Being the dog lover I am, I just can’t resist stopping to meet nearly every dog and owner I happen to see while I’m out and about. Today I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist. When I walked into the office, I was surprised to see a lady with a service dog! The dog was a gorgeous Golden Retriever, and I could barely take my eyes off him. The owner smiled at me, and as much as I wanted to, I didn’t start up a conversation. I just smiled, took my seat, and proceeded to read the riveting Workforce Planning and Employment module of the SHRM Learning System.
Fortunately, today’s doctor appointment was merely a pressure check to gauge the progression of my glaucoma, so it was quick and easy. On my way out the door, I just couldn’t resist. I stopped to tell the lady how pretty her dog was – and of course, to pet him. Both dog and owner were incredibly sweet. When I stooped down to pet the dog, he raised his paw and put it in my hand! I was ecstatic. He then turned around and sat in my lap!
I chatted with the dog’s owner for a while. It turns out that she suffers from MS, and she received the dog nearly a year ago from Canine Assistants in Alpharetta, Georgia. I was absolutely amazed to hear all the things this dog was capable of – opening doors, turning on lights, and even calling 911! I almost asked him if he could come over and fix my closet doors and install a tv mount!
During the course of the conversation, the lady gave me a brochure about Canine Assistants. I checked their website when I got home. This organization, funded completely through donations, is improving the lives of both children and adults with various medical conditions. The videos on their website will bring tears to your eyes – at least if you’re a softie like me.
If you know someone who could benefit from one of these service dogs, be sure to check out the Canine Assistants website. And if you’d like to help those less fortunate, you can do so by donating a few dollars to the cause. All donations are tax deductible.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Thank you for telling people about these wonderful dogs and the organizations that train them. I too have a lovely Golden service dog that is an angel by my side.
Just remember to always ask before petting. Some partners allow petting when they and the dog are at rest. Otherwise they need the dog to maintain their focus and not be distracted – by petting, by talking to, etc.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I would love to have one of these dogs there are so chill