Well, I'm still waiting to hear news about my coming canine partner. The organization I'm working with was not expecting me to be done fundraising so quickly, so they were looking for a suitable match among dogs that will be ready six months from now instead of presently. It is difficult to be patient, but I want a good match, so I'm trying.
These thoughts bring me to the suggested tips for people who are looking toward service dogs today.
The first and most important is communication. Decide on a reasonable timeframe between contact attempts, and then call or e-mail on that schedule. I am choosing once a week, just to pleasantly ask how the search is going, and if there is a thing I can do to move the process along.
You do not need to feel uncomfortable doing this; it is your right as a paying customer. They have your money, and you want your dog...
Be flexible and understanding about their schedule, but also firm in the assertion that you need to be in that schedule somewhere as well.
Other things I am doing during this waiting time include studying my command list so that I will have a leg up when boot camp finally does start, watching and reading anything I can about service dogs, and observing dog training classes. Also, this is a good time to figure out what veterinarian you're going to use, if you need any special accommodations to take care of your dog independently (like an automatic dog feeder, etc.) and to set money aside for dog related expenses, even ones that don't seem obvious, like transportation to and from the boot camp locations.
Speaking of reading, I have a friend who lets her service dog borrow her computer periodically to write a blog about her job and daily life as a service dog. The dog is a surprisingly good writer; the content is very informative and often funny. You can find it here, along with links to more information:
And remember, good things do come to those who wait.
PS. For the curious, I don't think I'm going to allow my future dog to borrow my computer to contribute to this blog. I will confer with them and write on my own. However I may change my mind later. :-)
When I said I was going to start at the very beginning of my service dog journey here, I meant it. Well, almost. Most people would start off with advice about how to pick a company or organization to go with, but since mine just literally fell into my lap, I'm not really qualified to offer that advice. All I know is that the one big national organization that kept me on their waiting list for quite a number of years then told me that I was too disabled for one of their dogs. I found a local group here was willing to work with me. So, the only qualified piece of advice in the search arena that I can give is to go local whenever possible.
For me, the beginning chronicled here will be fundraising. I was so daunted by the seemingly insurmountable task of raising a little over $20,000. Any organizations like the one I went with that are not nonprofit, a fundraising goal/price is negotiated based on client needs, training costs, upkeep for the first year, which was optional in my case, and the inevitable sales tax. Always read that contract carefully before you sign it!
When I caught my breath, I became determined to get down to business. Here is how I accomplished my goal in a little over five months: (your time will vary greatly; I have been told that my speedy results are not typical.)
Two words: Social Networking!
It's 2011, so use the technology available to you. And the websites. Facebook, twitter, MySpace, blogs, anywhere you have a digital presence. If you have a friend who can, or are able to yourself, build a website specifically for fundraising, do so. I had a website complete with video and donation link. But even if you can't do that, promote the heck out of yourself on any of the above listed sites. Facebook is where I received most of my donations from.
Repetition is the key here. Make people aware of your needs by posting about it on one or all of the sites at least once every other day. At the very least. And ask other people to share the information. People like to feel involved in something good, and this greatly increases the number of people who will be made aware of your need.
And any time you reach a milestone number, post about it everywhere, even if it happens multiple times per day. People like good news, and they love to feel like something they are involved in is progressing, the faster the better. You need an example? Just think of those annoying PBS fundraising drives. The annoying part to you, the viewer, is the repetition that seems ad nauseam. But, PBS is still on the air, isn't it? Exactly.
My next method for fundraising was just to show up at some local dog centric events. My boyfriend made some business cards and T-shirts, and I passed the cards out, telling my story. For some people this works better than the virtual world as far as whether they will donate to you, because they can see your face in person. Once, a friend got me a table at one of these events. Another friend made a banner, another made the flyers. The key here is that teamwork is vital. You won't be able to do this on your own, so gather a team who really cares about you and your goal. The cards can also be passed out just anywhere you go.
The last direct method I would like to mention is not forget your friends and family connections. One of my largest donations came from a person I barely got to know in high school who is a good singer, so she put on a benefit concert for me at her church. That was amazing.
Also remember that a small bit of negativity could work in your favor as well, but always let it come from within other people, not you. A.k.a. the guilt factor. Seems bad to say, but it works. Have a sister or an aunt that hasn't gotten in touch with you for a while? They know this; and so if you give them a way to reach out and show they care, they will more than likely jump right on it. This should not be the way you get most of your donations, but mainly I'm just letting you know to let people know what you need and how they can help. If you're too proud or shy to do that, you will likely be unsuccessful.
Lastly, I would like to bring up the power of dreams and faith. This may seem a little out there, but if you have really wanted something for a long time, and believe it will come true, you are more likely to work toward making that happen. Sometimes, if other people, even complete strangers, see that believing spirit inside of you, they will help, and things happen almost like magic.
I discovered this when my boyfriend made a business transaction and asked his recipient to look on my webpage and consider a donation separate from the transaction. Not only did this person donate, they donated most of the rest of the amount I needed. This was utterly amazing to me.
The bottom line for this stage in my journey was hard work, perseverance, and humbling myself enough to ask others for help and accept what they gave.
I truly hope my journey helps someone else along the way.
My name is Amber, and I am a woman in my early 30s who was born with cerebral palsy. I use a power wheelchair, and need assistance to do many things, even what others consider basic.
As a result, being teamed with a service dog to increase my independence has been a lifelong dream, literally. In late 2009, I relocated to Arizona in search of a healthier, more expanded life. Up to that point, this was the biggest undertaking I had ever tried independently, moving all the way across the country from most of my family and friends. Little did I know that move would be the spark that set another dream into motion.
In early 2010, I discovered a local service dog organization. I was reluctant to ask for information because I was considered "too disabled" for a service dog by the most well-known national organization. This opinion remains an enigma to me. But I took a chance, because that old dream just would not let go of me.
As a result, in late summer 2010, I signed papers and officially began fund-raising for the slightly over $20,000 I would have to raise. I treated this like I would a job; and so in very early 2011, I reached my goal and beyond; well ahead of anyone's schedule, expectations, or hopes. Including mine. This affirms for me that dreams do come true.
But this one will also require work, perseverance, and the acquisition of knowledge. This is the reason for this blog. To share the journey from the very beginning. So that my readers, my dog, and I will all learn and grow together.
In the beginning, I coined the term "dog dream team" in order to motivate people to help me make that dream come true. Now, the same phrase is appropriate for this blog, as I chronicle the journey to become the ultimate working team of canine and human.
What will we see along the way? Let's find out together...
