a couple of months ago and needs another dog in her life.  As you can imagine, I'm watching her go through the process with interest.

It was heartening to hear that my friend didn't have to go to the bottom of the waiting list again.  The wait for a first dog can be quite long. Fortunately, because she is already in "the system" when she received Merril, she gets bumped up the list as a priority.  Still, she did have to fill in another questionnaire, and still has to have an interview and a home inspection.  Good things to know.

Doggy Boots One More Time?

Our winters can get quite cold.  Fortunately, these cold snaps only last a week or so, but during those cold weeks, the temperature can drop to a nippy minus 30 with a minus 40 windchill.  Bosley does not like winter boots. I've tried them a number of times. Each time I give in and let him go barefoot... but during those few weeks in the winter when the mercury drops into the deeps, I get worried. The poor dog goes out to do his business, then frequently comes back holding first one paw, then another paw, up in the air. 

I think this year, I will persevere, and the dog is just going to have to get used to footwear.  Wish me luck.

A Canine Vision Dog Named Red

Bosley has a new girlfriend. A canine vision dog named Red.  Red is a sassy little thing who just turned two. Every time they meet in church, Red greets Bosley enthusiastically and proceeds to wash Bosley's ears.  Bosley submits to this and seems okay with it.  Then they both settle down and sleep throughout the rest of the service. 

Red's handler and I have started noticing however, that Red is starting to emulate Bosley's actions.  When a sound occurs and Bosley alerts me, she's obviously noticed, because she is now starting to alert Laura to sounds, even though Laura's hearing is fine.  Also, Bosley is "bilingual", in that he was taught commands in spoken English and in sign language.  I signed to Bosley to sit, and both he and Red sat at the same time.  What the ....  I told Laura about this, and she tried it on her own dog. Sure enough, Red sat at the signed command. 
 

Good girl, Merril. Rest now.

Merril was a hearing ear dog partnered with my friend Deb. Merril developed a particularly virulent form of cancer and was put to sleep yesterday. She was a beautiful standard poodle (black) that leaped like a gazelle. She and Deb graduated in the same class as Bosley and I did. In fact Deb and I met at Dog Guides when we went to be teamed up with our dogs and to learn how to use them.

Didn't really hit me until I took Bosley out for a run this morning, then remembered how they used to run together. She was so graceful, and my lump looks like a Mack truck in comparison. I watched Bosley running around like a maniac this morning, remembered Merril and burst into tears. What a loss.

Merril, you were with us a very short time, and in that time you served your momma well.  Rest now, girl.

Bosley won a dog bed!

PoochPlanet had a contest on Facebook recently.  All we had to do was write and tell why we thought our dogs deserved a PoochPlanet bed.  Our entry included the facts that Bosley was a service dog and when I first got him from Dog Guides, he had swollen elbows from having to lie on the cement floors of the kennels.  His elbows looked like tennis balls.  Dog Guides and Bosley's own vet assured me that his elbows would reduce in size, providing I made sure he always had a blanket to lie on, which I have done for him.  He has a blanket under my desk at the office, a blanket in the back of the car, and a blanket at home in his crate.

His elbows took a couple of months to get back to normal size, but I've always been hyper vigilant, hoping he never had to go through that again.

Well, Bosley won a PoochPlanet dog bed!  I can hardly wait to receive shipment of it.

Hats off to PoochPlanet!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PoochPlanet-products/109525162411523
Here is their Facebook page.

When I'm Preaching ...

Bosley is mellowing. I officiated at the Sunday service at St. Paul's United Church this past Sunday. While I took the dog up with me, I also anchored his leash to a chair leg.  He could have easily dragged the chair along had he desired, but he did not.  Not only that, but he laid down and stayed down for most of the service, only getting up once to turn over.  I have to give him credit for staying put, because in the past, he has been known to get up, yawn audibly and walk away whenever I am giving a speech and he is at my feet, the bugger. 

Bosley had a big distraction up in church too.  Laura's dog Red was also in the sanctuary, while Laura was reading the Epistle.  It was all Red could do not to run clean across the front of the church and engage her dear friend Bosley in play!  But she stayed beside Laura. Good girl, Red!

Follow Up to Last Post

Well, the ongoing saga of insanity continues.  The same guy starts yapping at me in the elevator a couple of days ago. To the point where I got off the elevator on the main floor and started to cry.  In one short elevator ride, I got hollered at yet again.  He accused me of letting the dog crap all around his car (which is pure bollocks) and yadda yadda yadda.   The superintendent was on the main floor and saw me and then immediately went and confronted the guy in the parking lot. I took a few deep breaths, tried to calm down from being screamed at yet again, and went to work feeling definitely rattled.

Came back home, and wrote an e-mail to the owners of the building outlining that I felt threatened and that I was moving. End of story.  I've been phoning places all weekend, asking around and getting friends involved, as well as a local housing company.

The super came to me tonight to tell me that this nutjob doesn't believe I'm deaf/hard of hearing or "hearing impaired".  He's also pissed that the dog doesn't wear his vest in the hallways.  The super explained to him that the dog is "at home" and thus doesn't have to wear his vest in the hallways.  She explained to him that the dog poops far away from the building and the cars, and that she and I negotiated this before I even moved in.  She also showed me a copy of a newspaper article on Bosley she was going to give him and his daughters, and even an old copy of "Vibes" in which Bosley was featured. Heck, the dog is on the front cover of that magazine!

All I care is that this crazy man stops hollering at me and harassing me. And yes, I'm still moving. I've had it.

I guess I should go out and get a t-shirt made that says, "Contrary to your opinion, I *AM* deaf. What's *YOUR* excuse?"

Sheesh.  (Insert expletive of choice here).

Just When You Think it is Safe to Get Back in the Water ...

Discrimination is an ugly word.  But then so is discrimination itself.  As a person with a severe hearing loss and a hearing ear dog to assist me for the past four plus years, the discrimination we face tends to get further apart, but then every so often, discrimination rears its ugly head yet again.  A couple of recent examples.

In the apartment building where I live, there is a man in his mid-30s.  He suddenly turned and started hollering six inches away from my face about the dog and how it shouldn't off leash.  As the dog was in an enclosed area and doing his business, far away from the apartment complex, with full permission from the superintendent, it took me aback.  Startled, I backed up. He came right up and kept hollering in my face.  Before I could react (actually, I was too stunned to react), he abruptly turned and beetled off for his car.  I led the superintendent know that I felt threatened.  Yes, threatened. I'm now actively looking for another place to live.  Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident for those of us who have service dogs.

Another recent incident took place in a restaurant in Newmarket.  I was with four co-workers. We wanted to go out for lunch. Simple enough, right?  My four co-workers were taken to a table. I was stopped at the door with the dog.  I explained I was with the group. Didn't matter.  I mentioned that the dog is a service dog. I was told to wait at the door. 

While the waiter went to ask someone with more authority, I went and sat down with my co-workers.  With that, the waiter came back and told me I had to leave.  No dogs allowed. I explained the dog was a service dog. The response to that was negative. I explained about the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the fines that could be levied on the business.  The waiter then went back and reported this to his manager.  All is now all right. Right? Wrong.

My four co-workers and I quickly realized that people who had come in after us had their orders taken, then had their food served.  We, in the meantime, were sitting at our table being totally ignored.   My co-workers were embarrassed and flabbergasted.  Exclaiming that they had never seen the like. I assured them that it was fairly common.  Sigh. 

I beckoned over the waiter.  He came back. I asked him to get his manager for me.  He said he would.  The manager came over.  He started to tell me that no dogs were allowed.  It was then that I went into the Food Services Act, the exemptions in the Food Services Act for service dogs, the Ontario Human Rights Codes, the fines for failing to accommodate, and the possible law suit that would ensue after I took him to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.    All said politely, quietly, but firmly.

The waiter came back, armed with menus.  Orders were taken. Lunches served.  Glares were stabbed at our table by various wait staff.  My co-workers were visibly upset.  I then had to calm them down, letting them know that everything was fine now.

Educating people around one is common when one has a service dog.  In this case, I had to educate the wait staff, the manager/owner, and indeed even my co-workers, who didn't realize until they saw it first hand that discrimination is alive and well and determined to keep me from my lunch.  Fortunately, I can stand up for myself.  But what about those who cannot?

Bosley, in the meantime, was snugged beneath the table.  Better behaved than most people's kids, I might add.

Orillia's Third Annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides

PURINA WALK FOR DOG GUIDES

Orillia's Purina Walk for Dog Guides is on May 29, 2011. Tudhope Memorial Park at the corner of Highway 12 South and Atherley is where you will find the walk. Registration is open at 10, and the walk itself starts at 11 a.m.

Garfield Dunlop (MPP, Simcoe North) and Bruce Stanton, fresh from his re-election (MP, Simcoe North) will be there to cut the ribbon. Sunshine Radio 89.1 will be emceeing the event.  Doggy bags containing goodies will be handed out.

Keep in mind that Dog Guiides is not government funded and that all the monies raised during the walks go directly to funding the dogs for people who need them.

Happy Sixth Birthday, Bosley!

Bosley is now six. I guess that means I need to take the "Young" out of the "Young Yellow Lab" on the masthead. Bosley is now middle-aged. He's still got a spring in his step and he still acts like a puppy, but he's also settling down more. This past year has seen the deaths of two service dogs of friends of mine. Just a ghost of a chill runs over me when I look at Bosley when I think of those two dogs who have so recently passed. I'm also reminded of a friend's dog who is 7 and has diabetes.

The fact of life is that these dogs work hard. They give their all, and then they get old. A depressing thought to be sure, at 5:30 on a Saturday morning. Sigh. Think I'll go make myself a coffee, and try to think of something else.

Bosley is an Honourary Quota Member

I think this might be a first. Bosley was just made an honourary member of Quota International. Orillia. They even gave him a delightful blue bandana with the Quota logo embroidered on it! I'll see if I can get pictures.

Purina Walk for Dog Guides in Orillia - May 29, 2011

Please consider sponsoring Bosley and I at the annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides. Our walk will take place in Orillia on May 29, 2011. Registration is at 10 a.m. The walk starts at 11 a.m., and will be opened by Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. Our personal web page can be found at
http://www.purinawalkfordogguides.com/personalPage.cfm?ID=6533

Emergency Situation

We had an emergency situation last night. My brother fell yet again. The third time in as many weeks. He couldn't get up either. Again. This time though, instead of falling outside and having people hear him call for help, he fell in his bedroom trying to get into bed. He called for me, but of course, I didn't hear him. But Bosley did.

Sure enough, Mick called my name, and the dog immediately came to me and walloped the daylights out of me with his paw. Instead of his usual happy face, the dog looked upset. He ran back and forth to Mick's room. I followed. There was Mick on the floor.

Smart dog. Mick could have lain there all night if he had depended on me to find him, as I don't go into his room, and I didn't hear him holler. This is one of the many reasons why a hearing dog is worth its weight in gold.

Airport Security

Bosley and I have been on a couple of different airlines recently. Both go out of their way to accommodate Bosley, which is a good thing. The airport security, however, is a mixed bag. I met a couple of security people who practically screeched when they saw the dog, exclaiming that "OH! I DON'T LIKE DOGS!" Good grief. I actually had one security person take a quick side step to avoid coming near him. This happened at Pearson Airport, by the way. Airport Security people at the Thunder Bay airport were a bit more relaxed, but then they had their own weird way of doing things.

The first time Bosley and I went through Thunder Bay security, the security people asked me to remove Bosley's vest. Wha ... I'm pretty sure that is not allowed, but I'm not about to annoy them and risk getting my very own full body cavity search for my audacity, so I took Bosley's vest off. Of course, Bosley thought that meant he was off duty and acted, well, like a dog. A happy dog. He began greeting everybody in sight, up to and including nosing the male security guy right in the .. um .. family jewels, for lack of a better word.

As soon as they gave me permission, I put Bosley's vest back on him, and then gently explained that they might want to check with their boss about taking Bosley's vest off in future.

The second time I had to go through Thunder Bay security, they were a lot more relaxed with him, and left his vest on this time. They did wand him though, which is fine by me.

I really do need to find out if they can make me take his vest off. It just doesn't seem right somehow. But as I mentioned before, I'm not going to argue for my "rights" with somebody who can demand a strip search!!!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy fourth anniversary to Debbie and Merril, and to Bosley and me. Deb and I were introduced to our dogs four years ago. Deb, Merril, Bosley and I make great teams, and both Deb and I are grateful for the wonderful dogs in our lives. The worth of these dogs is incalculable.

Travelling with a Service Dog, #836

I have discovered the travel agency. Why I haven't used one before, I simply do not know. The last time I made arrangements with a Certain Airline, it took me two solid days of phone calls to get them to book the dog onto the plane. Yes, two solid DAYS of phone calls, while the woman at the other end kept having to check things out with her supervisor. Gads.

This time around, I got a little wiser. Phoned up the travel agency that my workplace deals with. When I let them know where I wanted to go and when, I hesitated and then Dropped the Tid-bit of Interest. "By the way, I have a service dog."

"No problem", sez the lady at the travel agency. And it wasn't!

She sent me my tickets via email, and low and behold - the dog is noted on the ticket. No hassles. No problems. No two solid days of phone calls.

Knock me over with a feather.

Davey, Canine Vision Dog

It is with sadness that I share with you the passing of a wonderful canine vision dog, named Davey.  He was a lovely old soul who was partnered with Laura.  Davey had liver cancer.  As befitting a dog who gave his all to his handler, he died peacefully in her arms today.  Good dog, Davey.

GOOD DOG!

Over the weekend, Bosley alerted me to a sound.  I then followed him to see what he was alerting me to.  He took me to the kitchen wall, then back to the treats.  Huh?  There was nothing at the kitchen wall. Not a thing. So I ignored him. No treat.  A very short time later, same thing.  He hit me with his paw, led me to the kitchen wall, and there was nothing there.

This is unusual for a more experienced service dog.  The newer ones will try to cadge a bonus treat this way, but they soon realise it doesn't work when they don't get the payout, which is a treat.

Bosley then alerted me to the phone, which was ringing, so he got a treat for alerting me to that.  It was while I was on the phone itself, which is an amplified one so that I can hear, that I heard a buzz, because the phone amplifies extraneous noise as well as the person on the other end of the line.  At the same time, the dog immediately got up and hit me on the knee, letting me know that the buzz had rung.   That was also when I realized what the buzz was.  Somebody was stuck in the elevator and was ringing the alarm bell.  The elevator is on the other side of the kitchen wall.

We got  the person out safely, and the elevator maintenance service was called.

GOOD DOG!

Back to School. . . . For Both of Us

Bosley has developed a couple of lazy habits and so have I. So, as soon as my back and hip stop aching from my fall this morning (another story), he and I are going to review Basic Training.  This happens occasionally with all teams, and is easy to rectify.  Just means we  both have to get back to basics.  We both have to review what is expected, and get back on the right track. Specifically, I have to get back to being more consistent, so that Bosley knows what to do.  Mea culpa. Absolvo me.

HUP HOOP HREEP HORP!

November Vet Visit and Grooming Costs

Sometime this month, Bosley is going for his semi-annual vet visit.  All dogs from Dog Guides are required to see the vet twice a year, at minimum.  More if they need to, because of illness.  The vet will check him over, poke him, prod him, give him his shots if they are due (I think they are), and then fill out a form to fax to Dog Guides.  I'm assuming this is to make sure that we are looking after our dogs properly.  I like the idea, as it makes sure that dog handlers who are not looking after their dogs are caught, and the dog is then recalled.  Mind you, these visits aren't cheap.  They usually run me around $250 to $350, depending on what needs to be done.  I mention this, in case anyone reading this is considering getting a service dog.  They have many MANY benefits.  They can also be costly to maintain.

I clip Bosley's nails myself, clean his ears, and give him his baths.  But twice a year (or sometimes more) I take him to the doggie wash and get him done by a professional.  He comes out smelling like a rose.  His nails are clipped, his ears are cleaned, and he dances out of the visit with a snazzy new bandana.  This past week, we were back at the Doggie Wash in Barrie, and the bandana Bosley came out with had Christmas lights on it. Kinda rushing the season, but hey.  These washes at Doggie Wash cost about $35, because I get a discount, so he doesn't get done a lot, just a couple of times a year.

What I have noticed is that groomers can charge anywhere from $35 to $80 (ouch) for a grooming.  The last one was by a professional master groomer who regularly grooms show dogs for showing. Liked the guy a lot, but can't afford his prices.  If Bosley were a poodle, I'd be learning really fast how to do a basic poodle cut, because that can get expensive.  I understand that the poodles need to be clipped every six weeks or so.  I could see me not clipping them during the winter, but in the summer, I'd be wanting to shave the poor things bald!

All things to consider if you're thinking of obtaining one of these wonderful dogs.  Which reminds me -- I'd better find a copy of the form for the vet to fill in!

Prozac for Dogs?

Saw a special on CBC last night, called "Pet Pharm". It was all about putting dogs on Prozac.  Hadn't a clue that could be done.   It led me to thinking about the pros and cons of having a dog on a mood-altering drug.  I'm not totally convinced that they are necessary 100% of the time.

I'm not one who dresses up my dog. For starters, I'm not allowed to, although I do know people with service dogs who dress them up any chance they get.  I do occasionally put a hat on him long enough to snap a picture, for Hallowe'en, say, but that's about it.  He's a dog with a job and his uniform looks snazzy enough.

Back to those dogs on Prozac.  I'm still not convinced, although I'm sure SOME dogs need it, I'm equally sure that people are just looking for a quick fix so that their dog behaves less like a dog and more like a mini, four-legged human.

Heh. I bet I get a couple of snotty responses from this particular post!  Guess I've always been lucky in that my dogs have been well adjusted.  That, and sending them consistent messages  that don't assist in messing up their doggy minds.

Good Dog!

Bosley and I staffed a booth for ViCARS (North Simcoe Victim Crisis Services) http://www.nsvcs.on.ca/  on Saturday for a couple of hours. Right next to a booth complete with therapy dogs!  Those two dogs were  the centre of attention.  I put Bosley behind the booth and gave him the down command.  Down he went and stayed there the entire time.  Mum so proud!  The two therapy dogs tried to get his attention, but Bosley held his own. YAY!

Smart Dog! (Or, "My dog is NOT spoiled, part 2")

Normally, a hearing ear dog needs time to latch onto a sound, especially a new one.   For example, a timer needs to ring for at least 10 or 15 seconds, or even a little longer. It gives the dog time to wake up, recognize the sound, figure out where it is coming from, and then alert me to the sound.  Once the dog learns where the sound is coming from and what the sound means, this identification of the sound and whereabouts becomes faster and faster.  However, for the first couple of times with a new sound, the time lag can be longer.  That's normal.

I keep forgetting my toast.  Fortunately, it pops up.  Unfortunately, because I forget it, it cools down. I'm left with rock-solid, cold toast every time.  Until recently.

The dog gets the end bit of my toast. That final corner.  He likes toast. So much so, that now when the toaster pops, he tells me.  The first couple of times, I couldn't figure out why he dragged me into the kitchen.  The timer hadn't been set for anything.  But he persevered with my training.  He went over to the toaster, and pointed with his nose.  The ah-ha moment for ME came right after.

Now whenever I put in my toast, I am confident that I will have a nice, hot piece of toast.  Bosley makes sure of that.

Where is Mum? Oh, I know!

Waiting outside the bathroom door ...

... and waiting ....

Heh!  Bosley is trained to follow me wherever I go. He was not taught the "stay" command for that reason.  This is one of the many differences in training between canine vision and hearing ear dogs.  Canine vision dogs are taught "stay" and it is a used quite a bit.  Bosley has to follow me. It makes sense, otherwise how can he break the "stay" command if all of a sudden the fire alarm rings?  He has to be near me to alert me.

Which is all well and good. But every so often there is a funny/embarassing side to it.  If I'm in the bathroom at work, I'll open the door, and there is the dog. 

So everybody at the office knows where I am and what I'm doing!

... and waiting ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible Moving Woes

I'm a worry-wart. I admit it.  But I'm going to worry anyway, so may as well worry online and share my worries with others. LOL

I'm tired of living in an apartment.  It is a smallish apartment, but even if it was a big one, it is still an apartment.  In the apartment I rented in Etobicoke (which was huge), there was a beautiful, fenced-in area, that I could let Bosley run in.  Here,  I have a fenced-in area, but it partially consists of bush, complete with wild animals, so I can't let him run as freely as he would like (or as I would like him to, for that matter).

We have also had the occasional complaint of noise.  My brother and I are both severely hard of hearing, and we can't monitor our voice levels, or how loudly we shut the cupboards or the doors.  To us, our "living sounds" are normal. To hearing people, we stomp, yell, and slam things.

Just once, I'd like to live in a place where I am not self-conscious about how I walk, talk, or close cupboards.  I'd like to not worry if the dog starts to act like a dog and chases his tail, thus making noise on the floor. Sometimes as a reward for alerting me to sound, I give him one of his stuffies to play with.  He likes to pounce, which makes noise as well.   As for that 10 p.m. pee break before bedtime, I'd like to be able to stand at the back door, braless, in a ratty old tee and cut off shorts, and let the dog run out, do his business, and run back in again.  As it is now, I have to dress up to take him out.

I want a house.  Can't afford to buy one on my salary (I work in social services, dontcha know), and my brother is on ODSP, so he's even worse off than I am.  I can rent a house, but then I have to go through the hassle of convincing people that Bosley is a service dog, not a pet, and yes, he's big, but he won't destroy the property, etc., etc.  It was so stressful the first time I tried to move into the area, that I was on the verge of tears looking for a place.  Even got rejected in Midland and Penetanguishene, and at first rejected where I'm currently living, but then the owner of the building let the superintendent know that she had to let the dog (and thus me) into the building.

I don't want to go through the stress of rejection again, while looking for a place to live.  But I really do need to move. Just so I can be loud and not worry about it. LOL

Anybody know of a cheap and cheerful house in the Orillia/Ramara/Oro-Medonte/Washago//Waubaushene/Tay area? Two bedrooms? Fenced-in yard?  For a hard of hearing person with a big but loveable dog who is a service dog???

Dog Days of Summer

Man, it is hot, and of course, the dog is wearing a fur coat.  I've been leaving him at home instead of taking him out with me the last few days I've been out.  Figured it was too hot for him to wear his vest.  I need the dog with me, but I don't want him dying of heat stroke on me either.  With the humidity, it feels like 41C the last couple of days. That's about 106 F for my American friends.  Fortunately, it cools off in the evenings to something more bearable.  Fortunately, we live near no less than three lakes. Two biggish ones, and one smaller one.  If necessary, we can go for a dip together!

Hooray for Doggie Wash Express

We don't often find places that give a discount to handlers with service dogs, but when we do, we'll let you know.  Here is one now.   Doggie Wash Express on Cedar Pointe Drive in Barrie, ON.  They give a 15% discount.  Two paws up!

Goodnight, Lobo

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Lobo, a hearing ear dog of a friend of mine.  Lobo was totally devoted to his handler, Fred, and to his family.

Your vest has been hung up with honours, Lobo. Rest now.  Good boy.

Travels to Nova Scotia

Cape Forchu Lighthouse, Yarmouth

Well, my brother (Mick), Bosley and I dropped the cat off at a local kitty hotel, and off we went to Nova Scotia. We had an absolutely delightful time!

In terms of accessibility and accommodation, I have to admit, it was pretty uneventful.  Bosley was accepted at the various hotel/motels where we stayed.

Oddly enough, the only two times we had a bit of a "situation" was in Edmunston, New Brunswick. On the way down to Nova Scotia, we stopped at Edmunston and I walked into a hotel with Bosley in his vest. The manager was at the desk and immediately talked over his receptionst, telling me "No room. We're all booked up." His receptionist looked startled, but didn't say anything. Of course, it looked suspicious enough to me, but I didn't have the energy to delve any deeper. So, I went up the street to another place that welcomed us with open arms.

Coming back from Nova Scotia, we again stopped in Edmunston, and we found a motel for the night. No problem. But when we went to go into the restaurant attached to the motel, I was told to get the dog out. By the manager. Before I could speak, one of the waitresses let him know that the dog was some sort of service dog and so he reluctantly let us in.

Later on, the manager's wife came over and wanted to know what was "wrong" with me that I needed a service dog. She went so far as to tell me she saw me drive up in the car! I smiled at her and let her know she should not ask what was "wrong with me", but instead she could ask what the dog does for me. She was a bit flustered, but once I told her what Bosley did for me, she was much more amenable to having a dog on the premises.

Later on, I realized I was citing Ontario law (the Ontario Human Rights Code). There might be other rules pertaining to what restaurant owners/managers can ask us about our service dogs in other provinces! Oops. I might want to "bone up" on the laws of other provinces before venturing out again!

Anyway -- Bosley had his paws in the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait, and various beaches in the south-west corner of Nova Scotia. Together, the three of us (brother, dog and I) went into various museums, forts, stores, restaurants and whatnot, without a problem. People either knew he was a service dog, or had enough presence of mind to ask. Two paws up for Nova Scotia!

Bosley also had a brief visit with Merril and Charlie. Two dogs belonging to some delightful friends. The visit was all too brief, but consisted of quality time and a darned good visit. Even the dogs finally tired themselves out!

One funny incident. Mick (brother) and I noticed that quite a few trees had moss growing on them in the southwestern part of Nova Scotia. Not the usual moss on the trunk, but hanging moss that hung from the branches. I'd never seen that before.

Mick and I were commenting on the moss, and on the pool ahead of us that looked rather spooky. Between the dark clouds, the hanging moss and the creepiness of the pool, we started spooking ourselves silly by talking about ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils with glowing red eyes, sea monsters and the creature from the black lagoon. Whereupon Bosley put his head up between us during a lull in conversation and GROWLED! Scared the crap right out of us! Have no idea what he growled at, so we laid rubber getting out of there! Darned dog.

Bosley being a good boy (as usual)

Hartland Covered Bridge (N.B.)

Savary Beach, close to Digby

East Sable Island

Nominated for a Web Award

Let's keep our fingers crossed. We have a nomination for a web blog award. 

My Dog is NOT Spoiled

Here in Orillia, my dog gets a little doggie treat whenever we go to pick up our prescription meds at the pharmacy counter.  Bosley has gotten to expect these treats, and the pharmacy staff are always ready with a little box full of them. 

I noticed when we were in a pharmacy in Belleville, ON, that the dog and I walked by the pharmacy counter, and the dog stopped dead and waited for a treat.  The pharmacist at the counter saw the dog was expecting something and asked what it was.  I explained about the pharmacy at home.  The pharmacist told me to wait a minute, so we did. He then went to the pet section of the pharmacy, and brought back a box of Milk Bones. Opened it up and gave the dog his treat.  I had to laugh.

Well, we were in a pharmacy in Nova Scotia.  In either Shelburne or Barrington - I can't remember.  The dog and I walked by the pharmacy counter at the back and again, the dog stopped dead.  The pharmacist looked at me, and I explained that in spite of the dog being a service dog, he was expecting a treat because he always got one from the pharmacist at home.  I then started to get the dog to heel, whereupon the pharmacist told me to wait a minute, and disappeared into the back room.  I figured he was going to get a box of Milk Bones or similar, just like the pharmacist did in Belleville, ON. 

The pharmacist came out with his ham sandwich!  Broke one of the halves in half and handed it to me to give to Bosley! 

My dog is NOT spoiled.  NOT.

We're Having a Heat Waaaaave! A Tropical Heat Waaaave!

The humidex makes it feel like 41 C. That is 105.8 for my American friends.  Poor Bosley is ready to melt.  Don't know what doggy school would say, but I've  been bringing him various places today and carried his vest instead of putting it on him.

Tonight, when we got home, I filled the bathtub with water and let him in it.  Revived him quite nicely.  I thought he might not be happy because bathtub = bath, but in he went, and out he came with a smile on his face!

Play Date

Misty, Bosley, Davey

Bosley, Davey (canine vision dog) went to visit Misty on her farm today for a playdate.  Misty is a farm dog and she is solid muscle.  Bosley and Davey work for a living too, but in a different way.  They love to get together with Misty and rip around like mad things. Even though they are service dogs, they still need their down time to unwind and just be dogs.

Bosley tried to swim in a wading pool, Davey tried to play with the horses, who completely ignored him, and Misty kept them running like mad things.  All in all, it was a good time and a much needed break for all the dogs.

Heh!  Bos was pooped when he came home.  I don't think he is awake yet!
Thanks, Bob and Eileen!

Back to Nova Scotia

Bosley, my brother and I will be on the road this summer.  Back to Nova Scotia!  Only this time we're driving instead of flying.  Well - I'll be driving. Bosley will be snoring his darn-fool face off in the back seat, and my brother will be rubber-necking the entire time.

While Bosley and I have spent nights in various motels throughout the province of Ontario (my job involves a lot of travel), those have been pre-booked reservations, and I've always alerted the facility that I'd be bringing a service dog.   This time around, I'll be driving until I feel it is time to find a place to hang my hat for the night, so it should be interesting to see how that works with a hearing dog.  Shouldn't be a problem, but we all know better, right?

Anyway, the  cottage is booked.  I was going to book a ferry crossing from St. John, NB to Digby, NS, but my brother (who is also coming with me) has an intense dislike of anything not on solid ground, which means no ferry crossing.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, and will keep you all up to date on how access with the dog turns out.  Rest assured, I'll be vocal about our rights to access!  I just hope I don't have to be too vocal. LOL

Anyway - it sure will be good to meet up with Deb and Merril again.  Merril is a hearing ear poodle and Deb and I graduated from Doggy School at the same time. I don't think the school ever quite recovered from that.

Here's to my favourite province! (after Ontario, of course!)

Orillia's Dog Walk was a Blast

Laura and Davey being interviewed by A-Channel

What a blast!  The weather was perfect, the people were friendly, the money raised was impressive, and everything went off well.  We had some pretty heavy hitters cut the ribbon.  The dogs all had a good time, and so did the people.

Will we do it again next year?  You bet!  Goal:  to get over $5,000 next year.  We managed to get just over $4,000 this year, on this, our second annual walk in Orillia. Wheee!

A slide show of the event can be found on Flikr - click on this web address to go there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/defatbroad/sets/72157624046020453/show/

KICX Radio and Bosley

MP Bruce Stanton and Lions Gov. Patti Byers

Cathy and Bosley

Mayor Ron Stevens, Orillia

MPP Garield Dunlop and wife Jane

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Here they are -- the ribbon cutters at Orillia's Purina Walk for Dog Guides.
Starting with the fat lady with the yellow lab - that is me 'n Bosley.
Beside me is Laura with Davey.

Lion Patti Byers, Governor Elect District A12 Lions (wearing burgundy jacket)
Harry Hughes, Mayor, Oro-Medonte (also a Lion)
Bruce Stanton, Federal MP, Simcoe North
Ron Stevens, Mayor, Orillia
Garfield Dunlop, Provincial MP, Simcoe North

Mum's Busy

Mum's busy, so I thot I'd get on the ol' computer instead. She's running around like a flea in a fit (and believe me, I know fleas) trying to get everything together for the dog walk on Sunday. She's got a wedding to officiate at on Saturday too. You think she'd plan better, but oh no.

Anyway - I just had a bath tonight, so I smell like lavender.  I hope I don't meet any of my buddies because, frankly, I'm a boy, darn it.  Why couldn't mum have picked something manly like, Old Yeller?  Or  Dog Day Afternoon?  No. She's gotta pick some dumb frilly frou-frou scent. I'm tellin' ya - it is enough to have me laughed outta the doggy union.  Mom says she wants me smelling nice for the walk on Sunday, when all the fancy people come to open up the walk.  I'll show her smelling nice. I'll look for some raccoon poop to roll in the next time we're walking in the forest!

Humph.
Signed, MR. Bosley. Mister.  MISTER MISTER MISTER!!!!

Catching Up

We're gearing up for our dog walk on May 30, 2010.  Quite looking forward to it, and also looking forward to not having to work so hard on it! LOL!

Bosley had his semi-annual vet visit. He's fine.  Two pounds over weight, but we can work that off. Or at least, he can. I, however, .....

This is one of those days when I wish we lived in a house with a big back yard.  Bosley and I do fine, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to dress up to take him out.  If I had a back yard, I could stand at the back door in my ratty cut-offs and let him out to do his business.

Oh and yes, he does pee on command. LOL! 

Happy Fifth Birthday, Bosley-Boy!

Can you believe it? Bosley is now five.  I have a small cream-filled pastry horn ready for him that he needs to share with my brother and I.  Looking over the past, I can see that Bosley is calming down more, although he is still a typical, goofy lab, who works his heart out for me.  We're a good team.

Who is Coming to the Walk?

So far, Mayor Ron Stevens (Orillia),
Mayor Harry Hughes (Oro-Medonte),
Garfield Dunlop (MPP Simcoe North),
Bruce Stanton (MP, Simcoe North).

I tell ya -- it is gonna be rarefied air on May 30th at the dog walk!

I Still Can't Believe It ....

A few weeks back, I was talking with a couple about their upcoming wedding. Because they had a couple of dogs, our talks turned to our four-footed companions.  I mentioned I had a yellow lab and that he was a hearing ear dog from Dog Guides of Canada.  One of the two went immediately still.  She asked me a couple of questions about the dog, and then asked me his name. 
"Bosley", I said. 
She then pointed to her black lab, and said, "That's Mehta."
I have to say, she was shaking and I was verging on tears.

Mehta is Bosley's mother.

Orillia's Farmers' Market

Hats off to Jim Harris of the Orillia's Farmers' Market!  He's allowing us to set up a little booth to advertise our walk for a couple of Saturdays before the actual event!  Whoo-hoo!

Bosley loves going to the market, by the way.  His sniffer goes into overdrive.  He doesn't touch anything, but there's nothing that says he can't sniff the air enthusiastically.  And no wonder -- home made bread, pies, cakes, beeswax candles, deli meats, and even home made doggie treats!  He met the dog biscuit lady this morning and I think if he had two thumbs, he'd have given her two thumbs up for her delicious biscuits!

We're in the Orillia Packet and Times.

Bosley and I are in the Packet yet again.  took the dog with me when I went to give a talk about Intimacy and Relationships to the local hard of hearing group.  It was a good group, and had all sorts of good questions, but the questions then turned to the dog and what he does for me. LOL!  I think I should phone up the doggy school and ask them to put me on the payroll.  Anyway -- the dog is currently snoring his face off, and I now have to hit the sack myself. Night all.

Misty Has Made a Video for Orillia's Purina Walk for Dog Guides

Misty Murray is at it again.  Here she stars in her very own video, in support of Orillia's Purina Walk for Dog Guides.  Please consider joining Misty, Davey and Bosley this year on our annual walk to fundraise for more of these wonderful service dogs. Click on this link to view her video:

Misty's Video on Purina Walk for Dog Guides

The Teacher is Coming to Town!

AAAAAH! 

Quota Orillia has invited one of my former Dog Guide teachers up to give us a talk about the dogs while in training.  I was pleased to hear Alissa was coming.  But then the Quotarian dropped The Bomb.  When Alissa mentioned she would bring a dog to demonstrate to us, the Quotarian mentioned Bosley and I were in the club. Whereupon Alissa announced, "Oh good. I won't bring a dog then. I'll use Bosley."

MY FORMER TEACHER IS COMING UP AND IS GOING TO USE BOSLEY!   

AAAAAAAAH!

Getting Ready for the Walk!

Well, the work for Orillia's Purina Walk for Dog Guides is under way.  Laura, Davey, Bob, Eileen, Misty, Bosley and I all met at Bob and Eileen's place to discuss the finer details of who is doing what.  Well, Bob, Eileen, Laura and I did.  Bosley, Misty and Davey were out chasing a chicken, playing tag, and taking turns asking to come in (or be let out of) the house.  Now I know why Bob is so slender.  He spends his entire day letting the dog in and letting the dog out.  Only that day it was three dogs!  Later on, I'd heard that all three dogs were totally happy and completely pooped from their time together!  Oh and don't worry about the chicken.  She looked like she had everything under control. 

We have two mayors and one MPP opening up the walk in Orillia.  So far, we have 8 walkers registered, and have raised almost $300 in online pledges alone.  Not bad at all. 

Job Secondment

Bosley and I are now a month into my job secondment. I've been an accessibility consultant for about 10 years now, I think, and my workplace has now allowed me to be seconded into a 14-month project on a part-time basis with the provincial government. It is doing something I absolutely enjoy -- providing accessibility/accommodation consultations/assessments/reviews on schools and school boards throughout the province. Of course, Bosley is with me at all times.

It is interesting to see the reactions of people to Bosley. The children (from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12) tend to remind each other with, "He's a working dog! Don't pet him!" In the meantime, the ones who break that rule are the teachers and principals! Then they tell me they can't help themselves. I keep threatening that my next dog will be ugly and covered with warts.

Good thing Bosley travels well. So far, we've been to Sarnia, Welland, Bracebridge, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. More being booked all the time. Stay tuned.

We Won an Award!

Our blog won an award! It is a top hearing ear dog blog site. Look to the right of this page to see it.
Whee!

"Did You SEE THAT?!?!?"

Laura and her dog Davey, along with Bosley and I, went to a coffee house to have a good old fashioned visit. Laura is blind and Davey is her service dog.

Coming out of the restaurant, we were having a bit of a problem with the dogs. Laura's dog is on her left side guiding her, and Bosley is on my left side, trying to heel. Laura is trying to hold onto my elbow, but that is throwing Bosley off. I switch Bosley over to my right side, which throws him off even more.

So there we are, Laura and I and the dogs. Weaving all over the parking lot. We eventually get to my car, stuff the dogs into the back seat, Laura hops into the passenger side, I get into the driver's side, and start up the car.

In the meantime, there are three people outside the coffee house smoking cigarettes. They have watched the lot of us weaving back and forth across the lot with our dogs. As I get into my car, I look into the rear-view mirror. In unison, the three people drop their jaws and their cigarettes as I start the car and drive away.

It was just one of those "Kodak" moments. Laura and I hooted all the way home.

Happy New Year!

Lots of licks from Bosley, and hugs from me.

Please continue to join us as Bosley and I journey through another year together as a team.

Thank you.
Cathy and Bosley.

Blearrrgghh!

I'm sick. I'm really sick. Got a nasty bug that gives me fever, chills, and a really super-duper sore throat. As you can imagine, I'm not really "with it" right now, because of this bug.

Guess what happened this morning? I brushed my teeth. With the dog's toothbrush.

Publish Post

O.M.G.

Won't mention the name of the bank, or the branch for that matter. Suffice it to say that a rather interesting event occurred today.

I dropped my bank card late on Friday. Some Good Samaritan brought it in, but it needed to be replaced, because it got mangled. In the meantime, I've also misplaced my drivers' license. Sigh. So, I went to the bank and explained my dilemma and lack of proper identification.

Result? The woman behind the desk assured me she remembered the dog from the last time I was in, and here's my new bank card. Oh, and the next time I'm in and have my drivers' license, just flash it in her direction.

SCREECH!

Where's the Dog???

In my bed. Guess he got tired of waiting. Excuse me - the dog and I need to have a little wee chat . . . .

Tudhope Memorial Park and Purina Walk for Dog Guides

Looks like the 2010 Orillia version of Purina Walk for Dog Guides will be held in Tudhope Memorial Park again this year. While I much prefer Couchiching Park, it doesn't have accessible washrooms. I've raised this issue with a couple of people at Orillia City Hall. They plan on making the current washrooms accessible, but dammit, they're away to hell and gone on the far side of the park, and not near anything. They should be closer to the playground, or the bandshell, or the beach or someplace - anyplace, but where they currently reside.

Once the Couch bathrooms are truly accessible, I'll move the Dog Walk to Couchiching Park in a Noo Yawk minute.

How Cold Is It Outside?

How cold is it outside, you ask?

According to the dog, he's on "Heat Seeking Missile" mode.

Runs out, pees, zooms back in. THAT'S COLD!

Another Hearing Dog in Town!

Well, we finally met! I knew there was another hearing ear dog and handler in town, but we finally met tonight. Bosley and I had to present a report to Orillia City Council (the City's Accessibility Report), and lo and behold! There they were.

Nice to see! (hands waving in air)

By the way, the City of Orillia's Accessibility Committee Report was received and approved by City Council tonight.

It is Snowing

The dog is in seventh heaven. Gave him one of his stuffies and let him loose for his early morning run. He bounded through the snow, the trees, bushes and everything else. Now he is sleeping, smelling of wet dog, and clutching his stuffy under his arm. Ah, this is the life.

Updates

I cannot believe it has been so long since the last submission to this blog! Mea culpa. So, I'll just update ya'll on what we're doing.

It is time to start gearing up for a couple of "projects" for the winter. One, I plan on writing a letter to remind the provincial parliament not to let the amendments to the Blind Persons Act die at committee. Those of us who have service dogs that aren't canine vision dogs need that amendment.

Secondly, we need to bring attention to the fact that seniors are dying needless deaths due to smoke inhalation in fires. Visual fire alerts are needed and must be covered by the provincial Assistive Devices Program. Thirdly, the next Purina Walk for Dog Guides is coming up in late May 2010. Bosley and I will be busy!

Bosley is back on his halti. I discovered that my left shoulder blade was hurting and eventually put two and two together, to realise that the reason I'm hurting is because Bosley is pulling on the leash. So out came the halti. Dog hates it and tries to rub it off on my pants, and the pants of anyone else who comes within rubbing range. He eventually got the message that it wasn't coming off, and became resigned to it. For now, anyway. :-)

Bosley had a delightful romp through the woods today after church. The leaves are all off the trees, but are piled high all around the forest floor. He was in his element! You know the kind of run I mean -- the kind where he runs so fast that his butt is outrunning his front legs!

And last, but certainly not least, Bosley had a good, old fashioned visit with his foster dad earlier in the year. I think it was good for both of them!

Bosley's Picture at All Seasons Weddings

Bosley's picture is now gracing the "Giving Back" section of the "All Seasons Weddings" website. All Seasons is the church I'm affiliated with. Check out Bosley's delightful picture at this website:

http://www.allseasonsweddings.com/ just look for the "Giving Back" tab and scroll about half-way down the page.

Oh - and to see my mug shot and blurb, click here:

http://www.allseasonsweddings.com/wedding-officiants.cfm?town=Orillia