Musketeer Puppy's First Day of "School"

Musketeer starts his training to become my service dog today!  It will take six to eight months for him to learn and be totally proficient at what he needs to do.

I made a gift for him (a bandanna) and sent it off in the mail today!

We're looking forward to showing YOU what he looks like at the Puppy Reveal Party on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 6:00 pm SLT!

MUSKETEER PUPPY

HAS BEEN FOUND!!!

At 4:56 pm SLT, I got a phone call and was asked to check out photos of a dog that was picked out just for me.  After hearing about him and seeing him, I had only four words to say:  "THAT'S MY MUSKETEER PUPPY!!!!!!!!"

Musketeer will start his six to eight month service dog training tomorrow.  He is currently 7 months old.  He's a big guy for his age, very "sturdy", so will make an amazing mobility assistant as well as letting me know about blood sugar levels.

There *IS* a 10% chance he might fail some point of service dog training, but if that would happen, it would happen early on.

WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE???

The Puppy Reveal Party will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 6:00 pm SLT.  If you have not received an invitation and would like one, please bop XMarieX Fairport on the head with an IM in SL and ask her!

THANK YOU for your

Prayers

&

Support!

~Marie & Musketeer~

Preparing for a RL Fund Raiser

A RL friend of mine is putting a fund raiser together for hopefully in mid-June.  She's contacted a local TV station and is hoping to have the Humane Society and the main clinic there doing demos and such.  Also planning a bake sale & craft sale and a $3 Challenge.

Here's what I've been busy making so far:

The $3 Challenge:
We are challenging YOU to be part of the $3 Challenge (Three Musketeers... $3 Challenge for Musketeer Puppy - get it?), you can do so by doing one of the following and then challenge THREE of your friends to do the same:  

*  Donate to MUSKETEER THE DIABETIC ALERT DOG at any Wells Fargo Bank.

or...

*  Donate by going to THIS website and...

1. Scroll to the bottom BLUE part of the page, 2nd from the right, CLICK on "PAYMENTS".
2. CLICK "BUY NOW".
3. In the "DESCRIPTION" box, type in MUSKETEER PUPPY, other wise funds can get lost.  Enter the AMOUNT.
4. Choose PAY WITH PAY PAL or click PAY WITH DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD.
5. Continue on the secured payment page.

THANK YOU

so much

for

Your PRAYERS,

TALKING TO ME

about how I'm doing while

going through this

and

Your FINANCIAL help

by RL donations,

SL L$ donations (750 L$ = $3),

Hiring Kiva & I to DJ,

Shopping at ~XM~ Designs,

Buying a Labrador Avatar,

Buying a Pup on a Blanket,

AND BY

TELLING OTHERS!!!

~Marie~

Got a call...  but not my Musketeer.

I received a call today from Diabetic Alert Dogs of America, saying they found a dog that basically has the temperament I was after, but not the coloring.  

I spent time looking at the photos and the video, trying to find room in my heart for this dog, but it just wasn't my Musketeer.  I really WANTED to like that dog, I tried to picture him in our lives, but ... it didn't feel right.  

I showed the children the photos and asked in a bubbly tone, "Is this Musketeer?".  They both immediately said, "No.".

Kiva reminded me that anything I work hard to try to like, never ends up to be something I truly actually like.  So I called D.A.D.A. back and told them I was sorry, that wasn't Musketeer.  They said that was FINE, that dog is VERY VERY perfect for the next person on the wait list.

I'm still on the top of the list, so I have the option of every dog, but I'm REALLY hoping and praying the next available dog will be my Musketeer Puppy, because saying "Sorry.." wasn't a happy thing to do.

Praying my Musketeer

will be found SOON!

NOW

#1

YES!!!

All of the directors and main dog trainers are currently in Las Vegas this week, testing the dogs that are about ready to graduate, making sure they are able to consistently alert to blood sugar lows and high blood sugar scents, are fully public access trained and meet all of the standards before they are brought to their humans.

D.A.D.A. (Diabetic Alert Dogs of America) will be looking for my dog (Musketeer Puppy) toward the end of this week/the beginning of next week.  AFTER they find the dog they believe will be the perfect match with me, they will send me photos and video and let me know why they feel it is a perfect match, THEN they will start training him to be my service dog.

We should know what Musketeer Puppy looks like in about 7 days!

As Always...

You can help by PRAYING for patience & wisdom for me.

AND/OR

DONATING......  Here's how:

*  Donate to MUSKETEER THE DIABETIC ALERT DOG at any Wells Fargo Bank.

or...

*  Donate by going to THIS website and...

1. Scroll to the bottom BLUE part of the page, 2nd from the right, CLICK on "PAYMENTS".
2. CLICK "BUY NOW".
3. In the "DESCRIPTION" box, type in MUSKETEER PUPPY, other wise funds can get lost.  Enter the AMOUNT.
4. Choose PAY WITH PAY PAL or click PAY WITH DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD.
5. Continue on the secured payment page.

We have $11,560 to go,

but we're getting there!

~ THANK YOU ~

NOW

NUMBER

3

~ Visit with the Local Fire Fighters ~

I had been watching "What I carry in my service dog's vest pockets" videos on YouTube at 2:00 am this morning and noticed something called File of Life.  Something I hadn't heard of before, so decided to find out what it was!

First responders are trained to look on the refrigerator of people's homes they are responding to, for a red FILE OF LIFE.  It's a plastic pocket with info card(s) filled out by the people of the house to give first responders a very quick look at what MIGHT be the reason they were called to the home, information of who to contact, allergies, etc.   

Many service dog handlers also have a copy of the card in their dogs' vest.  Service dogs can communicate a LOT to their handler, but aren't always able to tell first responders what their handler's medications or allergies are!  :)

While at the fire station to pick up our File of Life, I asked the group of first responders, "If you were needing to take someone to the hospital in your ambulance and they had a service dog... what would you do about the dog?"  Five of the fellows weren't sure and one spoke up, "Take the dog in the ambulance with its' human!"  YES!  I told them, "You'll also want to let the human know you have their dog, that the dog is there with them, because the service dog handler is going to be more concerned about their dog than they are about themselves."

I've been asked to come talk to our local fire fighters after Musketeer arrives!  I get to spread service dog education!

~ New Knowledge ~

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is very clear when it comes to the laws regarding service dogs.  As long as they are not destroying property or causing complete and utter nuisance, service dogs are allowed EVERYWHERE that the public is allowed.

However...
In doing our research, we found out that churches are not considered "public places" according to federal law.  SO, that means churches can deny service dog access and be within their rights.

I didn't want to have to change RL churches, so decided to meet with our pastor to talk about service dog fund raising and ask if I'd be welcome to go to church with my service dog.  That meeting was held this morning.  

WONDERFUL news is that he had several people in mind who may be willing and wanting to assist with fund raising!

MORE WONDERFUL news is that YES, I will be welcome to go to church with my service dog!

BONUS WONDERFUL news is that the pastor made a donation toward bringing Musketeer Puppy home!  That COMPLETELY over whelmed me and humbled me.  It was a complete surprise... I NEVER EVER expected that.

When I got home, I prayed:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this beautiful day!
Thank you for people who help!
Thank you for people who want to show me that I'm worth while.
Help me to someday believe it myself.
Amen.