WHO HOLDS THE KEY

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.

- Henry Ford

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go!

~William Feather

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Amen to that!  I do believe I could have written the book! 

To paraphrase Rev. Angela L. Ying, picture for a moment if you will, how many doors we walk through each day.  Today, for me,  multiple trips through multiple doors - the pharmacy - the bank - the post office - the bedroom, the garden room, the kitchen, the living room, the front door, the car door, the garage door.  There are even revolving doors, automatic doors, elevator doors.  Seems as if our lives are full of going in and our of doors.

But what if we lived with closed doors?  What if we tried and tried to open doors and they remained closed and locked? What if others who have faced closed doors and finally managed to wiggle through, decided they would keep the door locked on you?  It is devastating when others, once the door is opened to them, refuse to help you open the door they struggled to get through.  Why do some people want to hinder others from the same opportunities which were opened for us.  This makes them feel safe, right ?

History, unfortunately, is full of examples of doors closing.  In fact, the caption from a Peanuts comic strip says it well when Snoopy tells Charlie Brown, "I love humanity -- it is people I cannot stand!"

It might behove us to begin listening to our lives.I am a survivor.  I hang on when kicked down.  I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.  Clearly, this is not to say that this is easy.  It is down right grueling. But we grow, we learn, we live through it.  And if we are lucky we are much better people for it. 

This is a photo of a yellow lab nobody wanted and who future was bleak at Animal Control Services.  He was evaluated by our trainer and found to be 'mellow and sweet.'  So we opened the door to this dog who had had so many doors closed on him.  During the evaluation he was taken to a grassy area to observe and scrutinize.  Needless to say the first thing he did was go to the bathroom.  The trainer went for the 'disposal bags' and cleaned up after him.  Next thing she knew this dog had picked up the poop bag and came and sat in a heel position at her left side....with the bag hanging from his mouth.  He followed her around, still clutching his bag.  Everyone was in hysterics.  It was as if he were looking for a trash can for his deposit!

Suffice it to say "Bagger" is now a part of the TADSAW PTSD Service Dog training program.  We figured, if he can do this as a puppy, he can learn pretty much anything.  Our warriors lose their keys, the remote, numerous things.  This dog managed to open his own door simply by doing what he does best...being himself!

That is all any of us can do!  Just be ourselves.  And along the way, if there is anyone we can help open a door, perhaps we will see that that truly is the right thing to do. 

Bagger has been introduced to another lab rescue, Murphy, for our TADSAW program.  Doors are opening for them and doors are opening for our wounded warriors with PTSD. 

Funny isn't it, how two dogs nobody wanted or loved or cared enough about to train are now happily bursting down the doors of a hellacious invisible injury, with the assistance of certified service dog trainers. 

They are preparing to change multiple lives for the better!  You can too.  Believe me, there is no better feeling on earth than helping someone else.  And if a dog can be rescued in the process, it is all the better. 

Who rescues who?

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Please won't you consider supporting and/or sponsoring a wounded warrior and his or her service dog.  They need you to help them open their doors that are tightly locked, isolating them from the rest of the world.  The dog holds the key.

TRAIN A DOG SAVE A WARRIOR

13423 BLANCO ROAD #218

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216