The longer Sayde and Dusty are together the more these two amaze me. Dusty has now alerting Sayde's parents if she is going to fall out of bed. One time Dusty figured that they where taking to long so she tried to push Sayde's head back up on the bed.
Sayde's grandfather had a major stroke in August and this was very hard for Sayde and she did not want anyone to know she was crying but Dusty knew she needed her parents so she alerted them. Dusty has been able to alert to a pot burning on the stove.
We have started attaching Sayde and Dusty together so now Dusty will stop Sayde from being in a unsafe place before her seizure start Dusty is stopping Sayde from going up stair or stop her from going down stair, stop her from leaving her room. We have been having Dusty sit in the bathroom when Sayde is having a bath, to watch her.
Sayde has two sister one older Nicole one Younger Keesha both are great about telling their friends and strangers what Dusty does and why they can not pet Dusty. This has been great because by telling others they are helping Sayde and Dusty work to be a great team. Sayde and Dusty are so close that she will ask for Kleenex to wipe Dusty's nose because it is running Sayde has called her Aunt because Dusty wanted to go over to visit or talk to auntie on the phone. Sayde gets very upset if dusty is sick. Dusty is just as upset when Sayde is sick.
We are fighting with the Edmonton Public School board so that Dusty can go to school with Sayde. You can click above and see the letters and emails. Dusty has alerted and become very upset because Sayde was going to have a seizure and she was using a scissors. Sayde's mom had Sayde put them down but that was not enough for Dusty Sayde had to move completely away Dusty sat beside her for a while and then got up and went to her blanket. These two are so close that they are one. In June of 2001 they where both eight years old.
January 2003
Sayde and Dusty are closer than ever if that is possible. Dusty has gotten a new crate and so that Dusty would be ok in her new crate Sayde had to have a nap with Dusty in her crate.
Sayde and Dusty are so much like one person that we forget that Dusty is a dog. Sayde will have to tell Dusty about everything like us moving Sayde will go and talk with Dusty about that and often it will be Dusty who does not want to do something when in fact it is Sayde.
We have started giving Dusty a break when Sayde has been having allot of seizures and then she will come over here to stay with me over night. Sayde has taken a shine to Mr. Chip our male elkhound. Mr. Chip as we call him and Sayde have tea parties and he I hear makes great cookies and tea. Mr. Chip has alert to Sayde seizure and we are looking at maybe having him as Dusty's replacement. Dusty will not be retired until we feel that she can no longer do her job. This is a day we are not looking forward to, Dusty is going to be Ten years old this year and Elkhounds can live for up wards of twelve years.
Sayde and Chip checking each other out
Sayde gets so mad when she sees Guide Dogs on the Bus or LRT and always says that it is not fare that these dogs can go and Dusty has to stay home. Sayde always tell people who ask her about school that she is home schooled because they will not let Dusty her Seizure Alert Dog go to school.
This chapter my be closed but ever forgotten Dusty crossed over the bridge in August of 2004, A lost Sayde will never get over . I have Chip ready to go but Sayde will set the time line for chip starting his working life with her Sayde needs time to come to terms with the loss of Dusty
To Sayde and Dusty's Page One
Letter from the school Board Letter from A Grandmother
The Letter from one of Sayde's Dr. Tribune to a Great Dog
Carol's Good Bye to Dusty Back to the Directory
