At The Beginning

I always found it interesting how they always say that at the end, you always remember the beginning. Well truer words have never been spoken! As the weeks wind down, I remember that day in November when i picked up Bright. She was a little squirmy thing that wanted to play with everyone. She was handed over to me and I remember my heart melting. This one was a keeper.
Now I think that the ones I want to keep are the ones that are destined for great things. As one Puppy Raiser said that day, "This one is special, she's going to graduate". Tears sprang to my eyes and I had to scold myself and remember that there is a goal to be reached, even if it is very far into the future.

That future is now here! Oh how the time has flown by! That dreaded manila envelope has arrived and so goes the process of turn-in. I think this is the one thing about puppy raising that I dislike the most. Sure, I hate the turn-in day as much as the next person, but I dread the time when that envelope arrives. Its like we can believe that we have all the time in the world to spend with our pups and nothing can stop us. That envelope is like a splash of cold water. A way to remind us that this pup is not ours, and we have to return it in just a few short weeks.

For all you repeat PRs out there, you know what the next few weeks consist of. For those newbies out there? You're in for a bit of a surprise! Once that envelope arrives, time just speeds up. You're in a whirlwind of motion these next few weeks as you get paperwork filled out, vaccinations updated, pictures selected for the slide show. When you finally stop to take a deep breath and prepare, the day of Matriculation is here. Surprise! It snuck up on you when you weren't paying any attention.
So these next few weeks are going to pass by quickly and pull me along for the ride. Bright knows something is different. She knows that there is something coming, but she can't figure it out. This seems to be a trend with my pups. They know something is happening. (Shane ate my cell phone, Tiffany ate my mom's glasses) She has become a bit on the sulky side as if she knows that soon our time together will come to an end and that makes her sad.

So we will spend the next few weeks playing around and working hard on our commands. (She's almost perfect on everything but Speak!) I'm ready for the next few weeks.....BringIt On!!

Introducing....

Buffy III!

Buffy is the 9th pup I've raised for CCI and I'm super excited to be starting another puppy journey. I still have Bright, and we are still working hard towards her matriculation in May. Like I said before, I like to overlap pups and so today, I picked up Buffy!

Pictures!!

Countdown: 3 Months

Is it really almost time?

Bright is now 17 months old and the time is continuing to fly past. Was it really over a year ago that she came home with me?
November 2009. CCI November Graduation. That day was a new experience for me, having a pup matriculate and picking up a new pup at the same time. As many people know, I like to overlap my pups. It does take more work, but I find that it's the best way to raise pups. It also helps to have that other pup to snuggle with once your older pup walks away to his/her new life.

And so the countdown begins. 3 months and counting down. Bright, as well as all pups in the NER, are turning in 3 months later than normal. So I have my BrightStar for an extra 3 months. 3 more months of puppy kisses and fun times. 3 more months to get her training correct. 3 more months until I have to give her back.

Out of all the pups that I've raised, she was the one that we did the most with. She traveled all over. To Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and even down to Disney World for a week. The experiences with her have been amazing and she has taught me so much in the time that I have had her. She was another of my "easy" pups and she easily adapted to the environment around her.

Lately I have been working with her on just a flat collar or a martingale. She does wonderfully on either one! Again, an "easy" pup. I wish they could all be like her!

So, 14 months ago I picked up this cute little puppy from NER and together we began an amazing journey. One filled with many new experiences and challenges. We met each one head on and we will continue to work hard. We have a goal to reach: Bright's Matriculation.

So the countdown has officially begun. Time to get ready to receive that turn-in packet. Time to train hard on all her commands. Time to get myself ready to say another goodbye and to send Bright off to "college" with a piece of my heart so she always knows I'm there.........

Tribute to Marvelous Mercer

A young woman realized that there were many things that she could not do, so instead she wrote stories about how her service dog Mercer could do them for her. Mercer would go ice skating for her, and do everything that she couldn't do. Mercer's stories were published and have warmed the hearts of everyone that has read them.
Sadly, Mercer passed away from cancer at the end of June. He was strong and I know that Shea loved him with all her heart.

The latest version of the Northeast Companion (CCI's newsletter for the Northeast Region) was just delivered to my house this morning. Inside, Shea had written a heart-wrenching tribute to her wonderful friend, Mercer. It touched me so much that I wanted to share it with you all:

"My dear CCI family,
Here is one of those letters I thought I wouldn't be writing until years from now.

As many of you know, me sweet Mercer, born February 15th, 2:10 am, 15 perfect ounces, died of cancer on a weekday in June. I was overseas in Europe - my hero protected me from the pain of seeing him so ill, until the day he died.

After Mercer wasn't there to greet me off the plane, I was told in the parking lot of JFK that he was gone. It was the first time in my entire life where I wanted my world to fade to black. I put my head against the car seat and broke down. "He was my world," I cried. "My entire world."

And like a dear friend would soon tell me, "He still is."
I did then the only thing I could think to do. I started to sing.
Phil Collins - "You'll Be In My Heart." Our song. The same song I would sing to him during thunderstorms, or while he was gently falling asleep in his kennel.
"I know you can hear me," I cried.
And he did.

A week later, on my way to visit a special friend of Mercer's, I turned on the channel of the radio. It was as if the song switched on the exact moment I landed on it.
Disney songs? Never on the radio.
And now, I still see him forming little black circles on my bed, watching me with those infinitely knowing eyes. I know now what he would say to me from heaven.
"Why are you crying?" he'd look at me in bewilderment. "I'm here. And my job is never done. Not even now."

Not even now - I've already met my guardian angel. And once again Merc, you know so much more than I do.
But you've taught me, Mercer. Life is about pulling our head back up from the car seat, and watching the headlights go by you. It's about feeling your heart beating, and wondering if that was a second beat you might have felt with you somehow.

And it's about holding on. Holding on to your collar, holding on to you with all that I am.

Don't think I am letting go.
I love you my sweet boy.

Shea"
Our hearts and thoughts still go out to the Megale family and amazing Shea. Be strong and know that we are all here for you if there is ever anything you need.

Puppy Pictures to Make You Smile

Not much going on right now as we gear up for the NJ-Chapter's benefit in a week and a half. YIKES! Lots of work to still be done!
But here are some cute puppy pictures that should make you smile! I'll post again (hopefully) when things calm down a bit after the event!

Daniel's Charity Baseball Game

This past Sunday, CCI was very honored to be the beneficiary of Daniel's Charity Baseball Game! The background story? Daniel wanted to help out other people and decided to host a charity baseball game every year. Each year he would choose a charity and donate all the proceeds from the game to that organization. This year he chose CCI to be the beneficiary!Thanks to our NJ Chapter Public Relations Chair, Jen, for getting us all involved. I believe that she knew the family when she was raising Callie and that's how they learned about CCI in the first place. The game was a "pickup" baseball game between the 11th graders at Daniel's school and the Westfield Police Department. It was a ton of fun and you could see that everyone was having a good time as well.
They had set up some tables which they put auction items on. You could buy a ticket to place in the bags to put in your "bid". Then at the end of the event, Daniel went around picking out numbers and handing out the prizes. It was very well done!
The dogs had a lot of fun meeting everyone and everyone had fun meeting the pups!
Thank you again Daniel for choosing CCI and for inviting us to be there! It was a great event and we had a lot of fun!

Way to go Sgt. Cila & SD Gillian!

CCI has launched a nation-wide Wounded Veteran's Initiative where they are trying to unite many wounded vets with Service Dogs. The NER recently graduated their first Veteran with SD Gillian. It's a fascinating story from the PR to the day of graduation.

Gillian's PR was a young girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 10. She applied for a wish from the Make A Wish Foundation. Her wish was to raise a Service Dog, and her wish was granted. She received Gillian and it was great to see that Gillian graduated!

Gillian has helped out her new partner, Sergeant Sam Cila, and he was recently interviewed about CCI, You can read the interview here.

Happy Reading and way to go Sam and Gillian!!