I remember when the lightbulb flickered on for me…you know, that moment that I found myself thinking, “wouldn’t that be neat?” I was sitting in a full auditorium, half listening to a presentation on stage as I was rehearsing in my mind the session I was teaching an hour or two later. At some point, my half listening became a bit more than that until I was fully engaged. Someone from a neat little place called Little Springs Farm was sharing about equine assisted therapy, and a few parents shared some stories about how their son was growing in being able to give and receive affection because of the therapy and how their daughter experienced success through her relationship with the horse and was starting to grow in other relationships. And, everything in me perked up. It was no surprise that this work was effective really; it made sense. Talking about emotions a child has worked hard to bottle up—intentionally or subconsciously—is hard. But, if you pair that same talking with petting, grooming, caring for a horse, it can be made easier. The focus no longer is solely on the child. Sensory needs are being met. Simply the repetitive physical motion of petting or brushing can stimulate the brain and make processing easier. And, kids are given the safe opportunity to be successful with gentle connection, an experience that a therapist and parents can magnify and help a child transfer to other relationships. Lightbulb on. I wanted that for the work I do with kids and parents. I mean, wouldn’t that be cool? I had heard of organizations dedicated to raising and training dogs as service dogs to help people with all sorts of challenges. Could one of those dogs join me and help our families? Maybe one day. Who knows.

I had grown up with dogs, had considered getting a dog on and off throughout our nearly 20 years of marriage. But, when we were growing our family both biologically and through adoption, those kids kinda took all I had to give. Two rescue cats filled our companionship tanks for the time, and that was good. We loved them well. And, while an argument could be made that cats don’t know how to love, I could convince you that ours did…well, at least one of them did. Mojo was our son Evan’s best friend; she made his days easier. She followed him around the house, sat on his lap during meals, slept by his side every night. As she got older and older, we tried to start preparing him that she wouldn’t be here forever. But, none of us were prepared for how hard it would be when she took a quick decline a year and a half ago at age 18 and died in his arms. We marveled at our son’s ability to care for her and have never been so proud of him. We had always noticed how he connected well with animals, how they brought out something in him we didn’t often see otherwise. But, watching him care for his best friend over the last 48 hours of her life was nothing short of remarkable. My sweet boy persevered and gave his best friend exactly what she needed.

After she and our other (arguably not-so-loving cat) both passed, we wrestled with what we should do next, we brought in two sweet kitties who we adore, but I was reminded of that light-bulb moment a few years ago. At the risk of sounding a little crazy, I dared to mention it to a couple people who made the light shine a little brighter and then a little brighter still until I did something crazier still and sent in an application to a few service dog training organizations. I talked about the foster and adoptive families I work with. I told them about how I cool it would be to have a dog as a co-therapist, not simply present but involved in the work I’m already doing, enhancing it. There was interest from some places, some interest from one that went so far as interviews and visits and other hoops to jump through only to end with them saying they would have to change their training protocol to create something new and entirely innovative and they didn’t have it in them to do that. And, then I found a little team of people and their little team of dogs at a place called Paws & Affection.

On January 22nd, their directors and I talked on the phone. They wanted to talk before I filled out any application. That was new. They wanted to hear about what I do and what I wanted to do. They asked lots of questions. I did too. We started to become friends—three women who all could be called crazy for doing whatever it takes to do what they feel called to do. And, then they said, “we think we may have a dog for you.” There was a process of course. It wasn’t that simple, and I’m glad it wasn’t because the process matters. There were calls and visits and letters and other things. Then, on March 13th, our family visited their facility and met their pups and all made a unanimous decision that they did have a dog for us and we were who they had been working so hard for.

Louie had joined them as an itty bitty with his littermate Maggie. They lived with different families and attended school everyday at Paws & Affection where the team worked hard to prepare them for serving children in one way or another. At some point along the way, Laura and Susie at Paws & Affection had their own light-bulb moment. Maggie would be a medical service dog, and Louie would be something else. He had so much to offer but showed some anxiety in loud, indoor, public situations. Given his smarts and his sweet, lovey-ness, they believed he’d make a great facility dog to work therapeutically with kids. They didn’t know where, but they trusted it would become clear before they wanted to place him before he was 2.

With my lightbulb and theirs now on high, we got to work together—Laura, Susie, me…and Louie. Every Monday and Friday afternoon was spent together, training Louie and training me, with them giving us intentional bonding activities to make us better partners, and them magnifying all the good that I could find between us. I practiced cues for skills so often that I found myself wanting to ask my children for “long down stays” and mark their good decisions with a “Yes!” I found myself looking forward to those training sessions at the start and end of my weeks because I’m not too embarrassed to say that it felt a little therapeutic for me.

The training isn’t over, but now the really fun stuff begins because after weeks and weeks and hours and hours of training, Louie has officially moved in as of Friday, and Project Puppy Love has begun. He’s here and chewing up (aka destroying) all the toys I bought for him. (How can such a sweet, lovey teddy bear be called an aggressive chewer???) I forgive him though; one cuddle and an apology (his eyebrows say he’s sorry, I swear) reconciles us fast. He’s pretty remarkable, ya’ll, with all his expressions of feeling words and cuddles when someone needs it…and just because he’s Louie.

 

He has his first real session with a family tomorrow. I’ve tried to tell him so, but I guess I just have to trust that he’s as ready as he needs to be for now because I don’t think he knows what I was saying. But, I think he’ll get it. And, I think they’re going to love him.

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Louie has a voice on Instagram. Check it out. Have your kids check it out.

@ProjectPuppyLove