Havan could give money to a clerk and come back to me with the change.
She could pick up a dime from the floor.
Havan could heel, side, front, back.. she could jump, sit and carry weights for me at the gym.
She knew under, up, car, out and stay.
She liked to do prolonged down-stays in front of the treadmill.
Havan could also turn our lights on and off even though our wiring is up-side-down. (Up is Off/down is On)
She hated baths.
She was my extra cane. She carried the laundry bucket.
She could pull my wheelchair.
Havan could also open doors by tagging the handicap button with her paws or nose.
She opened my fridge door and pulled my front door closed behind me.
We were matched as a Team in February 2007
Havan could do a total of 44 commands.
There was a command we used that turned her into a regular dog. A command that said she was free to just ‘hang out.’
On her last day, overtaken by a tumor in her lung, I wept and gave her that last command.. “Havan, you are released.”
Havan, You are Released
January 2, 2005 – April 24, 2015
For more information about Service Dogs and CCI go to CCI.org
Comments
One response to “Havan You are Released”
Sally I’m so very sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is bad enough, but to lose such an extension of oneself… the pain must be unbearable. Many prayers and good will sent your way!
When we lost our little beagle years ago I comforted myself thinking that she was no longer in any pain, no longer had any health/age restrictions, and that she’s up there running after and playing with all the human babies that haven’t been born yet (I was just a kid). Remember the happy things, the snuggly things, let go of the rest.