So I have decided to do a blog (at great urging from some folks) about Kona.....
Ah, I know who or what is Kona, right.....
Ah, I know who or what is Kona, right.....
To down play it, Kona is a little 6 week old black ball of fluff, tongue, ears , tail; OH AND TEETH! Needle sharp little spikes anchored in a vice grip, who has joined our household as a new family member.
I know, for those of you who know us, it is not at all unusual for a new puppy to be added into our mix and lately I have tried repeatedly to no avail to find a successor for Java (my previous service dog) so we have had lots of trials and a few errors and oh so many four legged friends.
Those of you who did not know Java well that is unfortunate because she was an amazing dog worth knowing and anyone who ever met her could never forget her. Of course before Java was Kiwi another outstanding dog that changed my life and literally saved it on at least two occasions. So remarkable was Kiwi that there were TV series (animal miracles twice), multiple TV. news appearances, features in two books, numerous news and magazine articles, a cartoon strip and a following so great she eventually had her own PAW-tograph pictures. She was also the first canine to obtain a B.C. casino employee official Identification and certification (which I might add she signed herself). Java was no less formidable, she too was featured in a television series (healing with animals), was featured in Dogs in Canada Magazine Oct 2003, again T.V. news, newspapers and so on.....she and Kiwi even did the pre show for The Super Dogs at the Toronto C.N.E. in 2000, there were more than a few noses out of joint when the local news reporter decided to feature the dynamic duo and focus on them instead of some of the other canine performers. Java was only months old and Kiwi was technically retired (except from public appearances); Java was learning from Kiwi and the two had an act that stopped the show (so to speak)!
No ordinary dogs were Kiwi and Java, no couch potatoes or weekend warriors these girls were working girls…no not those kind of working girls, thank you very much, but the kind who do laundry, pick up dropped items, get the phone, pull the bathtub plug, flush the toilet, call 911 and alert to seizures. Yes, these two girls had a purpose and I had the pleasure of saying that they were my partners, my legs, hands, GPS, and voice at times when I could not use my own. Life with Java and Kiwi was extraordinary to say the least, they helped me strive to be everything I should, could and would be and they did it for a simple look of approval, kind word or occasionally a treat.
Completely selfless Java would eventually sacrifice herself for me and losing her so early without even the time to process the fact that she might go due to aging (which she was too young to go at only 6yrs) nearly did me in; t has forever changed me. To have another being so devoted, so a part of you that they risk their own life because they would not disobey your command, YOUR words, is earth shattering and so very terrifying to know that your words, your connection can be so responsible for another’s life is a terrifying realization.
As it turns out Java trusted me so much, believed in me so much that when told to go into a down she did so and she refused to break it, even as another dog tore into her repeatedly, not defending herself until I was able to pull it together and give her the release command at which time bleeding profusely from the abdomen she jumped up and defended us both, as the owner of the other off leash dog stood over 300 feet away and never made a move to call or retrieve his dog let alone intervene. Java survived her injuries after surgery and medical treatment, her confidence was forever shattered but not her devotion. Java even passed the assistance dog exam again when retested; which included having to lay in a down when told , while a stranger and strange dog walk over her as she remained down. She did it, she passed again but the look in her eyes told me she was doing this for me, because she trusted me, without question, even though she did not want this to happen. She passed but I decided for my dog, my partner, my friend it was my turn to protect her and I decided she would retire from service and live her life as my beloved pet and friend.
Java never took to retirement well, she still wanted to care for me and a year later she was looking very ill after being at the vets office we realized that the internal scar tissue was severe, almost tumour like, her bladder was not draining and she was in severe discomfort. There had been an incident 2 months previous, when she was staying with people I thought were friends, while my then husband had heart surgery. I called to check on Java and was nonchalantly informed by my friend that Java got in trouble with her husband and that he had beaten her so much that she urinated all over herself; she was then thrown into a crate by my friend from that afternoon to the next morning and not let out. My friend so casually told me this as if she were telling me they went for a walk to the park, as if this were perfectly normal and OK and then added that Java knew she was in trouble that is why she pee’d! What kind of people do things like this, it took every ounce of control for me not to do the very same to him,; as for her she disgusts me and to say the least we are not friends! I have many friends who know Java who offered to go visit this jerk and exact revenge and I will admit I thought about it often, fantasized even but in the end people like that are best to be avoided by me because I have no self control for things like this.
We will never know if was the dog attack the previous year or the vicious sick bully attack that was what caused the final damage that made us decide that it was kinder to give Java a peaceful death ending her pain and suffering but no matter it was in the end the same. I was loosing my closest and best friend, no human could fill her spot, no human knew me so well or was ever so in tune and devoted. I miss her every day and I cry often (as I am right now writing this). Java refused to close her eyes when given the first of the two shots that would end her life, the first given to sedate and ease the dog into a peace filled sleep before the final shot. Java refused to go into the well deserved rest the medication would give, instead when her body could no longer fight the sedative affects she slide into a laying position but kept her eyes on me until the very end. I often wonder if she was asking me why, but everyone who knows her tends to agree that right to the very end Java was watching over me, making sure I was OK, doing what her training and heart told her to do….take care of my partner.
It has been 4 years and several dogs tested, trained and still none has managed to fill the role for various reasons. Some made amazing assistance dogs for mobility but not seizure and since I need both equally this would not be possible so they moved on to the people who they were meant to be with. To get a multiple skills dog; that is seizure alert and mobility is no easy task and well lets just say only slightly less complicated than finding a golden unicorn with pixie dust in its mane.
This has led me to Kona; in this blog we will follow Kona’s life, training and experiences as she works towards filling some very large paws. Yes, Kona is my best hope at trying to find a successor to Java; at least that is how it looks on paper. Kona’s test results are so close to Java’s that it is eerie to say the least; her testing began at 4 weeks old. She has so many traits that Java had that if this girl is unable to fill the role I don’t know who will.
For those of you who will be shocked to find that we start Early Puppy Education and Skill building at 5 weeks old there is a great deal of fascinating research on the windows of development opportunity for these early ages and the benefits to both the puppy (later the adult dog) and the partner they will be with. Even if the only job your pup will ever do is exulted family member and couch potato the benefits are so great that this is the only way to go in my view. Now had Kona been bred in my breeding program the bio sensory stimulation would start at 3 days until 16 days then at 20 days the EPE work begins slowly building a secure and skilled canine, who is a true partner with their human counterpart.
Tune in for the antics, laughter, tears and successes as a tiny wee black lab struggles to grow up and learn to become a giver of independence, freedom, security and life…..so not to be too cliche'; without further ado let the Kona Kronicles begin.
No ordinary dogs were Kiwi and Java, no couch potatoes or weekend warriors these girls were working girls…no not those kind of working girls, thank you very much, but the kind who do laundry, pick up dropped items, get the phone, pull the bathtub plug, flush the toilet, call 911 and alert to seizures. Yes, these two girls had a purpose and I had the pleasure of saying that they were my partners, my legs, hands, GPS, and voice at times when I could not use my own. Life with Java and Kiwi was extraordinary to say the least, they helped me strive to be everything I should, could and would be and they did it for a simple look of approval, kind word or occasionally a treat.
Completely selfless Java would eventually sacrifice herself for me and losing her so early without even the time to process the fact that she might go due to aging (which she was too young to go at only 6yrs) nearly did me in; t has forever changed me. To have another being so devoted, so a part of you that they risk their own life because they would not disobey your command, YOUR words, is earth shattering and so very terrifying to know that your words, your connection can be so responsible for another’s life is a terrifying realization.
As it turns out Java trusted me so much, believed in me so much that when told to go into a down she did so and she refused to break it, even as another dog tore into her repeatedly, not defending herself until I was able to pull it together and give her the release command at which time bleeding profusely from the abdomen she jumped up and defended us both, as the owner of the other off leash dog stood over 300 feet away and never made a move to call or retrieve his dog let alone intervene. Java survived her injuries after surgery and medical treatment, her confidence was forever shattered but not her devotion. Java even passed the assistance dog exam again when retested; which included having to lay in a down when told , while a stranger and strange dog walk over her as she remained down. She did it, she passed again but the look in her eyes told me she was doing this for me, because she trusted me, without question, even though she did not want this to happen. She passed but I decided for my dog, my partner, my friend it was my turn to protect her and I decided she would retire from service and live her life as my beloved pet and friend.
Java never took to retirement well, she still wanted to care for me and a year later she was looking very ill after being at the vets office we realized that the internal scar tissue was severe, almost tumour like, her bladder was not draining and she was in severe discomfort. There had been an incident 2 months previous, when she was staying with people I thought were friends, while my then husband had heart surgery. I called to check on Java and was nonchalantly informed by my friend that Java got in trouble with her husband and that he had beaten her so much that she urinated all over herself; she was then thrown into a crate by my friend from that afternoon to the next morning and not let out. My friend so casually told me this as if she were telling me they went for a walk to the park, as if this were perfectly normal and OK and then added that Java knew she was in trouble that is why she pee’d! What kind of people do things like this, it took every ounce of control for me not to do the very same to him,; as for her she disgusts me and to say the least we are not friends! I have many friends who know Java who offered to go visit this jerk and exact revenge and I will admit I thought about it often, fantasized even but in the end people like that are best to be avoided by me because I have no self control for things like this.
We will never know if was the dog attack the previous year or the vicious sick bully attack that was what caused the final damage that made us decide that it was kinder to give Java a peaceful death ending her pain and suffering but no matter it was in the end the same. I was loosing my closest and best friend, no human could fill her spot, no human knew me so well or was ever so in tune and devoted. I miss her every day and I cry often (as I am right now writing this). Java refused to close her eyes when given the first of the two shots that would end her life, the first given to sedate and ease the dog into a peace filled sleep before the final shot. Java refused to go into the well deserved rest the medication would give, instead when her body could no longer fight the sedative affects she slide into a laying position but kept her eyes on me until the very end. I often wonder if she was asking me why, but everyone who knows her tends to agree that right to the very end Java was watching over me, making sure I was OK, doing what her training and heart told her to do….take care of my partner.
It has been 4 years and several dogs tested, trained and still none has managed to fill the role for various reasons. Some made amazing assistance dogs for mobility but not seizure and since I need both equally this would not be possible so they moved on to the people who they were meant to be with. To get a multiple skills dog; that is seizure alert and mobility is no easy task and well lets just say only slightly less complicated than finding a golden unicorn with pixie dust in its mane.
This has led me to Kona; in this blog we will follow Kona’s life, training and experiences as she works towards filling some very large paws. Yes, Kona is my best hope at trying to find a successor to Java; at least that is how it looks on paper. Kona’s test results are so close to Java’s that it is eerie to say the least; her testing began at 4 weeks old. She has so many traits that Java had that if this girl is unable to fill the role I don’t know who will.
For those of you who will be shocked to find that we start Early Puppy Education and Skill building at 5 weeks old there is a great deal of fascinating research on the windows of development opportunity for these early ages and the benefits to both the puppy (later the adult dog) and the partner they will be with. Even if the only job your pup will ever do is exulted family member and couch potato the benefits are so great that this is the only way to go in my view. Now had Kona been bred in my breeding program the bio sensory stimulation would start at 3 days until 16 days then at 20 days the EPE work begins slowly building a secure and skilled canine, who is a true partner with their human counterpart.
Tune in for the antics, laughter, tears and successes as a tiny wee black lab struggles to grow up and learn to become a giver of independence, freedom, security and life…..so not to be too cliche'; without further ado let the Kona Kronicles begin.
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