George and Bella make top Fox story

[Mt_Rider]

George the Great Dane service dog and Bella make the top Fox news story. Wow, assistance dogs are going to be popular when word like this gets folks' attention. What a great ambassadors they make!

 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/11/12/great-dane-131-pound-dog-helps-guide-11-year-old-with-rare-genetic-condition.html?intcmp=hpbt4

 

 

 

MtRider ....now everyone knows what Jeepers has been telling us...

Edited November 12, 2015 by Mt_Rider

[Jeepers]

Wow, thank you Mt. Rider! I hadn’t seen that one.

 

Things have really taken off since they did ABC’s Nightly News. I think they have been featured in most of the major newspapers all over the world now. We have links to nine eleven other countries that have featured them in their media (medium). South Africa, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Bosnia, Hungary, Germany, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico

 

It’s amazing that I got to see George being born, trained and off to school with Bella. Also, the same with Ethel, watching Julia take her first steps after being paralyzed. And Charlie helping Steve, a PTSD vet come out of his shell and be a regular at SDP. At the time, no one knew how they would turnout. I do donate and I send gifts, treats and meds for the dogs. I worry about them and laugh at them and rejoice in their accomplishments, so I consider them my dogs too and I’m so proud to be a part of this organization. They started with a few dogs, one little internet camera on a pole and a 73 year old woman. The camera went live the day after her husband died but she trudged forward. The camera was blurry at best and had no sound. Carlene had to do a sort of mime, charade, and sign language sort of thing to tell us what was going on. Then we graduated to a white board and we thought it was great.

 

Lots of ‘people’ are trying to jump on the band wagon now…for a fee. Carlene is a pretty smart cookie though and is good at weeding them out. Also, lots of people want a dog for their child now. One woman called in wanting one for her 2 year old! The first stipulation is the recipient MUST be able to take care of their dog 100% of the time. If not, the dog will bond to whoever takes care of their needs. George chose Bella in the very beginning not the other way around. Even though she is little, she is 11 years old and very responsible. The dogs aren’t really meant for children although another dog was paired up with a child before Bella (Hunter and Wendy the dog) and it is working out great too. It really is special. Also the recipients must be active. Danes are couch potatoes and need an active social life. And they are, after all, mobility dogs.

 

Bella can actually run and ride a bike now. Before George she was either in a wheelchair or using her crutches to swing her legs to get around. Not really walking. Hunter was headed for a wheelchair too but so far, he is walking and when he falls, Wendy is right there ‘braced’ to help him up. He says falling once in a while is better than being in a wheelchair. His doctor said he has avoided some surgeries because he is actually using his legs now. I think Hunter is around 12 years old. These dogs are DONATED to the recipients free of charge. Oh, and veterans go to the top of the list.

 

The next adventure is to get nursing homes set up with Internet TV so they can watch the dogs or any of the other Explore cameras. It’s aimed at teens to go out and get involved. It would be a great project for scouts or youth church groups. For each person in the group, Carlene will award them with an hour of community service for the ‘community service’ part on their college application. She established a scholarship fund this year for the 5-6 kids who volunteer at the farm. Volunteer means no money, but she is giving them college scholarships (and community service credits) according to the hours they work. And they do work!

 

AND, another Service Dog Project Dane just received some sort of an award from the M.S. Foundation for his service. His name is Arrow and the person is Valarie. I think Arrow is a ‘he’. They have about 30+ dogs out working and each one of them is as talented and special as George.

Edited November 13, 2015 by Jeepers

[Mt_Rider]

Carlene sounds like an extraordinary woman. Glad the word is getting around. More and more folks able to be socially and physically FREED!

 

MtRider

[Jeepers]

Here is the info I got about Arrow from Valerie to Carlene.

ARROW REPORT
Last night at our annual MS Society meeting in Charlottesville, Arrow was given the chapter's highest honor, the Terry Phelps Hall of Fame award. It was for his years of advocating for MS at the statehouse in Richmond and on Capitol Hill. He has always made a big impression with the senators and congressmen!
Take care, Valerie

[Mt_Rider]