Pawsibilities Unleashed

Jesse

This is just a little story of a girl and her dog and the love and learning the dog brings to so many.

I always wanted a dog. I dreamt of coming down Christmas morning and finding a puppy in my stocking. I have a golden book with that exact picture on the cover. I asked many times but my parents both worked all day and Mom who had dogs her entire childhood said she couldn’t bear to leave a dog alone for that much time. My Dad loved all the neighbor’s dogs… lots of love without the responsibility. A friend wanted to give me a cocker spaniel puppy when I was 13. My parents said no. I never gave up the dream.

In college, I was around a Veterinary School a great deal and realized then how much was involved in raising and taking care of a dog in the manner they require and deserve. It was then I decided I wanted a big yellow dog. I knew I needed to be able to give that someday dog the necessary time and space.

All things happen for a reason. Today my husband and I live in the country on 3 acres of mostly woods that back up to a creek and look down the road to a beautiful lake. It is paradise for us and for our Golden Retriever Jesse.

Jesse was born on a farm in a neighboring county. We had met her dog Dad and owner who highly recommended her dog Mom and owner. We got to know Jesse’s Mom and owner when she was carrying Jess and her 5 sisters and 4 brothers. We were called the morning they were born and at 3 weeks we all met in a huge horse stall. Every week I would go and play and visit and love on all the pups. Jesse was the one who always stood back a little to watch the goings on of the day. She came home at 8 weeks and I took 2 weeks of vacation to be with her and begin her learning adventure we call training. I cried the third day just wondering if I was doing everything right. Could there be canine associated post-partum depression? I think so. A friend who has bred, shown and had dogs all her life was my comfort and life-line. She assured me I was doing just fine and reminded me that the simple toys (an oatmeal canister) are the best! I cried again when she was four weeks old and for the first time she sat by the door to go out. It’s the simple things that often give the greatest joy.

At 6, she is smart, loving, enthusiastic, extremely strong (75 lbs of muscle, bone, teeth and fur) and strong willed with a very high tolerance to pain. That’s Jess. In puppy test talk she’s a 1!!! She trained very easily and is extraordinarily bright. I thought I wanted to do agility (jumping through hoops and tunnels, over fences to beat the clock) with her but realized soon that her greatest gift was her ability to bring joy to every person she meets. I learned about therapy dogs and made the decision to get her involved in therapy service when she was 2. I should have started her the day I brought her home. However, work demands and finding the right organization delayed it until early this year.


As I talked to people about therapy pet organizations, I became familiar with two national groups. However, the training and certification testing were geographically very inaccessible. And then my friend Lori moved back home! I met Lori when I hired her as a college coop. We had been out of touch a while but picked up where we left off. Our catch up conversation led to our furry children and our interest in putting them to work dishin’ out love. A few months later Lori found the Kentucky chapter of Love On A Leash. I knew this was where Jesse was meant to be. And then Jesse met her Aunt Liz!

What a true God-send Liz Norris is. The hours she gives to community work are countless. She gives invaluable gifts to every dog and owner whose lives she touches. Liz has a true and great gift for teaching, for evaluating, for training and for loving.
My husband came with Jesse and I to the first session with Liz as I wanted to make sure we were on the same page with what Jesse was about to learn. That first 3+ hour evening was remarkable. We both were glued to Liz and absorbed every word she spoke. We were delighted to hear that Liz thought Jesse was a great therapy dog candidate but I never expected her to become certified so soon! Jesse went through 6 more weeks as we all met new furry and non-furry friends. Her life has changed. Nothing comes free and she will work relentlessly for food! But oh the fun she has.
These days, Jesse visits the children’s floor at a local public library. For two hours, kids and their parents come in so the kids can read books with one of the therapy dogs on staff. A friend who teaches fourth grade at a local elementary school has written a grant and is working with her principal and resource coordinator to bring LOAL Tutoring into their school this year. Jesse also has participated in a couple of K9 Safety presentations at area elementary schools. Jesse and her Mom and Dad are having a ball!


If you or someone you know loves dogs and wants to give back to their community, Pawsibilities Unleashed Therapy can give you a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

Some people say dogs are children who never get past the age of 2 or 3. That’s true …innocent, accepting and loving for years and years to come. Apply dog logic to life: eat well, be loved, get petted, sleep a lot and dream of a leash-free world!

P.S. Dreams can really come true. J