The Miracle of a Service Dog

It has begun!

We will be in training at 4 Paws beginning this Tuesday, January 29th and continue for 10 days straight from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.through the 7th of February.

February 8th will be our Public Access Certification Test and Graduation!

On Friday, the 9th we will head back to Atlanta.

There is so much more to tell you about the miracles these service dogs are bringing to families all over the world. If you have time and interest, visit the 4 Paws website at www.4pawsforability.org. The testimonies will blow you away!

So we begin our travels to Ohio on Sunday, January 27th and will arrive in Xenia on the 29th. My cousin, Adair, arrives from Missoula, Montana Monday evening to begin the training with us on Tuesday.

As if this adventure weren't enough...

I'm excited to report that one of the foremost experts on parenting children with FASD, Jodee Kulp, will be joining us at our training. Jodee, a well-respected author, lecturer and advocate in the FASD field has also been breeding poodles at her facility, Knarlwoods. Jodee, a Board of Directors Member for the Minnesota Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS) actually started a pilot training program in her area. She has been training "Limey" to work with a 21-year old young man with FASD named Ken. Unbeknownst to me until just a few weeks ago...I had not heard of anyone using a SD for someone with FASD! Now, not only will we be returning with our new miracle for Iyal and our family...but Jodee and I will have a chance to meet, brainstorm and hopefully collaborate with our FASD efforts. Jodee has been my "FASD Guru" since I first read her book, Our FAScinating Journey; Keys to Brain Potential Along the Path of Prenatal Brain Injury, many years ago. This book has more information about the challenges and triumphs of raising a child with FASD than any other of which I am aware. To find out more about Jodee and her work visit her website at www.betterendings.org.

Thank you in advance for joining us our adventure.

I'll do my best to keep you posted during our training...

if I'm not "dog-tired" at night.

And please feel free to share comments.