GoFundMe for a Service Dog

[Kirahfaye]

Tomorrow evening we are taking our Aussie mutt, Maddie, to be evaluated to see if she could make a good PSD for Joy. Since they have a great relationship that would really work well, but Maddie is a bit skitish and needs some basic training. However we have been working with her over the past several days and she's not only eager to please, she picks up things easier than we expected. Who knows? Maybe. Otherwise my daughter says she wants to hold off on looking at more dogs for now.

She is still feeling some anxiety, but it's been greatly reduced.

[Kirahfaye]

I haven't said much of what's been going on since the entire process has been so chaotic. The director, Kimberly, agreed that Maddie might make a good PSD for Joy with intensive training (possibly TWO years) since she knows little more than basic commands and has little socialization. That's our own fault, though. She's a smart little girl - she's just shy.

However after just taking Maddie out a time or two, Joy had another anxiety attack. It wasn't as severe as the others, but she realized she has to deal with some issues of responsibility and companionship. While waiting 45 minutes to see her PN, Maddie sat very quiet and still, but Joy started getting anxiety about having a dog pretty much tied to her 24/7 from now on and her anxiety took that ball and ran with it. We discussed the fact that there is no ADA law that mandates you HAVE to take your service dog with you every time you go out so she has options.

So after talking to her PN on Tues, and her counselor on Weds, plus upping her meds some and staying home Thurs, Joy surprised me by wanting to take Maddie with us to Walmart (of all places) on Friday to get Halloween candy. They both did very well, actually and I think it helped Joy feel a bit more confident and secure about all of this. We are going to take Maddie out again today to Target to see how she does (and Joy wants her stepdad to see, also).

If Joy feels better about it, we will take Maddie to training tomorrow evening. It's supposed to be a beginner class, so it won't be as intense as the one we attended when we returned Sleepy.

Fingers crosses!