Thanks to the great work done by our trainer, Candace, Annie has found a wonderful new home! Bless the Tucker family for this beautiful gift that will change a life!
The Jennings have adopted Annie. We did the meet and greet last night at 7. Everything went well, except it was emotional for the Tucker family to say goodbye. Here is the Jennings with Annie. I look forward to working with them!
Respectfully, Candace
From a dear client I had awhile ago who is an ER nurse who suffers with anxiety and PTSD. She is back home in Alaska with her family, and Karma is always there for her as a Service Dog. I will miss them!
Hey Laurie,
Hope things are going well. Karma and I moved back to Alaska in May, Texas wasn’t really a place for us. We’re doing good though. I had a bad allergic reaction in October and the whole night Karma didn’t stop touching me. She laid there with her head on my lap while I struggled breathing. I’ve been in India the last two weeks and I truly realize how much I depend on her. She’s the apple of my eye. She recently had a seizure which I cannot begin to tell you how much it scared me. She is OK for now, and the vet is trying to assure me to not worry unless they become more frequent (took her to the pet ER here and contacted our normal vet). Wanted to give you an update, need to work on some more training as my epi pens have changed a little. Thankfully a company called Midnight Sun Service Dogs is very close to home and I can take her there. Miss you, I wanted to thank you for the help with Karma, giving me Dr Downs’ name and everything you’ve done for us!
Sutapa and Karma
A great story of empowerment by our client Brian and his SD Faith. He is leaning forwarding, ensuring access rights of all handlers and their beloved Service Dogs.
“Hi Laurie, I had already been let into the Copper Top restaurant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama when one of the security/doormen came up to me and my dog from the back and said “You and your dog will have to leave. ” He said something to the effect of “You don’t even need that dog.” I’ve been in this place several times with absolutely no problems with my SD Faith – even the doorman before recognized me and Faith and had absolutely no problems. I had the business card from the DOJ that had all of the laws about Service Dogs, and I asked him to please read them. He said he wasn’t reading anything, and that we needed to get out and get out now.
I asked “let’s not take this to that point that I have to call the police.” He seemed very hostile from the start, and, of course this made him even more hostile. He also made a comment that I did not need a Service Dog because I was in there the night before without one. That was because Faith had surgery several days before and was not up to going out, of course. As you and I know my medical condition and my Service Dog’s medical condition is none of his business.
Sadly enough, I did call the police and they took the restaurant’s side! Two officers from the Tuscaloosa City Police Department came and said that any private business could kick anybody out for any condition whatsoever. They called the next officer in charge, and he had the same attitude! He asked what he could do to make me happy and asked if he would please just read the laws!
All of this was this past Friday night approximately 8:30 PM (Nov 28th). On Monday, I called Lieutenant M. at the Tuscaloosa Police Department – he also said any private business can kick anyone out it anytime regardless of having a Service Dog or any type of disability!
My Service Dog, Faith has been a complete Savior to me since I’ve gotten her! She’s done nothing but help me along the way; I couldn’t get along without her. I’ve been completely depressed and had anxiety attacks ever since this is happened!!! I feel that she and I are going to be a target anywhere we go!! I’m afraid to take her anywhere because I feel I am going to be run out of every little business that I go into!!
I thought I was calling the police department for help, but yet they’re the ones who helped run me off and took the side of the other people who were kicking me out -and gave me false hope for me and anyone who is disabled or has a Service Dog! Not just with the doorman, Copper Top, Tuscaloosa, but everywhere.
I did talk to the Department of Justice on Monday, and the lady I spoke with did confirm that the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the Coppertop and Mr. Jones were in complete violation of the laws and would be sending me a packet in the mail ASAP.
UPDATE: 8 December 2014 – Brian met with the owner of Copper Top
The meeting went extremely well. The owner of Copper Top was great! It was entirely 1 employee trying to “Flex his muscle”! The owner was wanting details and was very apologetic and invited me and Faith back! He guaranteed he’d take care of the employee. Cherry (a Service Dog Express Trainer) was such great help on the phone the other day!! I had built up so much anxiety and depression since the incident, and she made me feel much better!!!! She provided me with tons of info! Thanks to all of you!! I am still going to schedule a meeting with the chief of police to try to get local laws in line with the ADA or to get them to realize their street level officers are not up to date on laws. Lastly, the owner mentioned us working together to find a charity to help fund together !!!! Who would’va thought?
Brian
Wonderful news from Ronnie, who is training with Kendra in Houston, and his SDIT, Roxy!
Hi Kendra!
So we just returned from our vacation on Sunday. We flew out of Houston into Detroit, Michigan. Roxy did outstanding!! Right off the bat in the security checkpoint she acted like a seasoned traveler. Once on the plane, she curled up and fell asleep. She popped up a few times on descent, but we gave her some treats to help with her big old ears LOL. She was a pro at the airport, keeping watch and covering behind me while waiting at the baggage claim. It didn’t snow very much, but she saw it and sniffed around outside – I don’t think she was a fan All in all, Roxy did great and I think gave Service Dogs a good showing! I wanted to get her a pair of wings to put on her vest but totally forgot – I guess I’ll have to remember next time!
Ronnie
CONGRATULATIONS TO DEAR ABBY, WHO PASSED HER PUBLIC ACCESS TEST WITH FLYING COLORS (AND LOTS OF ATTENTION) WITH HANDLER MICHELLE!!
Abby is a 2 year old deaf Dalmatian, who Michelle (also our trainer in New Mexico) has trained as her Service Dog using hand signals to perfection. Abby absolutely LOVES when that vest goes on and they go to work! Michelle has mobility and severe pain issues, and Abby’s bond with Michelle is so close that Abby can sense every time Michelle is in pain. She offers Michelle light mobility, and helps to calm her when her pain reaches unbearable proportions by alerting and snuggling. Abby can tell when Michelle is getting weak or sick even before Michelle realizes it.
Michelle drove all the way from New Mexico to have her dog properly evaluated by me for the Public Access Test. We did every single command in the test, and Abby was perfect. She went under at the restaurant, loaded and unloaded safely, can sit, down, sit/stay, down/stay, walk with dropped leash and stay in a perfect heel, is not fazed by visual distractions, and perfectly navigated through Target by a shopping cart, just in a heel, was able to have me take the leash while Michelle moved 20 feet away, and did meet and greets with children, male and female adults – everything. And she does it all with hand signals and leash work. Abby THRIVES at this – the attention she drew from shoppers was overwhelming – and she loved every minute of it!
Toward the end of the session, Michelle started looking pale. Abby immediately changed her focus to Michelle and I noticed Michelle’s color. Indeed, shortly after that, Michelle began developing a severe migraine. At that point, Abby was by her side, focused on Michelle, applying deep pressure and comforting her. Abby was the one who let us know her handler had had enough! (the test had already been passed).
Michelle has done an absolutely amazing job training Abby. She could have easily given up because training a deaf dog is obviously much harder than training a dog that can hear – but Michelle has worked tirelessly with Abby – never pushing her past her limits. Abby is gentle, takes treats delicately, and clearly defies any negative stereotypes about Dalmatians and their ability to be Service Dogs. You should see the joy on Abby’s face when that vest comes out – and the joy she feels is palpable when others ask to pet her. She even automatically goes into a “down” when a little child wants to pet her.
Abby and my Service Dog, Bonnie, loved being reunited. They met over a year ago. Michelle and her boyfriend Nate had a wonderful visit. I am so proud of the two of them!!
Again, congratulations to Michelle and dear, sweet Abby! Laurie
Just a simple but beautiful update from Wounded Warrior, Christopher. It says it all.
” My wife, Megan caught me and SD Maggie chilling on the couch. Thank you to you, trainer Beverly, and Service Dog Express for giving me piece of mind.”
Laurie’s Reaction
From Laurie: Look what my dear, dear husband got me for my birthday. I can honestly say that it was the most meaningful gift he has ever gotten me – I literally couldn’t stop crying. See, Joey is a die-hard Aggie. There is Aggie paraphernalia all over our house. MY undergraduate Alma Mater, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has very little paraphernalia unless you are shopping for items for the robot you just built or the computer you just reprogrammed to launch nuclear weapons. (very techy school).
ANYWAY, apparently, two months ago, he started this process with Mary’s Stitchery and Crafts, run by dear Mary Chabrian (see her FB page!) and loved by all Wounded Warriors who send her their uniforms to make the most awesome Service Dog vests! Joey went to the Carnegie Mellon site and he and Mary ordered a men’s flannel robe for fabric with my school’s colors, and they found a perfect patch with CMU’s name on it, added the Service Dog Express graduate patch, and added the pouch for Bonnie’s ID. It fits PERFECTLY!!! Mary is an absolutely AMAZING craftswoman, and my husband couldn’t have given me a more meaningful gift. Now I have to be nice to him for a whole year…
I am so, so blessed. (Ironically, I had just rolled out of bed and put on an Aggie hat to hide my non-made-up face)
CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. ELIZABETH S AND HER OUTSTANDING NOW SERVICE DOG, BEATRICE!!
From Laurie: They passed the Public Access Test at the mall despite all the crowds! I am so proud of Elizabeth! She is WAY too humble to take credit for all the work she did training Beatrice in between sessions, but she did an amazing job and Beatrice is the PERFECT Service Dog. Most importantly – the way that Elizabeth shares Beatrice with all who ask to pet her – children and adults – is beyond beautiful. Elizabeth realizes how much joy Beatrice brings to everyone she meets – and Elizabeth shares that joy openly. Of course, when it’s time to work, Beatrice works – but the beauty of it is not only that Elizabeth has an amazing Service Dog that does her job – but that she teaches others and shows by example. I must say, the funniest part of it was going through the fancy department stores with their Gucci and Armani and perfectly coiffed sales people with a small horse and surprising them at every turn! I think Beatrice preferred the new perfume by Estee Lauder the best. TEE HEE. My husband, Joey, even tried to taunt Beatrice with a French Fry at the food court, but Beatrice showed him!
I am going to miss my dear, dear friend Elizabeth and beautiful, drooling Beatrice when they move!! Elizabeth’s new job will entail her continuing to help our Wounded Warriors – but now that she has Beatrice by her side, I think just seeing that humungous, loveable Service Dog will heal others better than any drug!!
From our trainer Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior Jesse, and his SDIT, “Rocco”.
“During this session, we worked mainly on teaching Rocco to back up, and to perform a moving wait (handler keeps moving, dog waits). These are fairly simple to implement into our training, but require diligence nonetheless. We filled some of our time with laughter and allowing our dogs to show off funny behavior to relax everyone. We worked on more complex behaviors like various ways of bringing the dog into the “helping” position to get ready for light bracing, etc. Then we worked on distractions, like putting Rocco in a sit/stay and then running by whole making loud noises while having Rocco not move. Then after a few more blooper laughs it was all over.”
From our trainer, Cherry, who is working with Wounded Warrior Bud, who suffers from PTSD, and his SDIT, Jackson!
“Today was our first training session. Bud suffers from PTSD and his little battle buddy is Jackson.
Bud did not have good experiences with other training agencies in the past. After an hour with me, he felt relaxed and confident about where his training was going with him and Jackson. “I’ve learned a lot today” he told me.
Bud was a bit apprehensive at first but I soon had him laughing and relaxed and taught him ways to use Jackson to ease his anxiety which he really appreciated.
I showed him a few techniques to use when people approach and wanting to pet his beautiful dog, Jackson. “That makes me feel so much better!” he said, knowing that he could use his battle buddy to calm him down in times of stress.
Today we concentrated on “stay” and “cover”. I have given them homework and Bud is excited to show me what they can do the next time we meet.
This is an awesome team. Jackson adores his Daddy, and Bud just loves his little buddy Jackson. These two are set for great things to come!”