Cherelle visits Dogs for the Deaf in Central Point OR.
Her starting point as a Hearing Dog.

April 15th found us "camping out" in our motorhome in the parking lot of Dogs for the Deaf. We were asked to come visit the staff and talk about life as a Hearing Dog Team. Cherelle and I wanted everyone there at DFD to know that their work is very important. They gave Cherelle and myself a new lease on life.  All the dogs that DFD rescues and train go on to help others in some way. Even if they do not end up as service dogs they do end up enriching the lives of those who adopt one of the "career change" dogs. 

The visit was also a way for Cherelle and I to say "Thank You DFD" as we marked two milestones.
April 19th was the sixth anniversary of Cherelle and I meeting and her going home with me after being matched by DFD and April 20th was her eighth birthday!  A very special month indeed.

We are still on schedule for starting our full time RV life beginning in June. Cherelle is wrapping up her vaccines and I am stocking up on the medications that she needs.  She and I need to decide which toys she wants to take with her and which she will give away.  Just like me and my husband, she will have to downsize possessions too. Personally I think she will have an easier time of it than either him or me!

Best Wishes to all
with tail wags from Cher

Cher's First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit for Dogs

Hearing Dog Cherelle wants everyone know that it is a good idea to have a doggie first aid kit along side the people first aid kit.  Part of preparing for full time living and traveling in our RV is to make sure Cher's first aid kit is packed and up to date.  Check with your pet's veterinarian about what basics you should have in your dog's first aid kit. Cher is a 58 pound Golden/Lab mix and her vet suggested the following in her first aid kit:
     Benedryl
     Hydrogen Peroxide
     Hydro-cortisone ointment
     Ipecac
     Pediatric Electrolyte
     Scissors & Tweezers
     Thermometer
     Cotton balls
     Gauze Roll
     Self stick tape.

She will also be getting a shot for rattlesnake bite. Yes you read that correctly. Since Cher and I will be visiting parts of the U.S. where we could encounter rattlesnakes on our walks, she will be getting a shot for rattlesnake bite.  As a hard of hearing (almost deaf) person I probably will not be able to hear the rattler. Cher might decide she needs to check out the sound and get to close to the snake and get bit.  The shot does not make her immune to the venom, but should she get bit it does slow the effects of the poison and give us some time to get her to the nearest vet.  The shot also improves the odds of her surviving.  For any dog owners who live and hike with your dog in parts of the country where rattlesnakes are common you might want to discuss this "vaccine" with your veterinarian.

Best Wishes to You All
Tail Wags from Hearing Dog Cherelle (aka "Cher")

Health and Welfare Check List when traveling with a service dog
(or any canine companion).

Our house is going on the market soon and prep work is in full force. Hearing Dog Cherelle also needs her prep work planned. While not exciting or glam stuff it needs to be done. The “to do list” includes the following:

Arrange for a snake bite shot. She and I will be walking in areas of the country where rattle snakes are prevalent and dogs having shots for snake bite have a better chance of making it to the vet and successfully being treated than do dogs not having had the shot.  This is important because I will not be able to hear the rattling warning and Cherelle, being curious and wanting to show me sounds, might get too close. My feeling is better safe than sorry.

Order a supply of her medications including syringes for her arthritis treatment. This also includes over the counter medications for flea and tick treatment, joint chews, probiotics and something for diarrhea.  Print up a copy of her medical records.  It is a given that at one point during our travels she will get sick.  After all we will too. Been there done that!

Check due dates for vaccines in case any expire while we are traveling.  Find vet care in the nearest town for the time the vaccines are due.

Check Canadian laws, specifically in BC, governing service dogs and what papers are necessary when crossing the border with a dog.  We have included a trip to visit our northern neighbors across the border so this will be important.  U.S. laws may differ from Canadian laws. U.S. does not require physical proof showing that a dog is certified to be a service dog. This may not hold true in another country.

Well that should keep the two of us busy for a bit.

Tail wags.

"Travels With Hearing Dog" will be a blog about my life as a person with a severe hearing loss who will be living and traveling full time in a motorhome with my husband and service dog, Cherelle. Cherelle, aka "Cher" is a Hearing Dog trained to help me be aware of important sounds in my environment.  She and I will have been together for six years as of April 2013. As it happens that will also be the month my husband and I put our house on the market and sell most of our belongings in preparation for life on the road.

If you have ever wondered what life is like for someone who lives with and depends on a service dog, or if you just love dogs, stay tuned as Cher and I travel throughout the United States. She and I will  face the challenges that people teamed with service dogs frequently encounter. There will be heartwarming stories too and funny incidences that comes with traveling with any dog, service or not.

We invite you to join us when this blog becomes active sometime in spring of 2013.

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get."

Happy Tails
Karen & Cherelle