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Changing paths.

Most of you know that we have been working towards getting my daughter a service dog for quite a while. She was even matched with a dog (Bella) from an un-named organization. Things have not been feeling quite right to us for some time, so after much soul searching and talking we withdrew our daughter from the program.

The organization had stopped sending us any updates. No pictures, nor any real training updates. When we would ask, they said they were too busy, but maybe later…

As I began to get more frustrated with the lack of communication, we began looking deeper. We couldn’t find any previous “matches” to talk with. It turns out we would be their very first attempt at a service animal, even though their website portrays them as having done this many times. I then contacted Siberian Husky breeders in several midwest states to see if they were even legitimate and found out that other breeders had not heard of them. However every single breeder and rescue organization who wrote me back, expressed serious concern about a very young husky being a service dog for a child. That got me looking even further, so I contacted several long standing service dog organizations and they all expressed concern about the breed choice and age of Bella also. One SD organization here in WA even found out after looking at the organizations website, that they had violated their copyrights by copying information word for word from them. At that point, the red flags were just too much for us.

I no longer felt comfortable that this was the right match for us. That left us in a quandary.

There were two different paths we could follow to our goal, one was to get back on wait lists for a fully trained service dog and hope for a better match (and at a cost of $13,500), or the second option was to find a suitable dog with the help of the Humane Society and take the dog ourselves through basic/advanced/CGC training, then to Seattle Service Dog Academy (cost of approx $5000).

We spent Tuesday at the Kitsap Humane Society, interacting with a 2 year chocolate lab they thought was the right blend of smart, eager to learn and right temperament. After playing for 30 minutes, Faith looked at her and said “You are my dog. You are Daisy. You will be mine.” So the route we will be going is basic/advanced obedience training, followed by CGC then over to Seattle Service Dog Academy. This is not the “easy” route, since it puts much more stress on us as a family to begin with, but it is the right one. Thank you to the Kitsap Humane Society for for helping, and understanding. You are amazing.

Without further ado…..Meet Daisy!

My John Hancock
{ 11 comments… add one }
  • Jennifer August 12, 2011, 11:28 am

    Sometimes the easy route is not the best. Congrats. I am happy for you 🙂

  • Elyse August 12, 2011, 11:40 am

    Congrats on Daisy!! She is too precious. She looks like she’s a great answer to prayers and a great fit.

  • Amanda August 12, 2011, 11:43 am

    I’m glad its working out. Maybe it wasn’t the original path but she seems like a smart dog and will hopefully learn quite quickly as most labs do. We have a 4 year old lab, who after the baby was born, has become much more protective. She comes to get me if Kennedy is crying and after she detected my miscarriage before I got pregnant with Kennedy, I will never second guess my dog!

  • Poekitten August 12, 2011, 12:03 pm

    Aw, Daisy is adorable! I wouldn’t have felt comfortable with that organization either…glad that you guys now have a puppy and are working with her!

  • Dory August 12, 2011, 12:26 pm

    Oh wow!! No wonder there weren’t many updates. The good thing is that you got out and Faith was sent a blessing. It apears that Daisy became immediately attached to Faith, which shows a biggest sign right there. Remember Labs have notorius chewing stage so be patient! May Faith & Daisy’s bond grow stronger, and Daisy fly through all of her training!

  • Dory August 12, 2011, 12:29 pm

    Oops! I was thinking Daisy was 4mo old. Strike out the chewing phase part. Lol!

  • Athena Blair August 12, 2011, 3:06 pm

    Allison, I am so sorry to hear all of this. I am glad that you found out now before you gave them any money and before the dog came to live with you guys. We all know everything happens for a reason. Perhaps Daisy will turn out to be exactly what Faith needs to help her through this world!!

  • Lindsay August 16, 2011, 6:32 am

    I am happy for you that it worked out in the end! It seems like it has been a hard process but you now have a good ending. I’m glad Faith found “her” dog. 🙂

  • Lindsey August 16, 2011, 4:10 pm

    YAY!!! I love the Humane Society. They are always so helpful and caring.

    And BOO to that place-that-shall-not-be-named! Will you at least be getting a refund of the monies already given for the service dog?

  • waning woman August 17, 2011, 2:05 pm

    Daisy is adorable!

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