Cheng Kee went on in his lifetime to earn two more certificates for 150 hours each, earning him the title of TDIAOV. By the age of six he had made visits to teacher conferences, and too many schools to count. He had worked with Special Need bowling leagues, basketball, REM houses, and presented at colleges. He knew many special needs children. Even when they accidentally 'hurt' him he never reacted. He did stop shaking hands though after a Care Center patienr shook hands with him and wouldn't let go.He had a friend, Bau-Boo Boo Bear, who went with him often. I have wonderful pictures of him with MANY different people who loved him dearly. Cheng Kee always took good care of Bau-Boo Boo Bear. Bau overcame many of her fears because of Cheng Kee.Bau had been a rescued dog. Cheng Kee raised three puppies and socialized many other rescue dogs during his lifetime. He visited schools up to a month before he died at age ten. He worked as a READ dog towards the end. I will never forget one time when he was at school and the second graders were taking turns 'reading' to him. He looked up when the Principal walked in (as he knew Lee Ann Wise very well) His student took his chin and turned him back to the book saying "Concentrate!" Cheng Kee died in his owners arms, while she cried and cried. Later her daughter wrote a tribute to him: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Cheng Kee- Little Brother Lost I remember when I was a sophmore in college and my mom told me I had a "little brother" I knew right away it was a dog. Growing up with a grandmotherly patriarch we did NOT have a dog. Nor a cat until I was almost a Senior in highschool (one cat) then a sophmore in college (one dog, my mothers) Now I was sitting in my basement of my apartment with my sister Jeci waiting for my mother and her new dog called a cheeba inuit? or some nonsense. Turns out it was a Shiba Inu and when my mom pulled up and his fuzzy little head popped up over the seat and he ran over to say hello I was instantly smitten (and immediately peed on)* This was a habit of Cheng Kee's until her was about 11 months old. Joy used to tell people they should feel "honored"-as he was making them a part of his 'pack'. As the years rolled on each summer and break I would come home to visit my "little brother" taking him out for treats at Petco where he had an AVID fan club. Taking him to the Comic book shop (yet another fan club). Even at the Office where he got his shots, I took my cat Billy to get a booster and the woman said "Your total is $35.61 How is Cheng-Kee!?" We went on road trips, drank from Niagara falls, moved me from Minnesota to New York and celebrated holidays together. He always remembered me and it warmed my heart that even going blind with diabetes he knew me. Today July 8 2008 Cheng Kee passed away from cancer in the loving arms of his owner Linda Manlove.
