|
 December 2002
Polar must have been on Santa's good list this year, as he has quite
a large stack of toys!! He is always a great joy to be around. He started his first
obedience class last week and seemed to really enjoy it. He will also get to go along to
Christmas dinner at my mom's where he will be the guest of honor.
Take Me Back for More
January 2003
Here is Polar at his classroom that he goes
to each week. Lisa is reading to him with myself there giving support as well. Lisa really
likes Polar and is always very happy to see him on Fridays.
Polar is growing like a weed, and is truly a inspiration to have around! He goes to the
same school every Friday and works with seven children that are learning disabled. They
love him and can't wait for Friday to come. He lets them read to him, goes to gym class,
and also participates with other activities in the classroom. Polar is so excited when we
get there that he goes straight to the classroom! Everyone at the school knows about his
special story and I am hoping his talents will truly be able to help many youngsters.
Take Me Back for More
February
2, 2003
 Here is Polar at
school with Rosa, who uses a walker. She got to walk him down the hall in his cart. Also,
Chance had a huge smile on his face while he was walking Polar.
It was Rosa's birthday, and Polar got her a card and some stickers, which she was
thrilled with.
Mrs. Brown, the teacher of the class,
would like Polar to do a full school assembly, I'm not sure we are ready for that!
Take Me Back for More
February
28, 2003
Polar has been very busy with his
obedience training and also going to his school. He is giving a full school assembly on
March 7th along with some other K9 friends that are in the service world. He will
demonstrate to K-6th grade that he is all puppy at heart, and truly loves life! Everyone
at the school that he goes to has been talking about him for weeks, as they see him in the
hall and have tons of questions. I am a little nervous but Polar is not at all phased by
it all. I am going to enroll him in daycamp one day a week, so he can play with other dogs
and learn how to interact with them. He is really progressing in his training and really
seems to enjoy our weekly sessions. I went on vacation and a good friend of mine kept him.
She said that he is just incredible and a true Golden puppy.
Take Me Back for More
March 29,
2003
 Mr. Polar has been going to his classroom on
Fridays and the kids just love it when he comes. They have really become attached to him,
and have really started to ask questions, and show allot of interest in his life. He had
his full school assembly with other service dogs and enjoyed demonstrating how his
wheelchair gives him mobility and helps him lead a normal puppy life. I will email some
letters that kids have written to him as they are really cute.
Polar has advanced to the next level in
his training course which he enjoys as well. It is really neat seeing him understand
commands and actually doing them. He goes to doggy day camp once a week and has a blast
there! Hopefully he is teaching people that he is so normal. It is hard to believe that he
is almost 11 month old! We are both committed to helping people understand that he is
normal and that there is nothing different about him.
Take Me Back for More
April 11,
2003
Here are those promised copies of the
letters that were written on March 7, 2003 by some thoughtful fourth graders following
Polar's participation in a school assembly.
| Dear Polar, |
|
Thank you for coming to our school today. |
| I enjoyed seeing you. I
enjoyed learning that |
| no matter how a dog look
on the outside, a |
| dog can still act like a
regular dog. |
|
How long does it usually take to train a |
| Golden Retrever? Did you
train Polar or was |
| he already trained? Can
Polar sit with his |
| cart still on him?
|
|
Well, thank you for coming into see us! |
| I hope you have a good
day!! |
|
Sincerely, Katelin |
|
| Dear Poler, |
| I learned that you can
get around reel |
| good. Your just like the
other dogs. Can |
| he or she go down the
stares. You can see |
| that he or she really
likes kids. He is a |
| friendly dog. You looked
like you really |
| worked hard with the
dog. He or she was |
| cute. |
| |
| Thank you fore coming to
Brecknock to |
| visit. |
|
Sincerely, Alicia |
|
| Dear Polar, |
| Im sorry about your
legs. I never new that |
| dogs had wheelchairs.
Question - dose it hurt |
| having to wear a thing
on the back of your |
| legs. But what I enjoyed
most about you is |
| you act just like a
normal dog. |
| Thank you for coming to
see us. |
|
Sincerely, Jessica |
|
| Dear Polar, |
| I enjoyed learning about
you. I learned |
| that parilized dogs are
like any other |
| dog, but that they can't
go up stairs. |
| How did Polar get on the
sidwalk to the |
| school? Thank you for
comeing to |
| Brecknock! |
|
Sincerely, Kyrstyn |
|
| Dear Polar, |
| I enjoyed you being at
our school and |
| performing an assembily
for us. I also |
| wanted to know if you
can jump on the sofa |
| with or without your
wheelchair on? I also |
| wanted to ask if you can
help people out |
| that are blind or in
need for help. Can you |
| ever walk on your hind
legs again or do you |
| have to walk with your
wheelchair all your |
| life. |
|
Sincerely, Travis |
|
| Dear Polar, |
| You are a very very cool
dog. I was so |
| glad to meet you. Thanks
for teaching me |
| a way dogs can be
handycaped. I liked |
| the way you could be so
kind. Your |
| hadler handled you
wonderfully. Thanks |
| to you also. Two
questions - is he your |
| dog and will he ever get
out of the |
| wheelchair. |
|
Sincerely, Sara |
| P.S. You two make a great team. |
|
|
Dear Polar, |
|
Thank you
for coming. I think your a nice dog. I learned that all dogs |
|
can walk. I
think your just like any other dog. |
|
|
Dear handler
of Polar, |
|
Thank you
for coming. I'm sorry about Polar. I bet you love him just |
|
the way he
is. I got a question. Does thing like this happen often? |
|
Sincerely,
Jesse |
|
Take Me Back for More
May 7, 2003
Here is a very touching letter from Mrs.
Brown, teacher of the class that Polar visits on Fridays.
Dear
Polar,
I have been thinking back on the first time that you came to our room
and the differences that I see now with the boys and girls in my class, all because of
you. Chanse had a hard time even looking at you or touching you back then and now he is
able to help you get out of your wheelchair when you visit. He talks about you long before
you get here and long after you leave. Sergio has more to say and he is now so much more
eager to help. You have brought a bright smile to his face. Rosa is now taking some small
steps without her walker to get to you; she is so excited. Anna shows such a positive
attitude and her beautiful smile when you are around. Last time you were here, Lisa was
able to walk you around the outside circle playground using just her voice and without
Pam's help. Wow—that was exciting to watch.
Karli just wants to walk you each time you come and she has
shown improvement in asking questions when you first get here. Daniel loves to share books
with you each time you come and he remembers that you need your water. As for me, I am
happy that you come to visit us and that you help each person in our class to learn and
grown in their own special way. Thanks, Polar. We are looking forward to seeing you soon.
Mrs. Brown |
Take Me Back for More
May 9, 2003
On Friday May 9th he went to Mrs.
Brown's class as usual and we were surprised to find out that we could go to the gym and
play, so off we went with Daniel and Polar in the lead showing everyone where to go. It
was very cute. We got to the gym and you could just see how excited Polar was about being
in the gym. He loves playing in there as there is lots of room and it has a neat rubber
floor so he can get lots of traction. We quickly got him out of
his wheelchair and off he went to mingle and play with the children. They decided they
wanted to play Duck Duck Goose, so we all got in a circle and the game started. Of course
Polar wanted to be the Goose everytime. Finally it was his turn and he started ripping
around the circle but he was a little to slow for Anna, so he had to be the Goose. Once that game was over the children
were very concerned about Polar having water so we made sure that he got a big drink! I
love how each child has their own concern with Polar, water, helping him get in and out of
his wheelchair, making sure he has all his toys to play with, trying to help him not be
afraid of beach balls, etc. So our time was up and we had to get back to the class for
school dismissal, so Karli and Polar started down the hall to the room, with the rest of
the children in line, Polar is so proud walking down the hall with his kids behind him. It
is quite a sight to see! Our next visit will be a very
interesting one, as it is also Polar's birthday and we are planning a surprise party for
him. I think the kids are going to love the party along with Polar too. I will be bringing
a cake and all the other goodies. Polar is also still going to training class. We have
started a new class called Free Style, and we are working with a clicker, which for me is
quite a challenge as I need to get the clicker and treats in the same hand. Polar seems to
really enjoy it and his teacher, Joanne, is modifying some of the steps and moves so he
can do them. Joanne has also been very helpful and supportive with meeting Polar's special
needs in class. Polar still goes to Day Camp but he gets so tired from it that he only
goes once a month. He plays very hard!
Take Me Back for More |
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