sally, Sally, SALLY!!!

Emma, the female Golden Retriever assistance dog who I have had the pleasure to house and to train for several months, went away for an interview in southern New Mexico for a possible position helping children. While Emma has been away, Sally has come to stay with me and what a joy she has been these past two weeks.

Sally came to the life of assistance dogs from a shelter in northern New Mexico. She is not pedigree and she is not apologizing. Heck, I'm not pedigree and I sure ain't apologizing either. Let's hear it for hybrids whether is be corn, cattle, or fuel efficient cars. Hybrids can be seen as an evolutionary step forward on many levels!

Unlike Emma, Sally is very humble, even obsequious at times. In addition to her gentle submission, Sally is exuberant in her love for toys (see the photo of her new stuffed blue snake or is it a fish?). Sally is also partial to her rubber chicken clad in a purple pocka-dot bikini I kid you not! Sally has a truly remarkable skill! Sally has been trained to identify insulin level fluctuations and to communicate relevant changes in insulin levels to whomever exhibits them!

For purposes of training the scent is held in a vile (see photo insert) and placed surreptitiously by the trainers so as to simulate true diabetic insulin levels both dropping and spiking. In one of the photos Sally is poking my hand, the alert she has captured and uses to communicate "your insulin is off!". In a real life situation Sally could literally serve to protect a diabetics health by alerting the diabetic to a dangerous change in insulin levels whether they be sleeping, driving, or simply walking about. How's that for assistance?

At home, Sally has warmed the cockles of Gabriel's heart as well. Gabriel was at first skeptical. When First introduced, Gabriel was unfriendly if not utterly rude. But Sally's beauty and kindness melted away Gabriel's apprehension and scorn. Now they gallivant across the now green desert after the monsoon rains subside. They sumo wrestle across my floor, and they follow my antics with treats and other treasures designed to capture their interest.

Sally's penchant for toys, praise, and treats is steady and considerable however she is careful to never push, just humbly appreciate. Yesterday I took Sally to the fabric store and after for a tour of a discount store. She hovered close to my side and cleverly out of the reach of the grocery cart. She waited at all doorways, and looked to my eyes for direction consistently. Sally is an amazing dance partner and has kept my missing Emma a far easier feat. When Emma finds a forever home, I wonder if Sally can't stay a while.....