Date Posted:Thursday, April 10, 02:22:21am Author: Nancy Subject: Can anyone help???
Cross Posted from My main board of PetScoop. Long and detailed and extremely urgent.. I know its LONG but pleast take a moment to read ...
Nothing BAD really but rather urgent in that it deeply affects a wonderful young 23 year old woman and her service dog who insures her independence.
They Young Womans name is Alexa... her Service/guide dogs is a 3 year old golden retriever Named Honey.
the Vet report is in... Honey has Hip Dysplasia in the early stages.
The Canine association who assisted Alexa to get honey refuses to get her another Canine companion to train untill Honey is 100 percent disabled!!!
Alexa refused to allow that to happen and has stopped using Honey for her daily routien.
Alexa is 23 years old and has limited sight and MSD. She is able to walk and read very large print and she is a little china doll, 80 pounds and around 4 ft 9 inches.
she trains her OWN dogs herself but the crises she faces right now is she has been accepted to GRADUATE SCHOOL in Illinois in Music and Animal Therapy for disabled children. She is a gifted musician and works magic with her canine companions
Her is the problem... she need to find her a new pup to school as her life companion. She no longer trusts the society who got her her last two dogs becasue they deal with shady breeders and both dogs she trained have hip dysplasia
Jade her Beautiful Doberman developed Dysplasia and when it happened the Group she got her from promised that she would be sent to a good home. So Alexa Turned her in and took Honey.
She learned last week that Jade was sent to another Home as a service dog and left untreated and had to be put to sleep.
She refuses to allow this to happen to Honey.
I will be taking Honey and makeing certain that she lives a life of ease and when time comes for the surgery I will take her back to Ohio to my Vet who has agreed to do the surgery for me when and IF it is needed at a greatly reduced cost.
Alexa has a very Limited Income. I would like to find her a pup that is within my budget then I will buy it and donate it to her, or if we could find a reputiable breeder that would donate a pup.
Alexa weighs 80 pounds. She needs a dog breed that is quiet natured and strong hearted so as not to drag her skinny butt all over campus HOney is an 85 pound golden retriever, and though on the big side has alwasy been quiet and kind natured.
Again I say. Alexa Trains her OWN life companion. She know how to do this and has done it since the age of 13 when she got her first dog
Temprament is the Primary consideration, Size is secondary. She needs a canine companion who is sturdy and quiet so should she fall the pup dosent drag her across campus (well ok JADE did that ONCE)
Alexa tells me age and breed makes no difference what so ever. its all in the temprament. but she also said she would prefer a pup between 3-6 months of age. I think thats becasue she so small herself she has greater success training the larger breeds when they do it from the start and at a smaller more managible size.
distance isnt a problem either. I live in Wichita KS and will drive where ever I need to to pick up the pup. Would like it to be withing a two day drive of Wichita but the Dog is the most important issue.
If anyone has frineds who may have a littler of pups or know of a litter in a shelter... As I mentioned. Honey is 80 pounds and that is the top of the scale Alexa can handle unless perhaps she finds the perfect puppy to be conditioned very young.
if it is an older pup .. say 8 mos - 3 years with the proper temprament and ability it needs to be a dog around 55-67 pounds.
Breeds and breed crosses she mentioned is ANY LAB.. She is kinda looking for a German shepard if one comes available but she is not limited by breed. Collie, smooth coated preferred becasue she is limited in her grooming ability. A full Rough Collie ( Such as My Ebeaux Was ) would be a difficulty for Alexa to maintain.
she has mentioned that she thinks australian shepards might be a breed to look at becasue they are so intellegent and easily trained. and no one has really investigated there ability as a service dog. For Alexas unique mix of Physical limitations.
She also mentioned that she will be training the dog to help pull her in her wheelchair when she is forced to use it. She is Mobile but what is classified in Kansas Statute as "Spastic" she had polio and cancer as a baby and it affected her bone growth.
Anyone have any input but are hesitent of the sensitive nature pertaining to breeding and the sometimes heated opinions pertaining to it PLEASE feel free to E-MAIL me at Hollis_wsu2002@hotmail.com.
This Pup/dog will have the finest of everything and training from three professionals. And will be the cherished friend and companion to a wonderful young lady who is devoted to her canine companion in a way that is utterly selfless.
Hit the Shelters and any other resourses at hand foryou and please let me KNOW :0
Huge HUGS
EDITED TO ADD Feel free to CROSS POST this messege to any other animal boards you are familuar with
Can anyone help???
Progress on Alexa -- Nancy, Friday, April 11, 02:39:15pm