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Puppy Love
Caring Canines, Inc. Testimonial
Helene
 Over
the years, I've observed most people think that I
train my Assistance Dog for other people when
actually she is for me. When I go to the store with
my Assistance Dog, I am always stopped by someone
and asked "What a beautiful, well behaved dog. How
long has she been in training and for what?" When I
state that she is an alert dog for me due to my
debilitating migraines, this is an opportunity for
me to educate the person about alert dogs, Puppy
Love Caring Canines, and the purpose of the
organization.
During the course of year a friend had seen me not
work or drive due to weekly debilitating migraines.
I do not get an aura and the left side of my body
becomes paralyzed, similar to a stroke patient. One
day, she suggested I get an Assistance Dog and I
thought she was crazy!!
But
after some thought, I decided, what did I have to
loose. After doing some research on the computer I
found information about Alert Dogs that alert their
owners ahead of time when they become ill like me.
After contacting service dog organizations in
Minnesota and the Midwest, I was turned down because
I didn't qualify. Finally I found a trainer in
Minnesota who found Tristan, a Standard Poodle.
However, after a year that trainer had to move out
of state. Once again, I approached the same service
dog organizations. I still didn't fit their criteria
because of my unique needs. After some time I
finally was able to connect with an organization
that completed Tristan's Service Dog training and
became certified in 2001. However in 2002 that
organization dissolved.
A
year later, I found Mrs.Grete Krause who agreed to
help Tristan and I enhance our learning and skills
that we needed as a team. Tristan and I also
learned together how to push the ER call button in
our home, how to pick up items, and expand his
obedience skills.
Tristan unexpectedly passed away in 2005 and I was
left without my best friend and companion. Once
again I could not drive. I didn't know when my
migraines would occur and would have to rely on
family and friends to drive me places. The
outpouring of support and sympathy was
overwhelming. I realized with all the cards and
flowers from people in the community, that Tristan
had touched so many lives.
Mrs.
Krause was always there especially when I was
grieving over Tristan by letting me know that it was
ok to move on to the next dog when I was ready.
Mrs. Krause waited for me to initiate the search for
the next Assistance Dog. She told me what standards
to look for in my search; took me step by step
through it; checked in with me; we discussed the
pros and cons after I met each dog; and she was
supportive in what ever decision I made on each dog.
 After an exhaustive search, Mrs. Krause and I found
another Standard Poodle named Sprite. I now realize
I when look back on it, she chose me. Instead of
playing with her siblings when she came outside to
meet me, she sat beside me and looked at me straight
in the eye the whole time. We have since started
obedience classes and assistance training. She,
like her predecessor has alerted me to my migraines
so I can get to a safe place. For Tristan, it was
pawing and lying down beside me. For Sprite, she's
applying her "Signals" by plastering her body
against me, and herding me.
Having a certified Assistance Dog through Puppy Love
Caring Canines has brought me more independence by
being able to be in the community; see my family and
friends during the day and not depend upon others to
drive me. Assistance Dog training has taught me how
to better manage my migraines, have more self
confidence and self esteem by pacing myself and
looking for the signs of being tired or exhausted
whether my dog alerts me or not.
Mrs.
Krause is kind, caring, supportive, a good listener,
problem solver, and will help you out in any way.
Now that I have a puppy, it's a whole new experience
for me that I can't wait to learn its ups and downs
with both Sprite and Grete. Over the few years of
being Puppy Love client she has taught me a lot
about Assistance Dogs and that I can do tasks again
by training my dogs at home. Organizations such as
Puppy Love which help people not covered by
mainstream organizations are few and far between.
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Antonia 