Most of you know I have a seizure alert dog. Her name is Hunter and she is a full-blooded Golden Retriever. I got her almost 3 years ago from Debs. Some of you know her, some of you don't. I got Hunter intending to have her as a pet, but hoping in the back of my mind that she would be able to pick up on my seizures, and she has done that and more. Hunter is my best friend, my protector, my hero, my angel. I don't know what I would do with out her. So I want to take a moment and say Thank you Debs, for giving Hunter to me.
I have been using Hunter as a service dog since she was around 1 year old, which is quite remarkable since large breed dogs normally take a few years to mature and calm down. But Hunter has always been fairly calm and well behaved. She never had any professional training. She picked up on my seizures and started alerting me, and I taught her all the commands she knows. One problem I have had is teaching her to bring me things. She refuses to put anything in her mouth thats not one of her toys, her leash, or food that she knows is for her. She won't even put her vest in her mouth and bring it to me, that is until recently. Just in the last few weeks, she has started bringing me her leash and vest when its time for us to go somewhere, as well as my coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. So I am hoping that maybe I will be able to get her to start bringing me things when I am sick and can't get up and get it myself.
I have been through a lot this year so far. Nose surgery, ankle surgery, bronchitis and 2 ear infections and several seizures while I had bronchitis, a colonoscopy. And she has been with me through it all, taking care of me, looking after me, comforting and protecting me the best she knows how. Monday morning around 4:00am I was outside with her and I fell on the ice in front of my aunt's neighbor's house. I hurt my ankle I just had surgery on, as well as my knee and my back, and I couldn't get up. She didn't want to leave me at first because I was hurt. But I finally convinced her to go get Grandma (My Mom). She went to my aunts porch and sat there and barked until someone finally came to the door, then my parents came out and helped me inside.
I don't know what I would have done without Hunter since I was in so much pain I couldn't get up. If she hadn't went for help, its hard telling how long I would have been sitting out there on ice and in pain. My parents took me to the ER. Thankfully I didn't break anything. I just sprang my ankle and pulled some muscles in my back and around my knee. I am feeling much better now. However at first, my back hurt so bad I couldn't even bend over. Hunter is still bringing me her vest, my coat, etc. But what really blew my mind is when I wasn't able to behind over and she was picking things up for me. I dropped some yarn at Walmart and she picked it up and handed it to me. I was so proud of her.
And I am sure you are all wondering... Yes she got a nice reward for saving me and getting help for me when I fell. I got her the biggest bone Walmart has. And she still has plenty of it left to eat. She also protected me the night before last when a friend brought their dog over for the first time. The dog isn't very friendly. For the life of me I still don't know why she brought it over. But anyway, thankfully Hunter was on her leash so there was no fighting. But that dog did come at me and darted at Miss Fluffy. Both times Hunter let Hazel (the other dog) know who was boss. Hunter stayed between me and the other dog, just like she does when its a person she doesn't trust. And I guess she figured she isn't mean to Miss Fluffy, no other dog is going to be either.
So anyway, I just wanted to share that with everyone. I wanted everyone to know just how important Hunter is to me, and how much she looks after me. She definitely has unconditional love for me, as I do for her. She is my best friend, my hero, my angel. And I thank God every day for her being in my life.
*Hugs*
~*Velvet Love*~
