Any other service dog handlers on MFP?

ResilientWoman

When success means endings as well as new beginnings:

Gratitude is overflowing despite being up all night with my sweet service dog, Shiang-Shiang. She spent over a decade bringing me from death's door to thriving and fertile. I would not have my precious daughter or even my life without her lifetime of hard work on my behalf.

We have come to the end of an oh-so-long road. She is half blind, partially deaf, cannot use her rear legs and is losing her sense of smell, the same sense that she used to guide me around airborn hazards for over a decade. The last part, I believe, is the hardest on her. Thank God for bacon, meat and fish drippings. They make eating still fun for her. She is eating and drinking lustily, still wags her tail and it is her job now to help me put it all in perspective.

When so many around me died, why did I get this chance at life?
When it is all done, what will I do with her lifelong gift to me?

It is difficult to accept that the most intimate relationship in my life, 14 years long, is coming to an end. She and I are closer than parent/child, lovers or best friends. The relationship between a service dog and her handler is a unique bond and one I think I will understand more of in retrospect than I ever did while it was unfolding.

Never having even been a pet dog owner previously, I had no idea when they prepared us in disability training for this moment that I would even need their advice. I, frankly didn't expect to live long enough to bury and grieve my friend and ally. I had arranged for her to grow old with dear friends in NC after I passed of traumatic and thought to be irreversible damage to my lungs. After all, back then, I was only given a few short months to live and she was a young dog who would live for many years.

Instead she and Traditional Chinese Medicine saved my life. A few years later, Z-Health saved my family and my future. I who once lay in a bed unable to walk or care for myself supported only by my spiritual practices and my beloved service dog, now stand, run, lift heavy things and thrive while she lies still in need of me for every small thing. She is comfortable, she is not suffering and we made it through a long, difficult night. for this I am profoundly grateful.

Just wondering if there are any other service dog owners out there in MFP who have been through what I'm going through now.

03258

Prayers for you and your friend of so many years. God bless. Thanks for your story. You have indeed been blessed. TAke care

momof8munchkins

So sorry to hear of your lifetime friend..

PegasusDeb

Hard to type this, with tears in my eyes. Bless you & your dog, who's given you your life back. Where you once relied on her for strength & guidence, she now relies on you. I am not a dog handler, but truly believe my shepherd mix would have made a good service dog, she's very intune with peoples feelings, and willing to please.
My heart goes out to you & your companion, it's so hard watching a loved on deteriate (sp?) Go with peace knowing that she did what she truly was put on earth for & loved.