[nagdu] my surgery

Sat Apr 20 17:36:09 UTC 2013

Mary, its great to hear your story and thanks for sharing. I go to a VA
Hospital for my needs and about three months ago I was bringing Ace in after
relieving himself in the rain, stepped into the lobby and my feet went out
from under me and I landed on my head. I came to with Ace licking my face. I
decided I should go to the VA and when I arrived at the ER they were so
backed up that after three hours I decided to go home and come back the next
morning. Since I had no idea how long I would be I sent my wife on to work.
I was lying on a gurney and Ace was acting strange and I thought he needed
to go out so I said I was going to take him out but they said NO they would
take him for me. When he returned I was told that he couldn't be in the ER.
I said I thought he could be anywhere but OR. I was informed that he wasn't
allowed in the OR, ER or ICU. I said I will call my wife and she will be
here in about 30 minutes. Ace was just becide him self and I stuck out my
hand and called to him. He jumped up on the gurney with me, put his head on
my shoulder. A Dr. came by and said "You can't have that" and I stopped him
and said please leave the dog alone, he is just concerned about me. The Dr.
turned to the ER group and said "Everyone, just ignore the dog, he isn't
really here".
They, Guide Dogs, know more about how you feel. God did a good job when he
created DOGS.
Ken & Ace 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary Wurtzel
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 1:18 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] my surgery

Hello all,

I wanted to share about my recent surgery and how it went fore Felix and me.
First, for some reason, the hospital said I could bring my dog but had to
find my own way to take him out.  I didn't have family who could be there
whenever Felix needed to go out.  I decided to board him at the vet for the
three days I was in the hospital.  That went fine.
The rehabilitation facility allowed me to bring my dog.  They were willing
to have staff to take him out.  I could not walk for two weeks after
surgery.  
I am very grateful to all of the nursing care aids who took Felix out for
me.
Felix was on a tie-down on one side of my bed.  I was fortunate to have a
private room.  
Friends of mine who also have guide dogs came and groomed and exercised
Felix for me.  
I took him on leash with me to the dining room in a wheelchair.  Because I
did not use the harness, I let people pet him.  The other clients and the
staff really enjoyed having a dog to pet.  Some of the people were seniors
who had ffallen or had replacement type surgeries.  They love to remember
dogs that they had during their lives.  
It was kind of neat because Felix seemed to know I was in pain.  He would
come right up to the side of the bed and stand close so I could pet him.  
After two and a half weeks I could come home.  I have a boot on my foot and
still cannot work Felix.  I worry about this.  I now have about a week and a
half before I can walk again.  
I have let Felix out in the fenced in yard to play with our pet dog.  
My husband took Felix for a walk, but he dragged back and wouldn't go.  All
I can think is that maybe he didn't want to leave me.
This surgery is hopefully going to make it possible for me to have better
balance when I walk.  I am excited to see how successful it will be.  I am
just praying that my pup will still remember how to be a guide dog.  
I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and a great family.  
This will be my first national convention to have a guide dog.  I think the
thing I dread the most is going to the exhibit hall with a dog guide. 
I AM SO ENJOYING THIS LIST AND HOPE TO MEET SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN Orlando.
Mary

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:29 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up

My first dog Glade thought running away and not coming were a great game.  A

couple times, she accidently got loose, and I had a heck of a time catching
her again.  She would always come when she saw her harness, though, so I'd
try to get close enough to her to show it to her, and the game would be
over.

I quote the Irish Rovers, sort of:
Those labradors were hiding, playing silly games.

>From the Unicorn song, explaining why there aren't any more around.
Tracy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2013 3:07 PM
Subject: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up

> Hi Eve and everyone,
>
>
>
> I was having the same problems with having Cass coming to me when I 
> called,
> and to some extent still do. Although I never allow her to be off leash in
> the common area behind my townhome, I will go out on a 25 foot leash and
> practice recall with food treats. This is what my field rep advised me 
> when
> she visited me on my second month home after complaining about this 
> problem.
> I explained to her that I was having problems with recall both in and out 
> of
> the house. After returning home and keeping Cass on leash for about 5 
> weeks,
> I let her off and when I called her she would not come to me. We would do
> obedience training, sit, down, stay, and come at short distances and she
> would do just fine, but when we were at ease she would not come to me when

> I
> called. Talk about frustrating - to be upstairs and call and have no dog
> come, or to be ten feet away and call her to come to me and she would just
> ignore me. Things really came to a head when I went to a friend's house 
> and
> she was playing in the yard with his dogs. He called his dogs to come in 
> and
> Cass refused to come inside. He went to the back door and she would run 
> from
> my friend. I went to the door and she would ignore my command to come
> inside. I finally was able to get her to come inside by filling her food
> bowl, and then snagging her with the leash. That was the last time she was
> off leash until the field rep came. We started working with high value 
> food
> rewards. This has seemed to work for the most part, but there are still 
> some
> occasional instances where she will stay just out of my reach when I call
> her, and not come to me as if I am playing a game. Needless to say this
> really ticks me off since I have never had a dog that has done this. I 
> have
> had quite a few dogs. She has a HUGE stubborn streak. I would never let 
> her
> be off leash outside unless the area was securely enclosed, and then only
> with hesitation. I am just glad she is food motivated. The fact that we 
> have
> only been together for a bit over 4 months lets me think that in time she
> will become a little more attached and this problem will solve itself.
>
> I apologize for the long winded emails, but when I get going, I really get
> going.
>
> Daniel and Cass
>
>
>
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