This weekend is also a turn in weekend for CCI puppies in the Southwest Region. Nasira, one of the local puppies is off to "CCI college" this weekend. But, the most exciting news is Samantha, another puppy that was raised in Albuquerque by Amy, is going to graduate as a Facility Dog this weekend!!! Samantha will be living in Denver. Samantha will be the second dog that was raised in Albuquerque that will have graduated this year.
One other bit of exciting news that Stan just told me was that Kyle from Kyleslemonade.org just received an award for his work rasing money for CCI. Kyle is now 11 years old, but started raising money for CCI when he was 7. He has now raised over $115,000.
November 25 -- Stan and I are back from our mission trip to New Orleans. It was a great time working to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina back before I was even born in 2005. Everyone had a great time together and it was very uplifting and encouraging for the humans. The people on the trip were able to share about God as they had opportunities and to encourage each other. As far as at the "camp" site goes, I was a big hit with everyone the most popular "person" there by far all week long. I enjoyed getting to meet new people and see and smell things I had never been around before. One guy that slept in the bunk next to Stan and I, kept going on and on about how well behaved I was and how he had never seen a dog like me before. Not just because I was a working dog or more specifically a hearing dog, but that I "...never once barked the entire time, despite all of the people and activity going on....and not even when Stan took out my favorite toy...(the squeaky kong)...and played with me chasing it across the room and bringing it back". He was quite impressed!!! Stan just smiled and said it was a lot of work and training that went into that behavior, and told him about the mother/daughter team (Cindy and Jenny) that had raised me and how all of the CCI puppy raisers train their puppies to behave just like I did.
Overall Stan and I were very welcomed and accpeted at the volunteer camp. However, on the trip back to NM, Stan got the closest he's ever been to calling law enforcement to file/document a civil complaint (for the ultimate purpose of filing a complaint with the US Department of Justice and/or a lawsuit) over our access rights. The US Department of Justice is the agency charged with receiving complaints and enforcing the law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I won't go into a lot of the details, but the motel we stayed in on the way back made us feel quite a bit less than welcome. Technically, they crossed the line more than once as far as the law is concerned and Stan still could pursue it if he wants to. However, Stan is comfortable (at least for now) that he was able to educate the motel through the circumstances. This was a newly built motel and it's likely that this is the first time they have had a guest with a service dog. Stan hopes this is the case and that the next time someone with a service dog stays there the situation will be different. All in all, it only delayed us about 5 minutes and they accepted the two of us without extra charges or further hassle. Most of that 5 minutes was spent with Stan explaining what they could and could not ask and ask for under the law. Stan says he is not going to be staying at that motel again, so at the very least they have lost a customer. The motel was in TX in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area. So if anyone wants to know more they can ask Stan by e-mail...he just doesn't want me to put the details up here.