A friend of mine who owns and runs Health Heelers is conducting free screenings to see if you are your dog would be a good fit for therapy dog work.  Laura is very knowledgable about therapy dogs and the programs, as well as the rewards of doing this volunteer work.  She is very passionate about it and is offering these free screenings.  If you are in the Wisconsin area, near Milwaukee this iss a great opportunity to take advantage of.  Here is the email I received from Laura:

I will be conducting screenings in Sussex on the following dates and times. Let me know if you’re interested in having your pet assessed for Therapy Dog potential. With the screening I can help direct you regarding what preliminary work you and your pet may need to do to be successful in testing, or how to otherwise proceed. There is no cost for the screening. Get back to me with your choice of date and time. Directions and details will be sent the first week in January.

Friday, January 9^th

3:30-4:15pm

4:15-5:00

5:00-5:45

5:45-6:30 (filled)

6:30-7:15

7:15-8:00

8:00-8:45

Friday, January 16^th

6:30-7:15pm (filled)

7:15-8:00

8:00-8:45

Happy Hounds in Germantown is conducting Delta Society evaluations in February. Best Paw Forward is possibly testing in March or April. Happy Hounds and Best Paw Forward are conducting Delta classes, starting after the first of the year. (www.happyhoundswi.com / www.bestpawforward.net).  As a great alternative if someone opts to complete Delta Society’s home study course, Health Heelers and 4 My Dogz dog training (www.4mydogz.com) are combining their extensive expertise to offer training classes that will work with you and your dog on each of the skills needed for team testing! And of course, only positive training techniques are used. The class will also consist of important handler skills. The cost is only $95.00! Classes will be held in Sussex and are an hour and a half long. Start dates for the four-week series are:

Thursday, January 15 at 7:00pm

Tuesday, February 10 at 7:30pm

Monday, March 9 at 8:00pm

Details at http://www.4mydogz.com/Schedule_Therapy.html or contact me directly.

Laura Hey

Health Heelers, Inc.

(262) 442-9633

www.healthheelers.com

Thank you to Horst Hoefinger from Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog for this dog poem.  I used to think I was a bit "off" because I love animals very hard and deep, but reading this poem says so much about how I feel.  My dogs have profoundly changed my life.  I'm not afraid anymore to say how much my dogs means to me. I owe them so much because I would not be who I am today without them.  My dogs are my JOY and I live joyfully when I apply what I learn from them to my everyday life.  They are such wise teachers.  I actually feel sorry for people who don't understand the connection humans, such as myself, have with dogs.  I feel they are missing out on so much.  

Today my husband and I are starting a new tradition for Christmas and going to a movie this afternoon.  Could it be more fitting that the movie is about dogs and is "Marley and Me?"  I have cried everytime I see the movie trailer… I can only imagine the flood of emotions I will feel watching the whole movie!  But they are all good feelings, tough feelings, the feelings of life. I just wish the theatre would allow dogs cause I have a feeling I will want to be hugging my dogs during the entire movie!!

But before I ramble on, here is the poem:

         Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”

Authored by Richard A. Biby

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another Elf arrived today on Christmas Eve… I wonder, could he be the last one?  He was looking quite tired.  I imagine he had the brunt of the load to do Up North because the other two Elves arrived a few weeks ago.  The Christmas Spirit is alive and well in our home this Christmas Eve… gifts are wrapped, appetizer is made for tonight's gathering with the family, my nails are painted, naps were had by human and creatures and a couple of games of Yatzee we played.  Time to get ready for church and make new memories with John's large family.

I smile as I think about all the JOY of December this year… the elves mysteriously arriving one by one, the holiday wishes from many of you who follow me and Frankie… the kids in Canada who truly inspired me… all the kids who love Frankie and who yet have to meet her… the friends I have made at SSR Hospice and Libby's House …looking ahead to spring… and looking forward to a New Year filled with so many possibles.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you… may you be blessed with all the simple pleasures of life… like my Elves who arrived one by one and brought a smile to my heart.