Calling all Service Dog Owners!

[mechurchlady]

Hugs Cari, not offended. Only get offended if you call me late for dinner. It sounds like a Disney family movie script about Denver the only pup of his litter to go to school. Will Denver wash out of school? Will Denver find the perfect partner? Visit your local theater and see Denver Tales starring Denver the service dog with a heart of gold.

http://members.shaw.ca/patspets/pet_visits.htm
They have therapy pets for visiting nursing homes and hospices that include bunnies and a llama.

Cari are you sure I cannot train a Belgian or Shire horse to be my service horse? I would not need a scooter but would need a seat belt, helmet, and ladder or forklift. Buster my service horse would transport me, comfort me, protect me, pick things up, carry my stuff, and take me out of the park on his own if I have a meltdown. Buster would even take me back to my room. At home I could use a cart for Buster to bring home the groceries. Buster could take me over to the movies. Buster the wonder service horse. OK, nap time for churchy.

---
A little exercise for people is for them to close their eyes and have someone lead them around then their guide gets distracted. For me I did that in my head and I would hate to have that happen to me.

 

[LauraVV]

This letter describes the main proposed changes to the ADA.

http://www.olrs.ohio.gov/other/ADAComments.pdf

 

[denversees4me]

yes therapy work is a recreational activity for Denver and I ... It is a way to give back to the community , We also work with sick kids in hospitals . My friend Chris used to take his alpacca ( llama ) havasu into nursing homes in the so cal area ... it was so cool , but the alpacca finally died . I know of another lady out here in the riverside area who takes her llamas in as well. I have a friend who has a chicken she brings as well . There are plenty of different animals who go to nursing homes and hospitals .
A belgian huh ? they eat a LOT of food.... twice what a normal horse eats. I have always wanted one as a pet but can not afford the shoeing and feed , I will stick to the feed bill i already have with my horse pony and donkeys , They eat enough !!!!
have a great weekend
cari and D

 

[mechurchlady]

Twice the horse for twice the lady. I love the smaller breeds but would need on strong enough to carry my ladder, lol. I love erading about Denver. Yeah the cost of a service horse would require special shoes, vet bills, feed, treats, grooming, and boarding. A service dog is far cheaper and easier. Imagine trying to curry the back on the Belgian.

I can dream though. You have a good weekend. Too bad I cannot get mom a service dog that opens the door, goes out and gets the newspaper and mail then makes her morning toast, lol.

 

[LauraVV]

He's not a service animal but this is my daughter's horse. She received him from Dream Factory.

 

[denversees4me]

Hi Laura
What a cutie... i have partial sight and was able to see him thru my screen magnifying program...... Does your daughter have cancer? or another terminal illness? I follow a LOT of CHOC CAREPAGES it is a tough road for these kids..... im glad she was able to recieve a horse thats really WAY COOL !!!!
churchie- TOAST yea if only i could get Denver to make me some toast LOL he would scarf it down before he got it to me though UNLESS he was in his harness ... thats where his TRUE brain is LOL
will write more D storys later... would love to hear some from other SD users ... kathy you got anything to add????? tell us about skye
cari and Denver

 

[Nalla]

About service cats: I've seen it. I have a friend who is deaf, and her cat does what a hearing dog would do. She trained the cat herself, and I'm always amazed by it. She brings him in public, but not to school because the school won't let her (I had to fight with them for a semester just to avoid being kicked out due to my service dog). I wouldn't say cats never can be service animals, they're just rarer.

And Nalla and I will be in Disney in 5 days. Eeek! It's Nalla's first trip there, so I'm really hoping she likes it since she and I are staying for six months.

Cari - what magnifying program do you use? We had zoomtext at school, but I can't afford it for this computer, so just turn the magnifiers up real high in individual program and fuss with the resolution and such (basically, it's annoying). Any suggestions on a good program that isn't hundred of dollars?

 

[dclfun]

I don't have much to add right now, but I got Skye from Paws with a Cause and can't remember life without her . We're at Disney alot since I now am only a 10 minute drive away. Nalla- are you staying at Disney for 6 months or in Florida for 6 months? Either way, I'm sure your SD will do fine. ( sorry, I think you said your SD is Nalla but I don't know the PP's name). It's gorgeous weather out right now- not too hot like it gets in the summer so you shouldn't be having to worry about overheating or even too many crowds- that is until President's week.---Kathy

 

[denversees4me]

NALA- where did you get ur guide from ? I use zoom text it was gifted to me from a friend who no longer used it .... it also has speech ... it is VERY COSTLY but sometimes you can find a used version on e bay for about 3 hundred......I remember hearing a NFB newsletter a few months back about programs that were screen readers and didnt cost too much money i will see what i can find for you
Kathy- I cant remember life without Denver either !!!!! what a blessing our dogs are. Hey the moouse on wheels is looking for some pics and info on HA cabins on the cruise line i told her i would ask you if you had any since you cruised DCL what seemed like alot..... let me know . Im going to try to send her info on service dogs in the parks and on the cruise line .... but im not in a chair .... i remember one post you mentioned about 7 aft secret deck for relieving the dogs something about the door being narrow and heavy and you needed help opening it is this right ? it might be good info for cruisers with SDs in chairs to know a sort of heads up what do you think ?
cari and Denver

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Nalla,

If you use your computer at all for anything work or school related, you might be able to get vocational rehab to pay for zoomtext or some other program. It's a state-run program (there's one in every state under various names such as Bureau of Rehab Services in CT or some places it's vocational rehab or other similar names) which helps provide things for people with disabilities so that they can work and study with the aim to make it possible for people who can't afford the things needed to do so. They'd probably be able to help you.

 

[LauraVV]

Hi Laura
What a cutie... i have partial sight and was able to see him thru my screen magnifying program...... Does your daughter have cancer?

No, she does not have cancer that we know of. Right now, they're not sure if she has some malignant nodules in thyroid. Dream Factory gives wishes for chronically ill children. My children are suspected of having mitochondrial disease.

www.umdf.org

 

[dclfun]

Laura- aren't there diagnostic tests that can tell if they have mitochondrial disease or not? I know an adult who was diagnosed via a muscle biopsy, for instance. I know your kids get excellent medical care but I don't understand how that disease then would be diagnosed. Is it biopsy, EMG, or blood work? Is it a different process to diagnose a child vs. adult?---Kathy

 

[LauraVV]

Laura- aren't there diagnostic tests that can tell if they have mitochondrial disease or not? I know an adult who was diagnosed via a muscle biopsy, for instance. I know your kids get excellent medical care but I don't understand how that disease then would be diagnosed. Is it biopsy, EMG, or blood work?

A positive test means you have mito. A negative one means you might have mito. Frozen biopsies are inaccurate about half the time. Fresh ones are more accurate but there are only 2 places in US to get fresh biopsies. Depending on results of my recent genetic testing, I may have a fresh muscle biopsy this year.

Diagnosis is not easy for most. They know only a few genetic mutations at this time. It's such a new field and mitochondrial disorders are extremely underrecognized. Research funding is almost non-existant even though it's probably one of the most common genetic disorders.

 

[Nalla]

OMG I must rant. Nalla did super well in Disney until it got dark, and I couldn't see. She continued to be awesome, led me around and stuff (mostly I just told her to follow my mom). But kids suck. One grabbed her tail and because of the sudden jolt I tripped and hurt my knee. Another kid jumped at her from behind a garbage can. Nalla jumped out of the way, so the kid didn't land his tackle. Thankfully she wasn't injured. All of this was while I was away from my mom. Nalla got turned around after jumping to avoid the garbage can kid, and I got completely lost. Ending up near the Tiki Room (I started out near Splash mt), and decided to see the Tiki Room show and then wait there for my mom. But seriously. How hard is it for people to control their kids? I'm lucky I just banged my kneee and that Nalla had the good sense to jump away from the garbage can boy. We both might have gotten hurt much worse

 

[Joanna71985]

OMG I must rant. Nalla did super well in Disney until it got dark, and I couldn't see. She continued to be awesome, led me around and stuff (mostly I just told her to follow my mom). But kids suck. One grabbed her tail and because of the sudden jolt I tripped and hurt my knee. Another kid jumped at her from behind a garbage can. Nalla jumped out of the way, so the kid didn't land his tackle. Thankfully she wasn't injured. All of this was while I was away from my mom. Nalla got turned around after jumping to avoid the garbage can kid, and I got completely lost. Ending up near the Tiki Room (I started out near Splash mt), and decided to see the Tiki Room show and then wait there for my mom. But seriously. How hard is it for people to control their kids? I'm lucky I just banged my kneee and that Nalla had the good sense to jump away from the garbage can boy. We both might have gotten hurt much worse

Oh no! That is horrible! I'm glad neither of you were badly hurt.

 

[mechurchlady]

Nalla you are hugged and snugged and engulfed with warm wishes from Laurie.

They say that when people enter the parks they become kids. I was at Disneyland in the back seat of the caterpillar on the Alice ride. In front was a fat mom and her daughter about 6 or 7 I think. The mother was weighed down by her purse, camera bag and a backpack. Through the whole ride the mom videotaped the ride as her daughter sat there scared. The mother got off the ride then walked out the exit. Yes, she left her daughter in the ride vehicle and I had to get the kid off the ride and escort her to the exit where she pinched herself in the turnstile. That story is to show you that parents too often become kids and forget their manners and their kids.

Hugs Nalla over and over. Glad to hear you are having fun at WDW despite the brats who think dogs are toys to play with.

 

[dclfun]

I'm sorry to hear about the kids who interfered with your SD, Nalla. Once we were in a huge crowd trying to navigate behind the parade at DAK. A child old enough to know better smacked Skye on the rear as we went by and I know it had to hurt as it was a really hard hit. Skye would never bite but I was ready to take a chunk out of this boy. What a rude idiot...and his mother said nothing to the precious little darling. It's no wonder that the kids who don't have manners have parents who have none either.---Kathy

 

[denversees4me]

The apple never falls far from the tree.... I always use lights and glow necklaces at night for Denver in the parks.... but sometimes it attracts more people than its worth ..... I would have hunted that kid down and rung his NECK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people are RUDE

funny story ... kids crack me up
we were in Wal Mart today - two brothers were sitting in a shopping basket together about 5 years old... the one kid looks at Denver and says to his mom and brother WHATS THAT THING he little brother looks at him and says LOL LOL LOL im rolling he says " its a service dog you moron " i had to go around the corner and i laughed so hard...
cari and Denver

 

[rwrocksme]

The apple never falls far from the tree.... I always use lights and glow necklaces at night for Denver in the parks.... but sometimes it attracts more people than its worth ..... I would have hunted that kid down and rung his NECK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people are RUDE

funny story ... kids crack me up
we were in Wal Mart today - two brothers were sitting in a shopping basket together about 5 years old... the one kid looks at Denver and says to his mom and brother WHATS THAT THING he little brother looks at him and says LOL LOL LOL im rolling he says " its a service dog you moron " i had to go around the corner and i laughed so hard...
cari and Denver

That is hillarious! Kids are so funny sometimes....

Evil Me is tempted to repeat.

-- Eliza
(Waiting for her own service dog )

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

The apple never falls far from the tree.... I always use lights and glow necklaces at night for Denver in the parks.... but sometimes it attracts more people than its worth ..... I would have hunted that kid down and rung his NECK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people are RUDE

The dog catalog "In The Company of Dogs" carries a neat glow-in-the-dark round collar for dogs. It is one of the long-glowing types (not the ones from years ago when glow-in-the-dark things only lasted a few minutes). I plan on getting one for my SD before my next Disney trip, though her pack has glow-in-the-dark embroidery on it.

funny story ... kids crack me up
we were in Wal Mart today - two brothers were sitting in a shopping basket together about 5 years old... the one kid looks at Denver and says to his mom and brother WHATS THAT THING he little brother looks at him and says LOL LOL LOL im rolling he says " its a service dog you moron " i had to go around the corner and i laughed so hard...
cari and Denver

I had an ADULT today ask, "Is that a dog?" After she left, I said to my brother, "We should've said, 'No, this is my very hairy child.'" He said, "Yeah, your ugly step-child!" I said, "Yeah, her name is Cinderella."