The fifth Assistance Dog Blog Carnival is coming up! Details are under the link provided. This is a hard topic indeed, so before I write about anything else, I’d like to dedicate this post to writing about my achievement of getting a guide dog. It kind of goes around me being independent, but is more than just being independent for me.
On the 15th of October 2007, I was introduced to Troy! Honestly, getting my own dog, having being warned a few times that he’s a living creature with instincts that need to be managed, like with any dog or animal for that matter, knowing that I’d need to care for this dog, was simply breath-taking to say the least! I didn’t just get a pet dog to leave it at home. I got a dog which was trained to help me be independent. He was trained so that he didn’t have to stay home all the time. He was trained so I wouldn’t always have to use my cane, and he could go almost anywhere with me. He’s my companion twenty-four hours a day, but even more so when I go out, since I no longer have to be alone.
My achievement of getting Troy has given me a happier life.
There are still ups and downs, but somehow he knows that when I get frustrated and stressed, all he needs to do is be funny or cheerful, or comforting. He just knows. If he tries to leave, I know that I’m getting out of hand with raising my voice or I’m making too many sudden movements, like throwing my arms out in front of me fast enough to accidentally frighten him. When I didn’t have Troy, I didn’t really think of those things. If he’s not with me and I’m losing control of my temper, I can call him over to me so he can help me calm down. He has done more than be my guide dog. My achievement of getting a guide dog has achieved the goal of keeping my life on a more even keel, with more independence, and with a great deal less loneliness! Although there are frustrations and emotional ups and downs that come with owning a guide dog, the benefits outweigh them all, and the goal that is achieved from that is a much happier me at the end of each day, even if it means I have to cuddle Troy before I actually feel reasonable again. Getting my guide dog is my main achievement, with the other achievements that come with owning a dog, within that achievement. Getting a guide dog is a goal achievement which I won’t ever forget!
September 25, 2011 at 11:38 pm |
Hi Michelle! Thanks for submitting this wonderful post to the ADBC! I’m sorry you had trouble commenting, though. (Trying to figure out exactly what the issue was for you so as to alleviate any future problems.)
Your posts is actually very much what I was thinking when I chose the topic for this edition. There are some very obvious and notable achievements in partnering/training/raising an assistance dog, but as you said there are layers that build upon and into achievements. When I thought about it like that I realized there was a great wealth of things that could be discussed in the topic. (Or, well, I hope so!)
September 26, 2011 at 1:34 pm |
That is such an awesome achievement to celebrate. Congratulations to you both!