Kersey at about four months.
The newest member to our family is Kersey, a yellow lab who is currently 10 months old. Being a Canine Partners puppy, she will only be with us until January 2010. In 2010 she will be returning to Canine Partners for more specialized training to be placed with a wheelchair bound recipient here in Colorado. Kersey has a co puppy raiser in Buena Vista named Kathy Roman, whose house Kersey stays at half the time. Many of you may have seen either Kathy or I in Salida or Buena Vista, socializing her in stores, medical facilities, sports events such as basketball or football, movie theaters, meetings, etc. The goal is that when she gets placed with her recipient that there won’t be any surprise situations that will get her unfocused from her task at hand ofhelping the person in the wheelchair.
Jody being read to at PAWS for reading.
The oldest canine member of our house is Rocky, who will be 10 years old in April. Rocky got his name because his cute shepherd/chow cross face looked like a little raccoon when we adopted him from Ark Valley Humane Society as a pup: remember the tune “Rocky Raccoon…”? Besides the almost daily walk that all the dogs and I take, Rocky’s role in the pack is to practice either Dog Rally or Dog Agility with me.
Our middle aged dog, a yellow lab/golden retriever cross named Jody, just turned 7 years old last month. We had been puppy raisers for Jody through another service organization called Canine Companions for Independence. We’d gotten Jody as a ‘canine teenager’ because the previous puppy raiser had turned her back in when they came to realize how much rambunctious energy a retriever can have. Jody did not get placed as a service dog because of her high play drive and a streak of stubbornness that prevailed even as she went through her advanced specialized training. As is always the case, puppy raisers get first dibs on dogs that aren’t placed; we were more than happy to have her back to become a permanent member of our household. Certified as both a Canine Good Citizen dog and as a Therapy Dog, Jody and I volunteer weekly at the Longfellow PAWS for Reading program and occasionally visit the residents at Columbine Manor.
The Pintane Family, with Jody, Kersey and Rocky
Previous canines that have been members of our Pintane family include a Golden Retriever named Henna that was the ring bearer at Terry’s and my wedding, a Yorkshire Terrier named Rowdy that we inherited when Terry’s dad passed away, and another service dog named Jenelle that we raised and was placed with a six year old quadriplegic girl.
Great job Laura! Way to go. Good introdution to your brood. It was particularly interesting to hear about the service programs.
Thanks Laura!
i love the dogs that are shown on here!!! they are so adorable!
Hey,Laura,good article. I feel as if I know you better through the story of your dogs! That is one of the goals and it works. I had a Rockie once and you’re right about retrievers having a lot of energy – especially as “teenagers.”