Our First Training class with our new programs was Saturday. It may have been a week later than our original goal…. but a day that we have anticipated and worked hard to create.  After interviewing the potential Veterans and finding the right candidates (dogs/Veterans) who agreed to set a baseline for others to follow, we were ready to begin. With anticipation all week,  the weather showing a wonderful spring day. Although the night before we were warned that Saturday it was going to rain, be cold and possible snow! Since our training center is not yet built, and we hold our classes outside, this was going to be a problem. So, I sent Donna to the store to but a Canopy tent for shelter. (Thank goodness we had the money for it!) Saturday morning Donna and my husband Joe, were up early, and in the rain they put up our shelter. Donna and I jumped for joy (literally) as we stepped back looking at our *tent* facility, proud again, that we were able to Improvise Adapt and Overcome….

Our first Veteran pulled up, then drove away, then pulled back in again …“I thought I had the wrong address at first.” He said “I thought I was coming to a business…” Yes, we live here. Stiggy’s Sanctuary is our home too.  I turned around to point to our *training center*, the tent blowing in the wind, looking small and silly. The reality sinking in, my pride diminishing, and the feeling of frustration rising. We have come so far….yet we have a long way to go…..

Once everyone was here, the focus turned solely to our Mission. I did not notice the cold, rain or snow (yes snow). I introduced everyone to each other, then to all of us. Donna (Director of training) and our apprentice trainers, Mat Sica, Lynda Gibson and Angel Vogel. Because of theses people, we are able to open up this new program. I also pointed out that, “This is it….. you are looking at our organization, minus Kin Saks or Developmental Coordinator. We do everything….mostly it is Donna and I. This might explain the delay in our return phone calls or emails….”  Realizing once again that our perception is much bigger than our reality.

However, it was the BEST day!!! David had his first raining session with Jackie, who was just pared a few days before. Autumn and Camo made a great break through. Dave and Sarge worked on Lets Play. Radar had his first training class with Lynda (trainer), and Fred and Sasha passed their Canine Good citizen!!!

And I learned another valuable lesson…. Stiggy’s has a great recipe. One that many restaurants might have. You might eat it in a big fancy place, or outside camping. But it is NOT the recipe that is the key …………    it is the *secret sauce*   … US!

*Caution: This blog post contains graphic images that may be disturbing…

The first time I have ever started out a post like this….and hopefully the last! From the beginning to the end, it is a story that reflects love, determination, strength and healing …. for both Veteran and Dog.

I was in the kitchen at Stiggy’ss making dinner and timing it perfectly for Faiths arrival. After 13 hours on the road, the anticipation for these Veterans meeting their dog can be most stressing. Making this a smooth transition is a must. The chicken I had baking in the oven, in a Pyrex class dish, exploded when I took it out of the oven. Yes, a LOUD Bang with millions of pieces of glass  flying around the kitchen. Fubar, who was waiting patiently, was more than startled by the noise and scene. He went to hide under the table with a whimper wondering what was going on, I screamed and as I turned around, and  there was Faith standing at the door, ready to meet her dog (who was shaking under the table from the blast) ….

Ahh, that initial greeting has nothing over the way this pairing ended. The week in training for them went fabulous. Fubar ready to learn and Faith more than ready to teach.  We all had some extra stress with this pairing, as Faith was retiring Honor and bringing home another Service Dog. Timing was huge with this paring as well, for Faith needed Fubar ready in a month. Faith was going through her retirement hearing, and needed her dog there. The pressure was on but not needed…. Faith and Fubar were more than ready to complete their training at home.

The night before they were to leave, I remembered I needed a picture of Faith and Fubar in front of our Striggys Dogs sign. It was cold, snowing and the sun was setting. We had little time as I forced Faith to get her boots on for this must have picture. After the picture was taken, Fubar went on a *I am so happy* run around the yard. Faith and I laughing at the silliness of him. When were were ready to go in, we noticed red snow….. Fubar has cut his leg on something in the snow.

We were off, on a Saturday night, to the Emergency Vet care. It was a serious cut, they took him immediately in the back room…. and we watched helpless when they dragged him away….confused and scared.  Four hours later, after sitting in the parking lot worrying, we took Fubar home. Faith was leaving the next morning for her long drive home, with Fubar still half asleep from the medicine. What a terrible ending to such a perfect week. If anyone could handle all this, it was Faith. Fubar and her are a perfect pair and this would be a story to share for all time….. little did I know then, that this story had a few more chapters…

Three days later, Faith called, very worried about Fubar’s leg. Everything was going FABULOUS, the introduction between Fubar and Honor was like they were old friends. But there was *worry* in Faith voice “He isnt using his leg, and it is starting to swell”.  She sent a picture and back they went to another Emergency Vet visit. They sent her to another Vet because of the seriousness of his leg. Faith called in tears, “Fubar has a serious infection, the other Vet did not clean the leg well enough before closing it, and the infection may have caused damge to his joint, and they may have to remove his leg” ….WHAT???????? Yes, for the next 24 hours, Fubar was in critical condition, another operation to reopen his wound and put in a tube to drain the infection, some major antibiotics and pain meds. Fubar taking it all like the champ that he is!!! The worst part was trying to hold up the extra large cone they put on his head. Which he couldn’t hold up to walk with his short legs. It was a little bit of humor needed…. Fubar was in and out of the hospital for a week. The stress adding to Faith, as the time was drawing near for her exit interview that she desperately needed Fubar for.

This does end happy for the both. Fubar recovered fast, like he knew what his job was. Faith was able to have Fubar by her side when she needed him.  I decided to change the acronym for his name to: FUBAR- Fixed Up Better And Ready!!!

And now, here is the picture… one that cost over $1,000, the one I had to have … Faith and Fubar!