My Constant Companion!
When my Doctor recommended that I get a Service Dog, my first thought was “wonderful, a new tool for my tool bag,” but what I have found since Charcoal and I were paired, is a whole new way of life and thinking for me. Charcoal is not a pet, he is an extension of ME that I have to tend to and be tended by each day. I feed, water, walk, train, and play with him; he is my constant companion night and day. Charcoal helps distract me when my pain gets really bad and also warns me
Puppy Raisers, Mary and Michael
My husband, Michael, and I have raised five puppies for Brigadoon. What a joy! Each puppy was special. We loved the first first weeks of teaching the basics, even though there were a few early morning challenges! When they reached 4 months old we took them everywhere: grocery stores, doctors offices, hospitals, concerts, churches, restaurants, on buses and car trips, to visit friends in their homes and to various meetings. Wherever I went, the puppy wearing his Brigadoon
The world works in mysterious ways!
I continue to say 'thank goodness I got layed-off'. That is what brought me to COMPANIS which brought me to Brigadoon. 😁🐾
Sugar (hug/Shuga) is my 6th pup and it fills me with not knowing how these pups go on to affect so many lives (mine, those around me, the prisoners, and finally their forever person ) 💗🐾.
The Road to Independence
Nugget has helped transform my life from staying at home all day, every day and barely being able to function to being back at work full time as a licensed clinical social worker in community health and primary care settings. While it was a long road, returning to work helped restore my sense of purpose and meaning, and has been an essential part of learning to live well in spite of the challenges I have.
In the time Nugget has been in my life we moved from small town South
Puppy Raiser Amie
Puppy raising is now a big part of who I am. I got into it because I really wanted a dog in my life and lived in a very small condo. My husband and I needed a dog that we didn't need to leave at home, the answer at the time was puppy raising...that was 16 years ago. I fell in love with the process and the friendships we made. I am a better person because of puppy raising. We are on puppy #18 overall but #2 for Brigadoon.