Dogs 🦮🐾🐶🐕‍🦺 Update 11/14/23

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 I will never give up promoting service dogs for ataxians. 🐕‍🦺🦮



Under Exercise, I introduced the concept of energy conservation.  Service dogs help tremendously.  They are trained to pick items up, open and close doors, turn on and off lights, go to the bathroom on command, stand still for grooming and putting on their vest, and things too numerous to list.  They do so many things to help you conserve energy.  And they are great companions.  You can train them to get your phone, pull your wheelchair, empty the dryer, pull off your socks, get drinks out of the refrigerator, you name it.



Cost:  look for an agency that gives the dogs for free.   Some charge.  And everything you do for them, including veterinary bills and food, are tax deductible.

They go EVERYWHERE.  My first service dog spent three days in the hospital with me.  Before Covid, we did pet therapy in our local nursing home, hospital, and hospice.  They’ve been on airplanes, in hotels, many restaurants and doctors offices, everywhere.



Dasher is my second service dog.  I was lucky enough to have ten years with Peak.





Meet Dasher, my 8 year old service dog.




Meet Jax, my service dog puppy in training.




Get a service dog.  Your life will forever change in the best way.  You know the feeling of being invisible?  Never again with a dog.

Update:  Dasher dropped dead suddenly.  💔 I’m too old to apply for another one.  So for the first time in years I’m without a service dog.  However, I will never stop promoting them for those with ataxia.  Memories of Dasher still brings tears, but memories of my first sd brings warmth.

Jax was a service dog-in-training.  She does not have the temperament for being a service dog and for learning the 80+ commands that they learn.  I have to settle for her being my snuggle-bunny. 🥰🐾


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