Well, I'm sure we are all recovered from the Holiday...and regretting the fact that we are back to the grind!!! But being back to the grind, meant that we could again go visit Riley!!!!
Naturally, we scheduled the visit on a day that it snowed/rained the majority of the day so Riley was a shaggy, wet dude! But that didn't stop us from loving on him! He was a ball full of energy again! He is so thrilled to have his own company! At one point he was giving Leah a personal facial with his incessant tail-wagging! Nevertheless, she didn't seem to mind at all. In fact there were smiles all around and we even learned a new vocabulary word..."TAIL"!!!
The plan for Riley is tentatively laid out. He is scheduled to have his 'manly' surgery the first week of December! AMEN! Then, in mid-December he will go to live with a foster family to gain his social skills. This is where he will be brought into the community (appointments, restaurants, transportation, etc) to gain more experience for the service dog label. After a month or so of this fostering situation, he may very well come to live with Leah!!! We will then drive back and forth for private lessons/training to practice for the service dog certification tests. So if Riley cooperates, Leah should be able to start working with her partner mid- to late January. HOORAY!!!!
Finally, with grateful hearts we tell you that we have reached our fundraising goal!!!! We are waiting on a few pending contributions, but based on projections we have raised enough money to bring Riley home and to certify him as a Service Dog for Leah Dulce Elizabeth Knight! We can't thank each of you enough for your financial donations, your efforts to gather funds, and your thoughts and prayers for Leah!!! We have been on a journey with Leah, and now with Riley maybe our journey's path will seem to shorten some how!!! We thank all of you so very much!!!
Again, I can't just post without pictures! (The trainer must think we're nuts taking all of these pictures of Riley!!! But hey...he's part of our family now!!!)
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