There seem to be a fair number of dog lovers on the forum, so I thought I would post this pic. I just finished my 3 day 'pup sitter' class and became certified to provide dog sitting for Service Dogs! Now I can contemplate the commitment of becoming a service dog associate trainer - 5 days of class room training, 1 day of learning to use a wheel chair, then 5 days of being confined to a wheelchair and taking an 'in-training' service dog with me shopping - literally to a china shop, to movies, out to dinner, on a bus, etc.

Here is a pic of the special dogs we worked with for this class.

From Left, Georgie, a 1 year old Retriever/lab mix half way through training. Drake, a 6 month old black lab being trained to provide service for a child in a wheelchair. In the center is Wade, a 7 year old Retriever whose quadrapalegic owner required hospice care. Too old for new placement, but too young for retirement, (Boy, does THAT sound familiar!) Wade is going through 'career change' training to become a hospital visitation dog, since he is a real affection sponge, despite his regal look! Next is 2 year old Robert, graduating in November for placement with an owner confined to a wheelchair. Last is Rivis, Roberts brother, who though fully trained, never outgrew his puppy bashfull nature and lacks the required confidence for independent service. He will be a demonstration 'ambassador' for the Dog Partners' program and visit schools, city council sessions, etc. to demonstrate the concept of service dogs.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Hey JCE, Thank's for this post!

Just because you were the first, and only one, that welcomed me to this board, has nothing to do with my respect for you and how you feel about life.

Thank You, for your love of cars, and all living things!

Thanks to people like you, my blind sister has the blessing of a Guide Dog.

Sorry to say, some people don't see it that way. My sister is 51 years old (awesome gal) and lost her sight from detached retenas, after about 7 years of hell.

She lives with my elderly parents in a nice mobile home park. Some of the people there don't like her dog....in fact, over a couple of years they have complained to the park management, who have asked her to only go out at certan times of day, and sent letters to the Guide Dog provider, claming her Guide Dog, consumed their dog. (I told my Sister she should feed him more often) Bottom line her dog was retired....good news is she is back,as we speak, getting a new Guide Dog, and 3 weeks training. Bad news, she does not want to go back to her home!

My sister is in not doing well with all this BS, who will enforce the law's?

The Guide Dog programs are great, thank's to people like you!

Sadly some people just don't get it!

John, Keep up the good work!

If anyone can help, please do.

Thank's again.

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Tim
300CE
280SE 4.5
Sandals (size 11)

Didn't see you step in there Lucky, welcome to mercedesshop. Very cool John, my friend Adam, who is in a wheelchar, has a good dog, Tahoe is his name. He's a Yellow Lab Great work!

Kuan

Good Morning John,

Thanks for the info on the dogs and thanks for the great work that you do for these special people. I want to see the picture of the dogs but am not getting it. I do not know if its my side or yours. Will try again when I get home this afternoon. By the way I don't think that i ever told you when we met but I work for a non profit social services company that provides care and employment opportunities for devlopmentally challenged people.
At present I supervise a group that works at Nissan corperate headquarters.

Mary and I are looking at possibilty of moving to San Clemente so we may be relatively close soon. Have a nice day.

Bobby and Mary Ray

Bobby:

The server seems to be down this morning - I will call them after 9AM to see what gives. Hope you move down here - you and Mary would make fun neighbors! We are thinking of downsizing and maybe moving to San Clemente as well, so...

Kuan:

I really see these dogs in a different light since I have gotten involved with Dog Partners. I used to just see them as a well trained dog, and companion for their owners. Now I see that each is the result of a training program up to 2 years long, with health screening, psychological profiling, socialization to a wide variety of public places and unusual events to make sure the dog won't bolt in panic at a new situation, and selection for high intelligence and desire to work. Each dog is donated to the LOOOONG waiting list of potential recipients (nearly 10,000 people in wheelchairs in this county alone!). Lifetime veterinary care and dog food is usually included in the donation to prevent financial burden on the recipient. Arrangements are also made for the dogs retirement to private homes after their working career is over. I have learned that his is a lot more complicated than teaching the commands, which many of the pups have picked up by 6 months.

LuckyF8

Thanks for the kind words - but I am just an adjunct to the really hard working dogs, and the dedicated people at Dog Partners who charge all over the county 80 hours a week trying to get the support from cities and private donors to create these special helpers/companions - without a salary during the start up years. (Mayors breakfast at 7AM in one city, City council meeting at 7PM 60 miles away, and 8 stops in between is a typical day for them, with more dog training and special events on the weekends)!

I sympathize with your sister's plight! There are certainly some 'different' people on this planet, but usually most folks like the service dogs. As one little girl in a wheelchair said " They help me in lots of ways, but when I have my dog, people don't look at me funny or avoid me any more because of my wheelchair - the dog makes me part of their life. They bring me love". From what I have been told I believe it is illegal for the trailer park management to try to restrict either a service dog or disabled persons activity. (ADA, California regs). I will check on this with the head of Dog Partners and see if she has any suggestions or contacts. I may have difficulty catching up with her for a couple of days, as she is usually all over the county trying to get funds and support to build a dog training center to raise the next 2 puppies arriving in mid October. They want to be training 10 or more puppies at a time, but the 2 year training program to teach the dogs their 90 commands, identify any health problems in the dogs, and identify their personality type for a match with the disabled person costs about $20,000 per dog and takes a ton of volunteers. Since they are the only organization in Orange County doing this, and are just starting up with placement of their first dog from the 2 they trained at home, they are a tad busy .

http://www.dogpartners.com has some pics of Robert and Rivis until I can find out what is happening with the local server.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Man, I miss my Golden. Had one for twelve years growing up, until he succumbed to cancer a few years ago.

I have been doing a lot of work recently that puts me in close contact with Mine Detection Dogs (MDD's), a very special type of working dog. Mostly they are Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, and their willingness to work and intelligence astounds me.

This is one of my mutts. Bay is a three year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We got him from the Chessie rescue society two years ago, after he was found wandering on a beach in Virginia. He was 50# and bleached completely blond by the sun. Now he's a healthy 95# and one of the best looking Chessie's I've ever seen (not that I'm biased in the slightest )

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Yall know I love a dog!! Dogs perform many tasks from service tasks to just being your buddy!! It's like my wife told me when she gave BenzE to me, "Unlike me, this dog will be happy to see you each time it sees you"! Man's BEST friend!!

JCE, that is simply awesome!!! Beautiful Labs also. These are my mutts. They give me a reason to go home every day and not wander from place to place. Love 'em to death.

Left to right:

Chance, Nikita, and Budd

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speaking of dogs.. check this "things" out
its a chinese crested hairless pup
No idea what this one is.


Also.. but this one is a cat, or IS IT? I saw this on a Jay Leno show

Kuan

Thanks for the welcome.

JCE

Thanks for the offer of help, you won't belive this, I called the ADA enforcement in DC and was told Trailer parks are exempt from their law, maybe call HUDD. I also have a requested help from the state, they said they will contact us in a few days.

Sad part is the damage is done, you would think the Orange County Anamial Control would be sensitive to these issues, NOT!

No matter how bad the world seems to be these days, I always see light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to people like you and all the others who offer time and money to help.

If just a few humans took a lesson from these awesome dedicated working anamials, the world would be a much better place.

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Tim
300CE
280SE 4.5
Sandals (size 11)

A relative of mine is victum to Grand Maul seizures. Her parents purchased an Autralian Shepherd that was trained to sense an attack and forewarn her guardian. I read an article recently that dogs were being trained to detect prostrate cancer from smelling urine samples. Amazing!!! Now, if I can just train BenzE to stop chewing shoes!!!

You all know how much I love animals, but especially dogs.

Those who don't own dogs will never understand how amazing they are, and how big a part of our lives they become.

I'm missing my little weenie dog, "Pee Wee" right now while I'm typing this at work.

I think I'll call home to the wife and see how Pee Wee's doing...

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

About the dog and the ADA, I can't believe that people who live in mobile home parks have fewer rights than people who don't. That seem ridiculous to me.

Kuan

Hey,

I love all those pictures of the dogs. My dad used to tell me that when you first meet someone turn the conversation to dogs and if they like dogs then they are probably worth knowing. Of course this does not always hold true as I know some fine people who do not like dogs and I know some not so fine that do like dogs. Enough of this homespun philosophy.

Here is a picture of our little girl. A miniature bull terrier named Meisie (Afrikaans for girl).

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Hector at 11 weeks helping me do timing chain......
William Rogers.........

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