I walk well and run occasionally. I can jump on the couch - if I get a running start - I can generally jump off the couch. Mom has steps up to the beagle chairs for me and to her bed. I am now a year old. I love to travel and go every where with Mom. Which has brought me to my next adventure.
Over the summer I went with Mom to Jeddito to work with some great kids! They had all sorts of disbilities. My favorite was Drew, he has something called Autism. Nobody seems to be exactly sure where Autism comes from or what causes it. Drew has severe Autism, he doesn't communicate they same way other kids. Drew can't talk but he seems to understand. He gets to a point where he just has to run - that was fun! The first day I met Drew he did not want to be inside, he wanted to run but just like everyone else Mom said he had to learn first we work then we play. He really didn't want to work. He fell down on the floor and kicked and cried. I went over to see if I could make him feel better but he didn't want to feel better! He grabbed my ear, twisted and pulled me up to his face. Mom was scared that he was going to hurt me but I knew that he just needed to have me close to him. Mom made him let go of my ear (which was nice) she told me to get into my crate. I don't disobey Mom very often but this time I knew she was wrong. Drew needed me to be close to him. He was laying on the floor on his side, he was still crying. I went and layed down next to him. Drew put his arm around me and quit crying. I helped him to get his inside work done so that we could go run! Mom and my favorite Occupational Therapist Linda were amazed at what I had done with Drew. I still don't understand why they thought it was amazing, he needed me to help him! On the way home that night Mom and Linda were talking about therapy dogs. They said I might make a really good one. The next day Mom started researching and we started working on what we both needed to learn. I need to take my CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) test. I have been going to school with Mom to learn to work with students. I generally listen to them, they read to me and talk to me. I play with the kids too! I really enjoy going into the K-2 class - they all love Scotty kisses! I have learned to ask to go outside to potty and not to eat erasers. Loud noises don't scare me. Walkers, wheel chairs, and canes are normal for me. Strange dogs with their Moms or Dads don't scare me unless they are really big! I can walk through a crowd of people and stay with Mom. The only thing I really don't like is when Mom hands my leash off to a person I don't know and walks away. She always comes back but man I just hate that!
Mom's boss, Dr. Rex, is a great person who understands what dogs can do for kids. She lets Mom bring me to school on a regular basis. I go to school on Tuesday and Thursday I love when I hear the words, "let's go work Scotty!" I even have my own ID!
I am hoping that I will be a certified therapy dog in the next year or so. I am so excited to be making a difference in the lives of kids.
