If you read any post, PLEASE read this one!!
September is National Service Dog Month; many of you know
Pia Pia is a Hearing/ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Service Dog for her Dad
who is a veteran. When she was adopted
from a local no-kill shelter it was the intent for her to keep him company so I
could just run errands without the constant calling when would I be returning. However, during obedience training at a local
pet store we ran into a dog trainer who introduced us to a service dog trainer
who felt that she could do more than just keep him company. With his dedication and her dedication as
well as the guidance/ assistance of the trainers she and he started the intense
training of a service dog team. Well, slightly
less than two years after adopting Pia Pia she became a dual certified Service
Dog. It took a little bit more time but
with her by his side our lives changed with traveling by plane and car from
traveling across the country twice, seeing National Parks, visiting
family/friends, and just enjoying life again.
From him being a recluse and making simple errands like going to a
grocery store miserable to enjoying life and having fun. 
But this post is more than just about celebrating what
service dogs do for those with a disability whether that disability is a
physical or mental disability, it is the joy of what a dog or any pet can do to
enlighten our lives. Her Dad not only
suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but also a terminal illness which
happens to be genetic. This genetic
illness is rare but bought us to another family very similar my husband. The wife is a nurse, her husband also
diagnosed with this condition and they have three children. The three children all were diagnosed with
the illness however only one was symptomatic where the other two are not. Her husband and mine are similar in age,
similar with in age when the onset of the condition and my husband has four
children (three who are at risk). Huntington’s
Disease is the illness. Once diagnose a
patient usually has 10-18 years but can differentiate pending the patient,
family environment and such. It is best
to keep a routine and reduce stress that helps to prolong the life of a HD
patient. She and I realized we both had
so much in common with our husbands, worried about the children, and having a
career. One day though I got the call I
dreaded, she called to inform me her husband changed the routine. From the time she left for work and the time
the neighbor came to have coffee and watch the morning news, her husband
decided he did not want to face his future of what this illness was going to do
to him, to his wife and his children.
Yes, he took his life. I was speechless;
I just had no clue what to say. As time
pass we drifted apart because we did not have the similarities and I felt
awkward talking about another year or milestone with my husband or something
about the children we got to celebrate.
Recently we reconnected, I apologized for abandoning her but
I felt at a loss. She understood and
stated she probably would have done the same.
Still no excuse for my actions but we can’t look back we can only move forward. It was nice to be able to pick up where we
left off however she did lose her one daughter to HD but she still has her son
and daughter who are still asymptomatic.
After a lengthy conversation, she stated to me she realized the
difference that my husband had that her husband did not have, I asked her
what? A pet. Your husband has Pia Pia. She honestly feels that if her husband would
have had a pet whether a cat, dog, rabbit or such he would not have felt what
he did to make that fateful decision.
She stated she noticed the difference in my husband once Pia Pia came
into his life.
I nor she is saying a pet is for everyone but you never know
what a difference a pet can make. If you
have tried everything such as medicines, counselors, friends, family, and doctors
why not take the opportunity to try a pet.
A pet can do something no one else can.
Donating or volunteering at an organization to help pets for those in
needs such as pets for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, children
with Autism, and so on please do.
Support organizations that support those types of organizations such as
Plato Pet Treats who donates a dollar toward their Plato Wags Back program.
I can personally tell you from experience that without Pia
Pia I do not think my husband would be here today let alone be able to travel,
enjoy time with his children and me.
Respect a person with a Service Dog whether you can see their disability
or not. Not all disabilities can be seen.
Thank you for those who support, sponsor, service dog
organizations and service dog trainers.
We truly appreciate what you do. Happy
National Service Dog Month! 
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