Service Dogs of Virginia

Maybe I'm nuts-o for adding anything to my day.

You know, in addition to:

trying to raise four little people in such a fashion that they don't act like complete punks...

(at least not in public)

while "managing" a household...

(One time, The Bop got a hold of a pair of scissors while I was "managing" the laundry of said household.

That was fun.)

and teaching parents how to...
well, how to parent...

(Which seems especially ironic after posting the previous picture.

And this feat is attempted in only twelve informational
and action-packed Tuesday evenings, no less!

Yikes.)

Anyway, in addition to all of that,
I'm going to do this:

But I'd like to think that I'm not nuts-o.

Just really, really passionate.

That's sounds better.

So, in case you haven't yet had the pleasure of listening to me talk-talk-talking your ear off about this over the phone, just wait.  I will soon enough.  But here's the scoop in a nutshell:  I have started the process of becoming a puppy raiser for a service dog organization and I am unbelievably excited about it.  I am going to be volunteering with Service Dogs of Virginia. They train assistance dogs and partner them with clients who have disabilities to allow these individuals to achieve greater independence.  Fantastic!

The thing is, the number of people who request assistance dogs is greater than the number of trained dogs being placed each year. There is a large amount of time, work, and money, not to mention lots of love, required to raise a puppy to be a highly trained, working partner. 

They need money. 

Uh, no.  Can't help there.

They need fancy-pants trainers with tons of experience teaching dogs to do crazy things like pick up a dime, turn on a switch, balance your checkbook and change your kid's diaper... 

Just kidding on the checkbook and diapers.  But still, no.

They need puppy raisers who can be around to teach a pup how to be curious, calm, and confident.

Enter Kim!  And her passion.

I will post more as things develop.  But for now,

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!