SHE'S MORE THAN A COMPANION!

She's My #1 Helper, Best Friend And My Sweetie!

She takes her time when I call her sometimes, so she's still "IN TRAINING" to be a Service Dog, technically. Though she sure is much more than a "PET" or "Companion" to me as some folks have tried to say when attempting to refuse us entry. My philosophy is simply to move on to another similar place where they have a heart, but! Not if that place which has tried to refuse us entry is the only one like it in town. I'm not one for uneeded confrontation, but I will stand up for my rights if and when the need does arise.

She helps me to remember to eat (and take my meds in that way by default, as I take them with my meals and that is thankfully ingrained in me for many years now).

My (Sheila's) needs are many, though not at all recognisable by the your average shop owner or restaurateur, or untrained/ unaware  person (re: ADA regulations) from the usual places around town and so on. The judgemental and those looking for any excuse to refuse us entry will even go out of their way to try and find such excuse(s).

So far I've not had to call any officials, the Police or like persons, but I wonder how far some folks will go in their attempts to refuse and/or trouble and stop us... I pray I never find out!

Babygirl dispels my fears and anxieties first and foremost. At many times and in many a way she's accomplished this: I suffer from several emotional and mental conditions as well as Lyme Disease. PTSD is at the top of the list in relation to my needing her with me at all times. By no means is that all of it. Depression, Bipolar, directional inabilities caused by Dyslexia play a huge role in all of this too.

BABYGIRL WITH A PET THERAPY "PATIENT" AT A NURSING HOME

Fear of getting lost sent me into the worst panic attack I think I ever experienced. That was back in 1988. My hubby, God rest his soul, was at work; cell phones were rare in those days and we'd just moved into a new house in Central New Jersey. We had resided quite near to New York City before that, and I'd never needed or wanted to learn to drive, fearing my dyslexia would make it difficult if not impossible.

I finally braved getting my driver's licence after much coaxing and begging by my hubby. Soon thereafter I was out exploring for the first time. I wanted to see what was around, to discover (BIG MISTAKE IF ONE HAS NO MAP AND SUCH DISABILITIES AS I)! However, I often lack the ability to "think ahead or predict outcomes," and so I really had no clue as to what I was getting myself into!

MY MOTHER WITH HER FAVORITE DOG

There I was, out on some country farm road a couple hours later and the sun was beginning to settle a way into the west... so I decided to turn back thinking of home. (Yeh right...) I had not thought about this part of my adventure at all! Soon, I was hopelessly lost, the adventure was long behind me and I was scared. As time went on, I became more frightened. Then came the full blown panic attack about a mile later! My hands were so sweaty it was difficult to hold the wheel, there were no cars or houses in sight, nothing but winding, curving mildly hilly roads. There was still some light, but the sun had set.

As I progressed, I came upon a road which was labeled "Rahway Road" if I recall. "GREAT!" I thought to myself, "I'll just take this and it will lead me back to Rahway, where our new house is."

NOT!

I have no sense of direction, so (of course) I turned the wrong way!!! I finally ended up in a small farming community. Finally in desperation, I dared to go and ask someone in one of the farm houses. They informed me that Rahway was the opposite direction from the one I'd been travelling (of course). So I turned tail...

An hour later or so, if I recall, I entered Rahway from the opposite side of town where I'd left it many hours earlier. I was not able to recognise any landmarks! Still panicked, I kept driving until finally I recognised the Avenue upon which our new house was: Hazelwood Avenue.

SERVICE DOGS NEED TIME TO PLAY!

 Unfortunately, I was coming from the opposite direction and missed my house! Almost. I backed up, pulled into the driveway and vowed to NEVER leave the house to go on an adventure again!!!

From that point on, I took my car to the grocery store once a week and that was it. No adventures. No nothing else, except maybe to visit a friend who lived about 10 blocks away. Often I would walk there with my dog rather than take the chance of getting lost EVER again.

I went for walks all around that town with one or another of my five dogs often. At least I was able to do that without panic, thank the Lord!

ME WITH 2 OF MY FAVORITE PUPS IN THE MID 80S