12/28/2023
Today would have been Cookie's 12th birthday.
It is with sadness that I share with you the passing of our beloved Cookie šŖ. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 10/11/2023.
I'll post another time about her final weeks with us and her multi-state Rainbow Tour visiting her two favorite humans Marcus & Emily.
For now, I want to reflect on the day Marcus and Cookie met for the very first time.
It's a special story.
Everything about Cookie was special.
She was indeed the BEST GIRL. š¦®šŖš
Day one of training camp: An amazing thing happened today at the Canine Assistants farm! Neither Marcus nor his mom thought this would happen on day one.
The trainers and director of CA began the matching process of determining which human and dog will pair well with one another. They have been match-making for almost 25 years and know to look for specific signs and behaviors of both the human and the dog.
Marcus was the second recipient to be called into the reception area of the building to meet several dogs. The trainers had already carefully chosen several of us dogs as a possible match for him.
As Marcus anxiously waited in his wheelchair, Jennifer Arnold led a beautiful female black lab into the room. She immediately went to Marcus. The trainers encouraged Marcus to call her name and speak to her and pet her. He was tentative but did all those things. Every time he even whispered her name, she turned her head towards him and looked right at his face expectantly. Everyone was sure this was his match. Everyone but Marcus.
The black lab was led back to the classroom area where she reluctantly went back into her kennel. Jennifer brought out a gorgeous Golden retriever. As she trotted into the room, Marcus said, "A whole lot of energy just came in here!" Marcus, feeling a bit more confident, began trying to interact with her. She was Playful and sweet, but was equally interested in all the humans in the room.
Enter the third dog, a reddish retriever with a bit more energy than the previous dog. She was obviously a little too spirited for Marcus.
While Marcus was meeting the second and third dog, they could hear the continuous barking of a single dog from the classroom. Jennifer went to the classroom and returned with the female black lab...ME!
I had been quiet and reserved all morning long, but once I met Marcus, I knew he was my human. I barked and barked because I knew he was my human even though he didn't realize it until our second meeting.
Both he and his mom were overcome with emotion when Marcus accepted that he and I belong together. The trainers and Jennifer said, "That's your dog. It was the very first time she came out here."
So, it is time for me to introduce myself. My name is Cookie (which is going to drive their other dog, Finnegan, a little nuts). I am very attentive, looking always to Marcus for his praise and happiness. I'm a medium sized black lab which is actually perfect for Marcus to manage. I spent the next hour after our meeting lying at his feet in the classroom ready to walk around when he asked.
I have been waiting for my hero for a long time. His name is Marcus and I am his new best friend.
