Da Goofball Animals
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Da Goofball Animals
@GoofballAnimals
Header photo of #DarlingZissy (Bao Bao). This is Happy. Da Goofball Animals ©2018 in memory of Hula and Groovy; I miss you every minute of every day. 💔 #ally
Huge News Everyone!!!!
Mom here: This week brought a flood of emotions I was unprepared for. I had prepared myself mentally for Sampson's retirement, and had gone though the process methodically. Upon returning from New York, and having the film crew leave our house, I felt a heaviness in my chest, and tears that I wouldn't allow to fall. Thinking I was just exhausted I pushed it aside. But the realization finally set in. The tears fell. I was prepared mentally, and stoic about the decision to retire Sampson, the reality is, I was unprepared emotionally. Simply put - I miss my partner. The floofy face that was my guiding light for 9 1/2 years, the bond we have, and the love. I counted on his presence every second of those 9 1/2 years, and Sampson loves his job. He and I have traveled a road fraught with obstacles, and triumphs - side by side. While it may be perceived that retirement is a liberation of sorts, this human sentiment of retirement may not be similar to how assistance animals experience retirement. Sampson did not perceive his working role as arduous work he wished to escape in the traditional sense that some people do. However, the trip took a toll on him, and I had to be consciously aware of his limitations, and act as HIS advocate. Seeing his excitement to put his vest on, I will continue to allow him to work in a reduced capacity and do small excursions. Although, we will be traveling to Palm Springs, Fl, for the big Gala in January. I am blessed to have Pax come into my life, and look forward to our future together. We are looking forward to next weekend heading to Las Vegas for the Marine Corps Ball, and he is just a loyal, work driven goofball; our bond and partnership will grow over time. But the transition is hard. The emotional conundrum of retiring an assistance animal is an issue every handler must confront at some point of the animal's life. The cessation of a working career should be perceived as a well-deserved, positive celebration and a guarantee that the animal will enjoy the remainder of his or her life. However, retirement also marks finality and can be a difficult road for both animal and handler to navigate physically and emotionally. The life and welfare of an assistance animal should always be kept in the highest regard. The assistance animal lives a humble life of purpose and can be the essential lifeline for a human being, a fate that nature could have never commanded. There is no question that the assistance animal must be honored treated with the utmost respect in every stage of life. As the animal transitions into retirement, the lives of both animal and handler change, but the memories and history between the two lives do not. Robert Frost (5) once stated, “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” As I do, to try and make sense of things I don't understand - I turn to science and words. Please check out my new blog post in "Musings of a Disabled CEO": The Path Toward Retirement for Assistance Animals: Transitioning Lives empowerabilityconsulting.com/musings/f/the-…
