Join Us To

Celebrate

Kiva & I want to celebrate all who have helped to get this important Service Dog, so please join us for music, gifts and FUN at ~XM~ Designs!

We Look Forward

To Seeing YOU

THEN!

I've been interested in Service Dog gear for awhile now.  I don't know if anyone else is interested.  I didn't post the "Tidy Turd" pooper scooper that arrived yesterday (you can thank me later, LOL), but this brought tears of joy:

Our phone number is under "Meds in vest", that's why it's blocked out.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING!

There is still a balance

due!

If you are able to give

a few dollars,

Musketeer and I would GREATLY

APPRECIATE it

AND

YOU!

THANKS SO MUCH!

Type in "MUSKETEER PUPPY"

in the description box

after clicking BUY NOW

HERE

SERVICE DOG

MUSKETEER

COMES HOME

OCTOBER 13th, 2017!

I received a phone call from Diabetic Alert Dogs of America at noon local time.  Musketeer completed his final testing yesterday and passed!  He'll be leaving Las Vegas on Oct. 12th, flying to Wisconsin getting in late, so staying at a local hotel, then the morning of Oct. 13th, he'll be delivered!!!!

The trainer that is delivering Musketeer will be teaching me how to be a great service dog handler all day the 13th and most of the day on the 14th (will stay longer if needed).

There is still a balance

due!

If you are able to give

a few dollars,

Musketeer and I would GREATLY

APPRECIATE it

AND

YOU!

THANKS SO MUCH!

Type in "MUSKETEER PUPPY"

in the description box

after clicking BUY NOW

HERE

Arrrgh!

So I was told Musketeer passed his test in Las Vegas with flying colors.  I had assumed it was his final test because I didn't know of any other tests.

It was his "preliminary test".

Musketeer's final test isn't until mid to late October.

It's going to be awhile before he comes home.

More time to raise funds!

Told to Me

While Skyping

with

Musketeer

and one of his

Trainers

Gracie, Musketeer's main trainer, told me that she and Musketeer had been out with another dog and another trainer, and that trainer happens to be a diabetic.

While they were out, Musketeer started alerting the diabetic trainer.  The diabetic trainer told Gracie that his blood sugar levels were fine, Musketeer was most likely just wanting a treat.  Gracie reminded the other trainer that Musketeer is really good at his job and the guy should test. 

Sure enough, the trainer's blood sugar level was going where it shouldn't be and Musketeer had alerted correctly.  

WAY TO GO, MUSKETEER!

21st Weekly Report Card

for

Service Dog

Musketeer Puppy

Musketeer has been working on maintaining a down stay while other dogs are walking by or playing near by, off leash heeling, recall, night alerts, and down stay for extended periods of time. His training locations have included Petco, Ikea, Lowe's, the local park, a softball game, Lazy Boy Furniture, and Cold Stone Creamery. 

Next week, Musketeer will be working on maintaining focus on the handler while other dogs are near, night alerts, maintaining proper household manners, recall with distance in a large enclosed protected environment, continuous alerting and proofing his alerts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A FUN way to help is at this LINK.

THANK YOU

for

HELPING

to get this

Service Dog

HOME!

ONE MORE

SKYPE

with

MUSKETEER!

Trainer Gracie of Diabetic Alert Dogs of America, has been Musketeer's main trainer and was the one to Skype with me and Musketeer the three times that I've now Skyped with him.  I had a lot of questions for her and she gave me lots of answers as well as a lot of "behind the scenes" information that will help me be a better service dog handler.

One of the first things I asked was if she will be okay when it's time for Musketeer to leave to come home to me.  She told me that if Musketeer would stay with her, he'd only be a pet and not living up to his full potential and that includes saving my life.  She much rather have Musketeer helping take care of me and making my life so much better and healthier and Musketeer really loves to do alerts and other tasks, it makes him really happy.  She did tell me that her husband has gotten really close to Musketeer and he might have a more difficult time, but still, he knows Musketeer needs to be with me.  I asked Gracie if she would like it if I kept in touch with them, let them know how Musketeer is doing and she seemed thrilled with that offer!  I'm planning on making something extra special for Gracie and her husband and have it be "from Musketeer" for Christmas.

Musketeer went on a road trip from the Phoenix area to Las Vegas Wednesday, September 20, 2017 to meet up with the boss man to be tested!  Musketeer Puppy PASSED with flying colors!  I was told to contact the office next week to find out when Musketeer has been scheduled to fly to Wisconsin!  I was told two to three weeks from now by Gracie, but the main office will be better able to give me a more exact date!  I was also told that Musketeer is awesome going on long car rides.

I was given so much information to process today.  I'll be given so much MORE information and a book all about Musketeer, when he arrives.  I was told if there is any place here that I'm not sure will be open to having a service dog, to let Ed (the boss who will be delivering Musketeer) know, that he's very good at educating folks about ADA laws.  

No time to waste!  The time to step up to the plate is NOW!

1.  Direct payments to Diabetic Alert Dogs of America using Musketeer Puppy in the payment description box.  Here's the LINK

2.  Donate at any Wells Fargo Bank to Musketeer the Diabetic Alert Dog.

3.  PayPal to:  wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com

4.  Purchase items or donate towards Musketeer at ~XM~ Designs in SL.

5.  Participate in The Purpose Hunt (Link HERE)

THANK YOU

for your Prayers

for your Time

for your Support

for your Kindness

for

Just you being YOU!

HOW YOU CAN

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1.  Direct payments to Diabetic Alert Dogs of America using Musketeer Puppy in the payment description box.  Here's the LINK

2.  Donate at any Wells Fargo Bank to Musketeer the Diabetic Alert Dog.

3.  PayPal to:  wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com

4.  Purchase items or donate towards Musketeer at ~XM~ Designs in SL.

5.  Participate in The Purpose Hunt (Link HERE)

I REALLY APPRECIATE

YOUR HELP

AND SO DOES

MUSKETEER!

THANK YOU

SO MUCH

FOR HELPING

TO GET

MUSKETEER PUPPY

HOME!

SO EXCITED!!!!

Musketeer's vest was custom made and just got finished by River Dog Gear.  I asked for "Musketeer colors" of royal blue and silver edging.  Here are the photos she sent:

These have expandable side pockets to fit all of my diabetic items (meter, insulin, syringes, glucose tablets/gel as well as a File of Life (medical info card), poop bags, etc.  The patches are attached with Velcro, so I can put them onto other items if I'm working Musketeer without the vest.  SWEEEEEEET!

20th Weekly Report Card

for

Service Dog

Musketeer

Musketeer has been hard at work practicing simulated night alerts, calming after an alert, leave it, maintaining a down stay with and without barriers, maintaining a sit while being pet by strangers, not sniffing people or items as he or they pass by and heeling. His training locations have included a local park, Kohl's, Macy's, JcPenny's, Babies R Us and the Container Store. 

Next week, Musketeer will be working on maintaining a down stay while other dogs are walking by or playing near by, off leash heeling, recall, night alerts and down stay for extended periods of time.

19th Weekly Report Card

for

Service Dog

Musketeer Puppy

Musketeer has been working on night alerts, alerting with one paw, alerting with children playing close, alerting in a restaurant environment, car alerts, maintaining a down stay without a specified boundary and reinforcement of all obedience and public service skills. His training locations have included Petco, the park, Chipotle, Arriba's Mexican Food and Food City. 

Next week, Musketeer will be working on night alerts, alerting with one paw, down stay with distractions in a busy public environment, leave it with food items and recall with distractions.

Thank you for your interest in my service dog journey!

THE PURPOSE HUNT

NEEDS YOU!

Musketeer, the Service Dog, will be done with his training next month!  Service Dogs are not covered by insurance.  Service Dogs are extremely expensive because of all of the hours needed to train them to do specific tasks for their disabled handler.  In Musketeer's case, the tasks he's learning can save a life!

It is IMPORTANT to have as many people do this hunt as possible!  TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!  Bring your friends along to do this hunt with you.  Inform the groups you're in.

EVERY BIT HELPS!

Thank you

for

Making it possible

to get this

Service Dog

HOME!

HOW DID THEY KNOW?

Several years ago... when I was pregnant with Buggy girl, I had gone to a neighboring town and I didn't realize my blood sugar levels were low when I was headed back home after.  *I* have no memory of a majority of this, but I was told a bunch of things later....

Story Time!

So I was headed home... about a 15 mile drive.  I was later told that it appeared that I was playing chicken with other cars, driving over the line and veering back into my lane at the very last moment.  I was told I clipped off one lady's side mirror from her car.  I lead  six police cars and the sheriff on a slow speed chase and they called my husband, "Do you know who might be driving your car right now?"  He told the officers that I was.  They asked him if I had any medical issues.  He told them that I was 3 months pregnant and I was a Type 1 diabetic.  The police put down a spike strip before I got to the exit to a main road.  The spike strip punctured three of the tires and I slowed to a stop, bumping into the sheriff's rear bumper.  Officers pulled me out of the car at gun point, had me laying on the road where they handcuffed me.

After I was handcuffed, they had me sit at the side of the road where an ambulance was.  They tested my blood sugar level and it was 33 (WAY TOO LOW!), gave me glucose and put me in the back of the ambulance, taking me to the hospital.  

By the time I got to the hospital, I knew what was going on, my blood sugar level was back in the normal range and I could finally think clearly again.  I was terrified because I didn't know what would happen to me.  The police didn't even talk to me (that I remember, or that I was told).  One of the ambulance guys told me that it will be on my record for awhile and the doctor would have to turn in my blood sugar test results for a year or two, to show I wasn't going to drive with a low like that again.

Well...........  I have a few times.  And yes, I test my levels before I get behind the wheel of the car.  Just sometimes, things happen and levels change and I can't tell they've changed and machines are about 20 minutes slower than actual levels, so I might get a reading of 80 (which is GREAT), but be on the way down and by the time it's too late, I could be in the 30s (which is WAY TOO LOW).

So, I was VERY GLAD to see that Diabetic Alert Dogs of America (D.A.D.A.) were training Musketeer to do THIS:

And Now...

Down Again.

The roller coaster of life has many ups and downs and sharp turns.  The best you can do is hang on tight and enjoy the ride when you can!

Perhaps I should practice what I preach?

I've been feeling really low for the past couple days.  I talked to "the new gal" at D.A.D.A. (Diabetic Alert Dogs of America - where Musketeer, my service dog, is being trained).  She told me that Musketeer would be coming home at the END of October.  I had just been told mid-October.  Now two weeks have been added on?

I was also told that Ed, the head dude of D.A.D.A., would be delivering Musketeer.  From the videos that I've seen of him, he seems to me a Type A personality, just go, go, go type of person who doesn't wait for anyone or anything.  My GO went when I fell down that flight of stairs..  I don't move like I used to move.  And they want me to wait to do ALL of Musketeer's shopping so Ed can go with me to explain what to get and what not to get.  I like to go shopping, but I'm more of a snail's pace now, and I get wiped out rather quickly.  So I started getting high anxiety about going shopping with Ed.  Thankfully, I have an AMAZING husband who asked, "How much does Musketeer cost?  For THAT much, Ed can go shopping at YOUR speed and asking you how he can help make things better for you!".  

I'm worried about having the house ready for a dog.  I'm worried about how long it's going to take because my blood sugar levels are yo-yo-ing so horribly lately and I drove while bottomed out and don't know how I got home the other day, and then the next day I'm up in the 400s.  SO NOT COOL.  So I'm wanting Musketeer home NOW, but I'm not ready for him RIGHT now and he's not ready quite yet either.  I'm worried about how much start up funds will be needed when Ed is here.  How many times are we going to need to go out to eat and spend money at restaurants? How much for all of the food, bowls, treats, chews, etc. etc. etc. just to get STARTED, cuz you need EVERYTHING all at once!  Once you have everything, then cost is spread out.  Oh, we'll need to get a city dog license too.  I almost forgot about that.  The Purpose Hunt went REALLY WELL for the first two and a half days.  Now it seems to be at a stand still.  That's rather discouraging.

Anyway...  I was told that we'll be given a 2 to 3 week heads up before they get here.  My blood sugar level just went up a bunch while I was typing this cuz I'm getting so stressed and my pain level is really high as well.

Don't worry!  Be happy!

18th Weekly Report Card

for

Service Dog

Musketeer Puppy!

Musketeer has been working on night alerts, alerting by jumping on the bed when handler is not responding to a side alert, waiting patiently after an alert for the handler to go through the motions of checking glucose level, alerting in a car, alerting with one paw, continued practice with proofing alerts, maintaining a down stay in areas with people constantly entering and exiting a location, maintaining a down stay for extended periods of time, heeling through public places in a controlled manner, and maintaining proper behavior and control and alerting with unknown dogs near. His training locations have included a local fire station, Basha's, Macy's, Macayo's Mexican Food and an optometrist office. 

Next week, Musketeer will be working on night alerts, alerting with one paw, alerting with children playing close, alerting in a restaurant environment, car alerts, maintaining a down stay without a specified boundary, and reinforcement of all obedience and public service skills.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been told night alerts is the most challenging task for a diabetic alert service dog and takes the longest to be able to do. Musketeer is flying through this part of his training!

Basically, what D.A.D.A. (Diabetic Alert Dogs of America) is doing now is just fine tuning everything Musketeer has learned prior to his testing.

As I understand it, several senior trainers will get together with Musketeer and put him through the paces of everything he needs to know for public access and for trained tasks he needs for my disabilities. Testing takes a bit of time. If Musketeer fails at anything, more time will be needed to perfect where he messed up.

Trainers are thinking Musketeer will be ready to come home in mid-October. I had been originally told it takes six to eight months to fully train a dog. Mid-October will be five and a half months.

I don't like asking for help. It's not happy for me to ask. I'd MUCH RATHER *GIVE* help than ask for it. But, I need help to get this service dog home.
PayPal: wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com

HUGE THANK YOU

for reading about this process,

for listening to me through the

highs and lows

(blood glucose highs & lows

as well as

emotional highs & lows!),

for praying for us,

for putting up with all of my

EMOTIONS

in dealing with frustrations

and

celebrations!

THANK YOU

for being the AMAZING YOU

who cares!

I truly appreciate

YOU!
(And so does Musketeer!)

LAST HUGE HURRAH

To Raise Funds

For

MUSKETEER PUPPY

The Service Dog!

Thanks to Gardenia Events and LOTS of SL merchants with big hearts, the The Purpose Hunt is helping to raise funds to get Musketeer HOME!  Gardenia made my shop, ~XM~ Designs, the first stop of approx. 30 stores.  This is a 5 L hunt with 4 L going to Musketeer and 1 L going to the amazing in world merchants.  For MP stores, it's a 10 L hunt with 7 L going to Musketeer, 1 L going to the merchants and 2 L going to LL.

This is the last major push (that I'm aware of) to get Musketeer home.  We're still in need of approx. $6500 USD to get him paid off.

Here is what you'll get at your first stop and I've seen several of the other items merchants have made and all I can say is WOWZERS!

Please grab friends and folks from your groups to participate!

Different Types of Dogs

There is often lots of confusion about different types of dogs.  I'm going to try to do a "Reader's Digest" version of breaking it down.  Please realize none of these are "better" than the other!  ALL animals are VERY important!

PETS

A pet dog is the one you love on, you take for walks, is all happy when you come home.  You may NOT take your pet into No Animal Access places like stores, restaurants, hotels, taxis, airplanes.

ESAs (Emotional Support Animals)

ESAs may live with you, even in rentals that say NO PETS ALLOWED, *IF* you have a letter from your doctor saying you need your Emotional Support Animal with you.  You DO need paper work for ESAs for transportation and housing.  Emotional Support Animals MAY NOT go into stores or restaurants or any place animals are not allowed UNLESS it is for transportation or housing.

THERAPY DOGS

Therapy dogs do not take care of their handler.  The handler brings a therapy dog to nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, etc. to give others a distraction/feel better time while those people may not feel comfortable.  For example, my son's ear doctor's dog is a therapy dog and is at the doctor's office in the mornings to help calm patients.  These dogs are only allowed into these places if the nursing home, hospital, clinic, etc. allows.

SERVICE DOGS

A service dog is basically "medical equipment" for a certain individual.  It has been trained for public access.  It will never urinate/poop on the floor - unless a flight has been delayed, will not eat spilled food from anywhere, it will not bark unless trained to do so for alerting those with vision issues, AND most importantly, it has been TASK TRAINED to do specific task(s) to assist its handler with their disability.  The service dog handler MUST have a disability to have a service dog.  Service dogs do NOT have papers stating it is a service dog.  There is NO registration.  Service dogs do NOT have to wear a vest or any markings.  It is illegal to distract or harm a service dog.  

IT IS ILLEGAL TO PASS OFF A DOG AS A SERVICE DOG IF IT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THE NEEDED TRAINING *OR* IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY!

To learn more, click HERE!
For an fun informational video, click HERE!

Thanks for Reading!