One Month Later

Hobart has been in AT for a month.
We got his phone report the first week, which pretty much said that he was adjusting fine to the kennels.
On Wednesday we should get his first real written report! I'm looking forward to it.
Just having a pet dog this last month has been fine, but I miss having a dog to really
work with. I am somewhat relieved to have a little break during this busy season of life, but I can't wait to get another puppy :)

~a puppyless me

HOBART'S TURN-IN (THE OFFICIAL POST)

"So I guess this is goodbye." That's what I told Hobart II as I walked out of CCI's North Central Training Center today. You know what? I can say that I'm proud and have few regrets! I walked away from that kennel with my head held high, because no matter what happens I know that I have taken time to see Hobart from point A to B.

The day was beautiful. I went to the Dublin Rec Center and talked to some of my PR friends and let Hobart and his pretty sister Hoya hang out for a bit. We got some pictures (which you'll see below) and then we all went in for the ceremony. Today CCI has successfully placed more than 4,000 teams and I got to witness that milestone. It was strange for me getting up and receiving my flower and getting applause, because I still don't really feel like that turn-in time has come around again!

When Suzanne introduced Hobart and I she said, "Hobart was raised by Elijah and his family, but mostly Elijah." I found that quite amusing and so did my family ;)

During the ceremony some donors talked about their contributions to CCI and CCI's contributions to the world. We had a touching moment when one of the twelve service dog graduates asked the audience to give a hand to the puppy raisers and to the trainers. She thanked the Canine Companions staff for all their hard work and gave them all a gift :)

When we got back to the North Central center we got more pictures of Hobart (which you'll see below) talked to some of the other puppy raisers, who were turning-in puppies today and then said goodbye to Hobart. He hopped right on in to his kennel. When his kennel mate joined him they started to play.

It all feels very surreal. Hobart has reached his last bit of training with me, but I guess I know that his journey will continue either as a service dog or as a released pet. Either way I hope he finds a place to be happy. My emotions aren't really as worked up as I thought they'd be. I was smiling to much to even think about crying. Maybe when I wake up tomorrow I'll realize that it's over for a few months, but maybe it'll just sink in gradually and I'll be content with where things are now!

kennel time

pep talk .

~Elijah (with Hobart in my prayers)

Less than a week....

Today I was putting together pictures for the turn-in slideshow and it brought back so many good (and some not so good) memories. I got to see Hobart grow up one picture at a time. Each photo brought another memory. Since August of 2011 so much has changed! I've grown, Hobart's grown. I've gone through a year and a half of high school. Things are different, yet Hobart has been there all along.

I'm so proud of my baby boy! He's not perfect and he's not easy to work with all the time, but he's been with me through the thick and thin of the last year and a half. He was there when I handed over Dembre at graduation. He was there when I felt like giving up. It has been more than a blessing just to be a small part of Hobart's journey. I also feel so privileged that Hobart has been part of my journey.

I was raking up leaves the other day and I remembered that three years ago this fall I decided most certainly that I wanted to be a CCI puppy raiser. Now three years later I have nothing to regret and so much to remember. Though, it will be a few months before I'm able to get another pup, I'm still so happy that I get the honor of being a part of a community of people who love animals and care about people.

My journey has led me here just four days from saying goodbye to puppy number two. It's been a journey like no other, that I'll never forget. A journey that will forever be one of my proudest. A journey that has shown me so much. A journey where I have grown up and matured. A journey where I've learned to serve. A journey that I will always love and cherish. In a few years I don't know what I'll be doing. I'm not sure that I'll be puppy raising at that point. Hopefully when I'm settled down I'll be able to raise more pups, but all I know for now that I have two amazing stories to tell and soon a third and from there hopefully more!

Hobart outside today

If you've read this far, I want to thank you for being a lot of my support. When I read your comments & your blogs I'm encouraged to keep on changing lives even when it seems insignificant and too hard. I want to thank you for being part of the reason that I started raising puppies in the first place. You're blogs were the fuel I needed to stand up and say that puppy raising was something that I wanted to do. I appreciate all you've done. You made it possible for Dembre to graduate and for me to keep on raising!

I'll be back!

 thoughtfully
~Elijah & Hobart II 
P.S. I teared up while writing this :P 

Snapshot from a happy life

In church!!!

This makes me so happy!!!! Dembre is where he belongs! Imelda is happy, Dembre is happy! I've been hearing about their work together and I know that it is the best possible match. Dembre is an awesome pup and Imelda is an awesome person and they've become fast friends! My work isn't done yet, but mission one has been completed 110%!!! I'm so blessed to see snapshots from my (her) puppy's life!


Spring is here and Hobart and Pepin are enjoying the cold hard wood floors after playing outside in beautiful 80 degree weather! Hobart is loving this weather!!!!  

my two pups relaxing on a warm day

 

 

 

~Elijah & Hobart II

 

 

 

 

Dembre/ Hobart II update

I've been talking to Imelda recently and she just sent me a picture of Dembre! He's adjusting to his new life quite well and I think he's 10X happier with Imelda than he was with me, which makes me very happy!



Hobart is also doing well! We had a debate tournament over the weekend so he was out in public for his third full weekend in the last month, which is a lot. He did super well, though and I am very proud of him! Hopefully I  will get some pics up of him soon :)

~Elijah & Hobart II

Hobart Update (Challenge Continued)

 Hobart is learning quickly. He attended a bonfire at a friend's house with me yesterday and did extremely well. He's coming along with housebreaking and is sleeping through the night as well as doing fairly well in the crate during the day. Now he does 'sit' on command and is quickly picking up on 'down' and 'here'.

growing up fast but still small

At this stage I include the pup in everything

And now for the challenge! I have gotten 6 new followers in the last two days! Thanks all for helping me out! I need 39 more by Christmas. If you haven't already, please click the "join this site" button to follow Miraculous Journey. Thanks once again to all of you who have responded!

~Elijah & Hobart II