The first email I read this morning was from Ellie, a chocolate Lab. At nearly two years old, she is a certified diabetic alert dog. She is in college with her 19-year-old handler, Caitlin. And she has apparently learned how to type.
Dear Dee
I have been such a good puppy! Today mom thought i should try walking off leash by myself. So we took a walk for mommy to go get her lunch from the dining hall. We walked all around the dining hall an i didnt even try to eat anything off the floor. Then while mommy was standing in line to get her wrap i sat and then laid down in my down stay for five whole minutes then mom told me to follow her up to the next spot in line. I got to lay down and listen to mommy tell a whole crowd of people about what i do and even go into details with her fellow diabetic who works in the dining hall. I even got to get petted ( i was very happy about that). Then we walked all the way back to the dorm still with me not wearing my leash. I was so focused on my mommy( she had tasty treats to give me so how could i not focus on her) I think i did well and mommy even took pictures of me and how good i did even with people tellling me to come to them and those pesky birds teasing me( and did i forget to say SQUIRREL!) So i thought i would hijack moms computer and send you this email to see how proud of me you were. Well i have to go get my bath now cuz mom says i stink so i hope i get to talk to you soon.
Love
Ellie :)
P.S . Ellie took over the computer but i am permitted to type a few words. She did really good and im attaching a few pics of her off leash. I should be getting her hands free leash by Friday and am still trying to get the booties video and am hoping to send it to you no later than the end of the week.
The back story
Caitlin got Ellie as a 10-week-old puppy the summer she was 17, just before starting her senior year of high school. I am Caitlin's service dog trainer. Caitlin is Ellie's trainer. The two of them are simply amazing. They fast tracked everything they did, passing their public access test when Ellie was only a year old. In the fall of 2012, when Ellie was 18 months old - still very young for a service dog - they started college together. And because of Ellie's ability to alert on Caitlin's fluctuating blood sugar levels ... because Ellie can keep Caitlin safe ... that college is out of state. They are away from home, away from family. And they are not just succeeding, they are excelling at everything they do. Together.
To Caitlin and Ellie: Do you remember the ride home after you passed your public access test
? What a great day! That's you guys below in the back seat of your Mom's van. How about your first day together in high school? And visiting your college campus last summer? That's you "checking" your blood sugar (above) during your orientation. And then there was
October, when you had to stand up for your rights as a service dog team. I am so very proud of both of you!