I was so honored this past Friday to go and volunteer at Freedom. After you have gone through their volunteer training, you can show up at will and just say here I am, what can I do?!
This past Friday they had a list of pups that just needed a 20 minute walk, and so I took out one after another and we walked together on a trail close to FSD.
It was a little chilly that day but I soon warmed up.... my little pups walking alongside me just kept looking up at me as if to say, "I am so glad to get out of my kennel!" It was a real treat for me.
My sweet friend who came along with me stayed inside and brushed one dog named HOLMES. He was a sweetheart too, and you could see he loved being loved on.... he was a brown poodle/mix.
I always look forward to my visits at Freedom and I am so impressed by the love of all the trainers on these lucky dogs. They are all rescued from shelters and so it is a win-win situation. The dogs begin a new life of service and someone in need receives a much wanted service or therapy dog.
I have also fostered a few dogs as well: one dog I had for several weeks while her foster Dad was out of the country. Her name is Cinder and she will always hold a special place in my heart.
I get to watch Cinder go through her training now, watch her grow up (she is a year old) and then graduate in the Freedom program. I will be there at that graduation and I am looking forward to meeting the person who gets her for the rest of their life.
If you are interested, please go to Freedom Service Dogs site and they are on Facebook too. You can make a donation there as well if you are led to do so. It does take $25,000 to train a service dog from start to finish. So keep them in mind if you love dogs, want a wonderful volunteer experience, or just want to donate to them.
Dogs are so special and may we always cherish their unconditional love for us!
Molly and I are kinda stuck inside today.... it is cold out, windy and it just seems like winter all over again. I have to wonder if Molly enjoys the cold?
Last night when it was snowing, I let her out to go potty and was doing something on the side, forgot for a bit that she was out.... when I let her in, she had the look on her face of "oh, you forgot me and left me out in the cold!" I wiped her sweet feet and normally she follows me back to the family room. This time she disappeared as if to say: "I am put out with you."
So who says that dogs don't show their feelings!!!
I am back in her good graces today, however, she is sleeping by my side in my office as I type this!! Dogs have that unconditional love that we all could certainly learn from. Their love for us is a gift from GOD. And I am so thankful that my Molly loves me in this way!
Today Molly and I had the pleasure of observing a young deer all by itself on our path. I am sure that Mom was close although I didn't see her.
Molly took sight of her right away.... so I pulled her close on her leash and we both stood very still just watching.
I wonder what Molly was thinking seeing this creature.... but I do know what my thoughts were! I am in awe sometimes of GOD'S creation. How very simple and yet stunning are HIS workmanship. HIS world is revealed all around us.... we just need to look.
And so this deer sighting was my bright spot in my day, Molly's too.... and I am thankful for it!
It was cold today... honestly I woke up this morning to 5 degrees... and I must say what month
is it??? How could we have just had 70 degree weather this week!!
So Molly and I took a shorter walk because the cold air actually stung my face! She was walking rather quickly too! But we enjoyed our sweet time together... we always do!
The cold air is good for the soul however, and the bright blue sky was Heaven sent! Walking in the Colorado fresh air is so good for yourself and your pup! If you walk daily no matter what the weather, the rewards are so worth it.
On our walk yesterday, Molly and I saw 2 sweet ducks in a small pond by one of the walkways we take. We could hear the quack quack from far away which drew Molly's attention. If I had let go of the leash Molly would have jumped into that pond after them. You could tell they were male and female. But they were just so happy swimming around.... all of this was a wonderful picture and sign of Spring to me.
Once again I am so thankful for my walks with my dog... if it weren't for her, I probably would not be doing all of this walking.... .getting out each day is good for Molly and for me and my spirit!
Walking a dog gives you time to think and ponder.... it is also a time for reflection. Sometimes you get to see the world through the eyes of your dog. They live entirely in the moment.... and we should learn to do this as well. This is a special gift to me each and every day that I am very thankful for!
So I encourage you.... this is the time to get out and enjoy your dog, enjoy the moments, enjoy the Spring that is at hand!
