Getting Bake… (who names a dog Bake???)

Not quite sure how I’m going to put three weeks of events into one blog. So I will just going to focus on the highlights. There were four of us ladies in this specific course. Together represented each branch of the service, Army, Navy, Air Force, and of course the Marine Corps. There was crying….lots of crying, cursing….lots of cursing, lots of laughing, snot everywhere, appreciation, gratitude, a crazy dog who loves flies, a murder mystery, and a phone number. WOW, let’s get this started…

The day we were all paired with our dogs was so special. The way the staff at K9s for Warriors sets up the “reveal” is pretty amazing. We were all so nervous and tried to keep each other from crying, I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack, that or pee my pants. It’s almost like you’re meeting your partner on 90 Day Fiancé. They put the dogs around one corner, hiding of course. And the “warrior”, that’s what we are referred to during the course, around another corner. They call our name and the dog and warrior come from around the corner at the same time. For me, it was love at first sight, I didn’t need 90 days to know I wanted this dog for life. I cried so hard and smiled so much, do you know how hard it is to smile cry?? Then, just as I thought I could suck the cry back in, the lady volunteers start cheering and taking pictures. That’s when the snot and hard crying started. That’s exactly what you want in a picture, red eyes and literal snot dripping down your face as you try to smile. At least I was able to wipe most of it off for the pictures they posted.

The service animals are already trained when we arrive to the campus. We warriors are there for three weeks so we can learn what the dogs know. Bake is extremely smart and knows I have no clue what I’m doing, so he loves to act up and not only embarrass me, but also give me anxiety attacks…just the opposite of what he’s supposed to be doing. There was some crying, some laughing, and even a bit of teasing…but we all got through it together. We even had to have a dog exchange because one of the service dogs wasn’t really working out. He loves to chase flies instead of listen and do what he’s told. 🦟 This is not real common for the program but does happen from time to time. The program uses approximately 90% rescue dogs, so occasionally there will be a dog that gets a “career change” and a new service dog will be reissued to the warrior. Fly boy found a new home as a pet and is very happy chasing flies at his new home…not as a service dog.

The overwhelming support the entire staff provides is almost unreal! They have coordinated with local volunteers to have a homemade dinner and desert provided to us every night. They ensure that each food sensitivity and diet restriction is catered to. We were continually asked if we needed anything specific, food, hygiene items, whatever (within reason of course). There was always a “house mom” there to make us feel welcome and to help us with almost anything. They have plenty of games and movies to entertain ourselves. I brought a murder mystery game and it was awesome to sit down, eat pizza, and figure out who the murderer was.

During our training we had a routine schedule. Train in the morning, go to lunch at a restaurant, then train a bit more and or bond with our dogs in the afternoon. Some days we would have a class on having a service dog, how to care for it, what to expect when we go home, and even the Americans with Disabilities Act that established laws that protect our rights with our service dogs. In the above photo we were having lunch and the waitress and I were flirting back and forth. We were all laughing so hard we were practically crying! My Warrior Sisters, that’s what we call ourselves, were teasing me about the flirting. I blushed a lot and when it was time to leave they talked me into leaving my phone number for the waitress. First time I ever left my phone number for someone without being asked. They helped me come up with a witty message to leave with my number. She did text me and we chatted a bit….until I found out she was only 25!! I just cannot bring myself to potentially date someone who could be my child! 😳🤦🏻‍♀️😂 We had so much fun that day.

The bond my Warrior Sisters and I created was so special! We supported each other, checked on each other when needed, gave each other space, and encouraged each other every single day! We all thought that was a normal occurrence but the staff stated they have not seen a class bond like us in a very long time. That made it even more special! 🥰 Since graduating we chat almost every day and still continue to support each other. The bond we formed while we were there will last a lifetime! The only other bond I have ever formed with another group of ladies are my Fort Thomas sisters. Trauma really sucks, and all of my sisters have had different traumas and life events, however…the bonds that I have established with these two groups of women will always and forever be in my heart! The way we understand and support each other because of our trauma is unbelievable. We cannot choose our blood family, but we can choose with whom we allow to earn the title of family, and each of these women have certainly earned that title with me. I love each of you ladies and I hope you know how special you are to me! 🥰👯‍♀️👯‍♀️ #FtThomasSisters #WarriorSisters

I almost forgot to tell you how Bake got his name. Each service dog at K9s for Warriors has a financial sponsor. The sponsor for Bake decided to name him Bake after a Marine who passed away in 2011, Tom Baker. I do not have any other information about Tom Baker at this time. I am honored to call him Bake and to tell the story of how he got his name. Definitely a name worthy of a service dog for a retired Marine. 🐕‍🦺 💗

Graduating felt like a milestone. For most, graduating feels like the end of something. But for me, graduating the K9s for Warriors program feels like just the beginning. The beginning of being able to get some semblance of normalcy back into my life. Normal…that’s a funny word we use as humans. We use the word when we feel like we’re on the outside of things, not included, ostracized, or isolated. “Normal is an illusion. What is normal to the spider is chaos to the fly.” —Morticia Addams