Yesterday, I had a short walk before heading off to keep a hospital appointment.
Mahonia
Yellow Mahonia blooms beamed at me to brighten the day.
Rich green moss
I was almost tempted to remove my shoes and walk barefoot in the moss.
Today, I brought a friend to Clotworthy House for coffee, we talked that much, I forgot to air my camera, so there are no photos.
I called at Lidl on my way home, where I met Ivy
Ivy with her trainer, whose name I have forgotten
Ivy is a Labrador/Setter cross, about one year old. Today she was learning to sit and stay. She behaved very well. In the next couple of months she will learn to become an assistance dog, before moving to improve the quality of life for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Ivy in her training coat
Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland (ADNI) aim to train assistance dogs to improve the quality of life for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and for people who are disabled or have uncontrolled epileptic seizures, their services are available to residents all over Northern Ireland.
May Ivy enjoy many years providing a physical and emotional anchor for a child with Autism.
What a beautiful pup! My sister raised guide dogs / assistance dogs for a number of years ~ about 10 in total. All so sweet.
I admire people like your sister, they have time to know and love each of the animals, then they have to say farewell and let them go.
Something that many would find near impossible to do.
I agree
Love the pics. The dog. The knitting – how marvellous is that drapey shape becoming?
XO
WWW
LOL! The drapey shape is moving slowly. Very, very slowly, bit I will get there. Moving the image inside my head to become reality, is not always easy, but that is half the fun of the project.
My daughter works with kids with the Autism disorder. Some medical people think Autism is linked to diet..I.e. Our modern genetically modified diet.
Dianne, I prefer to go with the thought that there is no one cause of autism just as there is no one type of autism. We have a long way to go on the journey of discovery!
Why would such a pup be in a muzzle? Pups chosen for such jobs are usually very sanguine.
Ramana, I am no dog expert, so didn’t think to ask.
That is not a muzzle, it is a Halti Optifit head harness: Deters pulling gently & securely! The Halti Optifit steers your dog’s head so that his body has to follow. It offers extra control for very strong dogs or smaller handlers, disabled handers or those with multiple dogs. Also helpful for jumping, and lunging.
Thank you Brighid, for the clarification. I hope Ramana reads it.
Lovely dog with a lovely career.
Gigi, I am sure that Ivy will make some child very happy.
Peter calls Wilson his Hearing aid dog, though he only hears what Eilson wants to hear rather than what Peter needs to hear so there is quite a lot of training in front of us yet!!
*Wilson, not Eilson!!
Wilson, Welsh ion and now Eilson! 😉 No wonder Wilson hears only what he wants!!
Lol