Month: February 2017

Happy Saturday Everypawdy! I have officially been in my forever home now for 7 weeks and a tripawd for 3 months. I am quickly learning that I can do pretty much anything a dog with four legs can do (both good things and not-so-good things). People who meet me don’t always realize at first that I only have three legs. In fact, my family and I are finding out that it’s my missing toe on my front foot that is more of a hindrance than my missing leg because it was an important toe for balance and it is on the same side as my missing leg. Don’t worry…it doesn’t stop me from doing what I want to do!

Let me first start by telling you about the amazing benefit The Natural Pet Enrichment Center held for me on February 11th! My parents felt that since there were so many people that followed my story on the news, they wanted to give my “fans” an opportunity to meet me and see how well I am doing. I had such a great time! So many friends, family and beloved customers of the store came in to meet me and some of them even brought their fur friends! Chris and Mark McCoy, the store’s wonderful owners, and their staff advertised my benefit, organized a 50/50 raffle, raffled off some bags of cat and dog food and set out jars for monetary donations. Diane Weinmann, animal communicator and customer of the store generously donated her time to speak with fur friends and their families. She donated all of the proceeds to my cause, The Second Chance Fund which was set up by the Lorain County Animal Emergency Clinic where the injured me was cared for in November. The donations from the raffle and monetary donations were also added to the fund for a grand donation total of $823! This money will be used to treat the medical needs of stray animals who come into the clinic so they can be placed into rescue groups that will help them find furever homes. My foster mom Cindy and her husband Bruce also came to visit me at the benefit. Boy was I glad to show them the brand new me! My parents take me to The Natural Pet often because it is a great place for me to meet new friends and to work on my manners. I love everypawdy there so much…they are like family to me! If you want to see some pictures from my benefit (thank you Elsa!) and pictures of my visits to The Natural Pet, just visit the store’s Facebook page (just search by typing in The Natural Pet Enrichment Center) or watch my friend Dave Nethers’ news clip http://fox8.com/2017/02/11/chance-the-dog-gives-back-to-those-who-helped-save-him-from-bullet-trap-wounds/

Last week was a very big week for me because I started school! I am taking classes to be a Canine Good Citizen at Woof Wise Dog Training with Chris Lantzer. My parents went with me for a private lesson with Chris a week before school started last Tuesday. I had the opportunity to show Chris what I know before class started. She said I am smart enough to skip a beginner’s obedience class and go right to the Canine Good Citizen Class. I like to learn and my mom and dad practice my “homework” with me every single day (sometimes twice). Chris said there is a test I have to pass in March in order to be a Canine Good Citizen…I’m worried I won’t pass the test! In order to pass I have to learn how to focus on my parents, not get excited to meet new people and dog friends (and I LOVE to meet new friends), stay in one spot while my mom walks away and even be ok with a stranger when my mom or dad go out of sight! I have only been with my family for a few weeks so I am still learning that when they leave they ALWAYS come back and I get a little worried when I can’t see them. I cannot do everything the same way dogs with four legs do so we have to make some adjustments. I cannot walk in tight circles so when I “heel” I have to walk behind my handler and I get tired of sitting for long periods of time so I do most everything lying down. The most challenging obstacle for me right now is walking on a leash. I have a bad habit…I pull on the leash but I can’t help it! I get so excited whenever I think I am going somewhere! I am not very graceful when I walk and my gait is slightly different than most tripawds thanks to that dang missing toe. We are taking baby steps with the leash walking. I try my best but sometimes my nose gets carried away and takes me to places faster than my mom likes. My mom says that I cannot go to school with her until I pass the test so now I know how much pressure her students must feel about passing tests! My teacher Chris says I do a pretty good job in class and she thinks I have a lot of potential as a therapy dog. She made me feel better by saying that very few dogs pass the test the first time (there is only 4 weeks of school before the test) but I can take the class a second time to perfect my skills and then retake the test. I like to think of myself as an “A+” student so I will work really hard to pass the test the first time.

 

 

I’ve also learned some lessons at home. First, I’ve learned that my parents ALWAYS come back to get me, wherever I am. Sometimes my mom takes Lucy and Eugene and me to my grandma and grandpa’s house to hang out with the “Golden Girls” for the day and my dad drops me off for my water therapy once a week. I hate when they leave me but I am so excited when they return and we ALWAYS come back home at the end of the day. I’ve also learned that the cats are the boss…I am not allowed to chase them and they must have the right of way at all times. They put me in my place when I get too close or act too crazy but if I am calm and quiet, they will let me get close to them. Bodie and I love our daily brushes in the mud room (he goes first of course). Last night I learned that thunderstorms are nothing to be scared of (even though Eugene thinks so) and the one lesson in the house I have to learn is that the basement is NOT as scary as it looks. I go upstairs to the bedroom just fine but the basement stairs still creep me out).

As always I’ve included some photos from this week:

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time!
Hugs and kisses!

Love,
Chance

 

Happy Sunday everypawdy! I sure enjoyed the snow this week but I am sad that it has disappeared. I love to run in the snow but I do not like to bounce around in the backyard in the mud. My mom and dad think I am pretty smart because I seem to know my limits with three legs. I start school (for dogs) next week and am so excited! I have been practicing my manners around the house and my mom says that I’m doing a good job. I know enough already to go ahead and skip the beginner class and start the class to become a Canine Good Citizen. There’s a really hard test at the end of that class that I have to pass in order to get certified and this is the first step in becoming a therapy dog. I’m a little nervous about the test. What if I don’t pass? Mom says it will be ok…I can take the class again and I can take the test again but we will work really hard so maybe I can pass the first time.

My mom says the theme for this week is acceptance. I have been in my furever home now for about four weeks. My fur siblings have learned to accept me and I have learned to accept some things as well. For instance, I have accepted the fact that I only have three legs now and I can’t play fetch with furbrother Eugene. Instead, I need to lay down when I play with him and although I run on my own, I don’t play fetch. I have also accepted the fact that fursister Lucy is the boss: I must mind my big feet around her and try to not get into her way or else she lets me know. Lucy likes to use me as a pillow and I like when she lays with me. My job will always be to protect my buddies. The cats? Well, I’ve had to accept some things about them too. They have learned that I won’t chase them and I’ve accepted the fact that they don’t like me sticking my big black nose in their faces. Lilly swats me on my big black nose and makes a nasty face at me when I get too close so I’ve learned just to keep my distance and let them approach me. They confuse me because they look identical and one lets me get closer than the other one. I spent my first full day at my grandma and grandpa’s with my golden cousins (Gabby the therapy dog and Riley) and although I was scared to go up the steps, I had a good time with my cousins. We get along great!

We had a lot of visitors come to our house last weekend. They brought yummy food and cake and I thought they were all here to see me but my mom said they were here to celebrate her birthday. It was the first time I had so many people in my house and I loved every minute of it! I am not used to people coming to the front door but I’ve learned that as long as someone lets them in, it’s ok. I’ve realized that my mom and dad sometimes leave but always come back and that even though they take me out of the house, we always return to the house. They are my family and this is my forever home now so I must bark to protect it. I have a big loud bark so I’m going to use it to keep my family safe!

My parents keep telling me of all the nice things strangers have done for them to help me. I go to swim therapy once a week and a nice lady donated some therapy sessions to help me out and someone else donated some boots for me to wear. Next week The Natural Pet Enrichment Center is throwing me a party so I can meet people who have been following my story. We are going to try to raise some money for the Lorain County Animal Emergency Center to help other furfriends in need get better and find loving homes. I hope to see everypawdy there!

I like when my mom tells me the story of how I got here. She saw me on the news looking so sad and hurt. She knew I would only have three legs but wanted me anyways because she knew there was something special about me. My parents love and accept me for who I am and my mom says my imperfections make me even more special. She said I remind her of some of her students who may be a little “ruff” around the edges. She said her job as a teacher is to look beyond their imperfections to see who those kids truly are and who they could become. She says even though I am not there yet, she sees beyond my imperfections and sees that I could be an amazing therapy dog who will make people smile and look beyond their own hardships and imperfections. Even though we all go through “ruff” patches in life, things can and will get better if we work hard and my mom thinks I’m a great example of that. We don’t want people to feel bad for me: My life with four legs wasn’t very good but life on three legs is amazing!

Until next time…hugs and kisses 🙂
Love,
Chance

Lucy and Eugene are pretty close but I think they’ve accepted me as their big “little” brother!Lucy thinks I make a good pillowMy golden cousin Gabby and I lounging aroundLilly makes sure I keep my distanceBodie has realized I won’t chase him