Carol and Kudos

Teamed Summer, 2009

Having a service dog changed my whole life. I went from being a dependent person and a trapped homebody to feeling that the world is my oyster. Let’s go out and get it! I do not need to tell anyone who has lost a beloved fur friend, especially I never thought I would have the same physical, emotional, and spiritual bond I had with Korinne, until I met Kudos! With reluctance and excitement in my heart, I arrived for my first meeting with Charli and Kudos. I wondered if Kudos would even take to me? Would I be able to get through the interview without grieving openly for Korinne? To me, grief is a part of life so the more you love, the more you grieve. Kudos quickly turned my heart into warm cookie batter, full of love at first sight. A real miracle happened as my heart began to open wider and wider and the spirit of Kudos began to fill it with his love. I believe it was God who put Kudos and me together, for it does feel like a match made in heaven. Kudos is already responding to every need I have. I sometimes lose my balance due to weakened leg muscles and find that I can stay upright simply by gently leaning on him. This has already happened twice while we were out walking. One time I didn’t even have time to give a brace command yet he seemed to know what to do. During the other incident, I issued the “brace”, as both my hands went down his back and he kept me from falling. Kudos caught me! In addition to being my balance hero, Kudos picks up everything from my cane to a dollar bill I unknowingly dropped while shopping. He watches me closely all the time to see if I might need something, and I usually do. Last October, after I had lost Korinne, I fell and broke my hip while in the shower and had to crawl all the way into the kitchen (in tremendous pain) to get to the phone. If Kudos had been in my life then, I probably would not have fallen as he is beside me at all times. If I had fallen, he would have brought the phone to me immediately. It goes without saying how awesome that would have been! I thought my life of independence was over when my Korinne died. After meeting Charli and the rest of the Paws’itive Teams family, I see that God has all kinds of Angels here on earth. I am truly thankful for these particular angels and especially for the one little angel with fur named Kudos.