I was so low functioning that they asked me at the end of the interview if I really wanted a dog. I did the best I could while I was there. And yes, I really would like a dog.

I also asked about how they raise funds for the training and feeding of the dogs.

They said that besides donations, they ask that people send in their used ink cartridges.

So, if you think of it next time your cartridge runs out of ink...please send it to:

Canine Support Team
PO Box 891767
Temecula, CA 92589

If it doesn't help me to get a dog perhaps it will help someone else.

Yes. They have a web page and they are on cell dogs on TV at times.

I don't have the URL handy right now, but when I do a search under Canine Support Teams in Temecula it usually comes up.

I will write more later....running low right now.

I have heard that a dog can help you in this area to by putting your hands on their backs and using them for support.

I was on my friends hammock yesterday and had to crawl to the house because I wasn't strong enough to pull myself up after dropping to the ground to get off of the hammock. A dog would have come in handy then.

The biggest benefit for me would be a feeling of more independence and companionship.

It doesn't make sense but I feel I would be feel better about things when I am out and about if I had a service dog with me.

Especially when riding Amtrak or just out and about in town.

You've done a great service here by letting us know.

So, I thought I would bring this post up to remind people to send in their used ink cartridges.

I am getting ready to replace two of mine and send in the used ones so this also reminded me to remind others.

The web address is:
http://www.caninesupportteams.org

At the interview, they said that they vacine their dogs for lyme disease prevention.

I just read an article that said that wasn't a good idea and will be sending it to them.

I would LOVE to hear you have one if you feel it would help you.

About the Lyme vaccine for dogs...

Well, think the jury is still out about the actual effectiveness on it.

I mean, how would anyone know if there isn't a reliable test to indicate a dog has it or not?

I do know a vet who has treated dogs for LD who have had the vaccine. He feels it 'locks' in the disease and finds it is more difficult to treat those dogs who contract the disease.

My only concern is that dogs still attract ticks and do not want you to be at greater risk for any more TBDS!

im gonna send them in

kam hope you dont have to wait a whole year

Sizzled...you asked how much a service dog costs.

When I find the paper work on that and am functioning better, I will post it here.

Canine Support Team is very good at breaking the cost of training a service dog down.

Please know I am keeping you in my prayers to feel better AND get a service dog!

Sending my ink cartridges to:

Canine Support Team
PO Box 891767
Temecula, CA 92589

Just a reminder to send your used ink cartridges to Canine Support Team.

I just ran out of ink and plan on trying to mail mine in today along with a note to let them know I am still interested.

I also am thinking of applying to other organizations. If you know of any that you would recommend please let me know.

This is such great news to think such a small thing on our part would help perhaps so many others.

I'll be sending mine in plus will pass the word around along with making some simple flyers for my neighbors to do the same with the address to mail enclosed for them.

If we make it just as easy for neighbors and friends as possible, I think lots of people will do this.

I wish the waiting list for service dogs wasn't so long. I hope you don't have to wait that long.

Thanks for the information. Kam, this info is a great service.

lifeline

P.S. Instead of throwing out old eyeglasses, you can donate them to the Lions, also. That also is a service for others that can't buy frames (price of frames these days is through the roof)!

Now...if I can just get my printer to work again.

Time to ask some questions under the computer flash discussions.

I heard that some of the people who have sent in used ink cartridges were sent a thank you note along with information about Canine Support.

It does seem like a well run organization.

I know we have a lot of new people here. It is also a reminder for the seasoned ones.

Hope you all are doing well.

Being the printing fool that I am I have 6 cart. ready to go.

I have been spreading the word to friends and family. I think this is great.

Do we have to include something with your name or anything?

Thanks. It would probably be a good idea if you let them know I was the one who told you about Canine Support.

It will help to remind them I am still interested.

I've got all I need now, I'll put you in for a grant . If awarded it will pay for you to come in Feb for team training and pay your hotel, food and dog supply expenses.

Oh Happy Day!

Administration Fee: $800 (includes promotional materials, office supplies, salaries, grant-writing costs, office equipment and computers.

Food: $600

At $35 per month, it is estimated that each dog consumes approximatley $600 worth of dog food.

Foster Care Expenses: $760

Training supplies and equipment, health maintenance, spay or neuter costs, mileage expenses for traveling to puppy outings/classes, monthly heartworm perventative, puppy training class expenses.

Health Testing (for dogs in advanced training) $500

X-rays for hips and elbows, cariac testing, CERF, blood work, teeth cleaning

Advanced Training (427 hours min @ $11.25 per hour) $4,800 Training by a Certified CST Instructor.

Among the trained tasks that a service dog might do for a person with neurological Lyme disease (mind you, the actual tasks depend on your specific and individual needs): helping with mobility for joint, muscle, pain, and balance difficulties; awakening the handler; reminding the handler to take medication at specific times; leading the handler back home when handler is disoriented or overwhelmed; helping the handler distinguish between hallucinations and real events; stopping at curbs until cued with special words to prevent handlers with seizures from stepping into traffic unaware; responding to seizures in handler by seeking assistance from others, pushing button on emergency phone, or staying next to the handler; helping to pull off clothes; bringing the phone when the handler is unable to move. For another example list of tasks, see IAADP's section on psychiatric disabilities.

I had a black lab type of dog come up to me today while I was out and about in my power chair. He stayed with me for a short time.

I noticed how the energy level went up by just having him there. It also took my mind off of how aching my body was feeling, the difficulty with holding my body up, the difficulty with breathing and put the focus on him. And I didn't feel so alone all of a sudden. It was a good thing.

How wonderful, so it means your really getting your dog?? Must be all that coping i was doing...lol.

I am so excited for you. Great to see something wonderful happening.

Can't wait for this to come true for you!

RICHLAND, Washington (AP) -- Leana Beasley has faith
that a dog is man's best friend.

Faith, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, phoned 911 when
Beasley fell out of her wheelchair and barked urgently
into the receiver until a dispatcher sent help. Then
the service dog unlocked the front door for the police
officer.

"I sensed there was a problem on the other end of the
911 call," said dispatcher Jenny Buchanan. "The dog
was too persistent in barking directly into the phone
receiver. I knew she was trying to tell me something."

Faith is trained to summon help by pushing a
speed-dial button on the phone with her nose after
taking the receiver off the hook, said her owner,
Beasley, 45, who suffers grand mal seizures.

Guided by experts at the Assistance Dog Club of Puget
Sound, Beasley helped train Faith herself.

The day of the fall, Faith "had been acting very
clingy, wanting to be touching me all day long,"
Beasley said Thursday.

The dog, whose sensitive nose can detect changes in
Beasley's body chemistry, is trained to alert her
owner to impending seizures.

But that wasn't what was happening on September 7, and
Faith apparently wasn't sure how to communicate the
problem. During Beasley's three-week hospital stay,
doctors determined her liver was not properly
processing her seizure medication.
--

Still needing ink cart.?? I have 4 more ready to go.

It has been a rough two and a half months. I must have missed your post.

I was trying to find something to keep me going here and thought of this post.

For the new people...who are most likely in medical and not here....

I hope you are able to send in used ink cartridges also.

I will start sending in mine and also give this info to friends and family members. I was not aware of this posting til now and I'm so happy to see it. Too many people trash these valuable items when it could help someone else.

Great info.

Your post are showing up. Hope you can see them soon.

I mailed those 4 back in Nov. and have 3 more ready to go.

Can you tell I am a printing fool???

I have a Lexmark now and it seems to go through the cartridges a lot faster than the Epsom I had with much less printing. Not good.

When I have fallen he goes to find assistance, or when I have lost consciesness he tries to wake me up. I think he actually has the ability to tell when one of these episodes is approaching (the EEG says they aren't seizures, so who knows!), because he acts very differently beforehand.

It would be nice to have a big dog who could actually help me up when I've fallen though!

-suvvy

This is great. I think dogs like that are rare.

I think this is a great thing and being the printing fool that I am....

Hope this helps somebody.

So, I am not ignoring you Geden. If your post and Starr's do not show up soon I will contact the webmaster.

I try to bring this up once a month or so new people can see it and to remind others.

I also have not heard whether or not the grant was approved for training for a service dog this month.

I finally quit holding my breath and decided to breath. HA!

I am thinking that things do not look good at this point. Sad, but true.

I will consider what my options are later. I still believe that a service dog would be a good thing and have felt this way the past 3 years. But, I know there are others in more need and with permanent disabilities. I am hoping mine is not permanent.

But, it would be nice to have a service dog with me when I travel on the train/bus to see my LLMD and just for routine things around here.

OH HAPPY DAY.

I THOUGHT THE TRAINING WAS IN FEBRUARY AND I MISSED IT. BUT IT IS IN MARCH.

I ALSO WAS APPROVED FOR THE GRANT, BUT I NEED TO COME UP WITH THE HOTEL, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, DOG SUPPLY FUNDS FIRST AND THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME AFTER I HAND IN RECEIPTS.

I HAVE LOTS OF OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME AT THIS POINT...LIKE WHERE I AM GOING TO STAY, HOW I AM GOING TO GET THERE, HOW I AM GOING TO GET AROUND ONCE I AM THERE, GETTING THE POWER CHAIR IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE, HOW I AM GOING TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDS, ETC. BUT MY HOPE IS THAT THESE THINGS WILL ALL WORK OUT.

I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY HEALTH HOLDING OUT FOR TWO WEEKS BUT MY HOPE IS THAT IT WILL. EVEN IF I HAVE A DAY OR TWO WHEN MY BODY SHUTS DOWN AND I AM NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, I THINK IT WILL BE OK.

I HAVE AN AUNT AND UNCLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA SO I WILL BE CONTACTING THEM. I HEAR THEY HAVE A TRAILER THEY RENT OUT.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THIS AUNT AND UNCLE IN YEARS BUT I THINK IT IS PRETTY COOL THAT THEY ARE NOW LIVING IN THAT AREA.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEE'S I WILL COME HOME WITH A SERVICE DOG....BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

I SAW THIS PROGRAM ON TV. SOME OF THE DOGS START THEIR TRAINING AT PRISONS AND ARE TRAINED BY THE INMATES.

I WAS TEACHING AT A PRISON WHEN I CAME DOWN SICK. SO, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE GREAT. MY PLAN AT THE TIME WAS TO GET WELL ENOUGH TO RETURN TO TEACHING AND TAKE THE DOG WITH ME.

SINCE THE DOG WAS FAMILAR WITH THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD HAVE A GOOD ARGUMENT FOR ALLOWING THE DOG ON SITE WITH ME.

THIS FLASHED IN MY MIND WHEN I READ THE LETTER. THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO IMPROVE, I DON'T KNOW NOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN.

BUT, IT IS STILL A POSSIBILITY EVEN AFTER 3 YEARS. I HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR TO IMPROVE ENOUGH TO RETURN TO WORK BEFORE THAT DOOR IS CLOSED.

THERE IS STILL HOPE. HOPE IS GOOD. HAVING A SERVICE DOG WILL ALLOW ME MORE INDEPENDENCE.

THIS IS GOOD AND SOMETHING I AM LOOKING FORWARD TOO.

DON'T KNOW WHY THIS ALL BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES BUT IT DOES.

I HAVE A RIDE DOWN TO THE TRAINING SITE. THIS PERSON HAS A PICK UP SO I WILL BE ABLE TO LOAD THE POWER CHAIR ONTO IT AS WELL AS MY PORTABLE RECLINING CAMP CHAIR AND MAT FOR THOSE TIMES I NEED TO LAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHE WILL ALLOW ME TO PAY FOR THE GAS FOR THE TRIP AFTER I RECEIVED THE GRANT MONEY SO THIS IS GOOD.

I WROTE A LETTER TO AN AUNT AND UNCLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA AND RENT OUT A TRAILER TO SEE IF THE TRAILER IS AVAILABLE DURING THAT TIME.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS AUNT AND UNCLE IN YEARS AND WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THEY ARE IN THE AREA I NEED TO FIND LODGING FOR TWO WEEKS. PRETTY COOL.

I AM WORKING ON GETTING A RAMP TO LOAD AND UNLOAD THE POWER CHAIR, FIND A WAY TO GET TO AND FROM THE TRAINING SITE, FIND A WAY HOME, GETTING THE HOUSE AND PATIO READY FOR THE DOG...IN HOPES THAT ONE WILL COME BACK WITH ME, FINDING A VET...WE NO LONGER HAVE A VET IN OUR TOWN AND NEED TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR A VET...I NEED TO HAVE THE NAME OF THE VET I PLAN ON USING TO GIVE TO CST, AND I KNOW THERE IS MORE..BUT THAT IS ALL THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW.