Dear Santa,

I have been a very good puppy this year. I know this because my puppy raiser tells me all the time, especially when I go potty outside or when I walk nicely on my leash. If I was naughty, I couldn't help it; my human is naughty sometimes too and I still love her. Sometimes we pups just can’t help getting into a little trouble.

Do you remember that tiny blue fuzz ball that greeted you when you dropped off presents last year? Well it turns out, that kittens are cute and fluffy when you get them. However, before you know it, they grow up and turn on you.

I’m not asking for bones or extra food this year. What I would really like is when you come to drop off presents for my puppy raiser, put the cat in your sack and take him back with you. PLEASE!

He is so mean! He hisses at me all the time when I stick my nose in his butt. This tricks my puppy raiser into thinking I’m the one being naughty. I’m just trying to make a friend. Once, I bowed to him (To play, NOT because I worship at his feet) and he smacked me right across the nose. What other choice did I have than to try and grab his poufy tail? My efforts at friendship earned me crate time. Don’t get me wrong, I love my crate, but the cat laid right in front of the door and mocked me the entire time. It was humiliating!

He also frames me for crimes. Daily, he steals his human’s socks and drags them around the house. Once, he left one by me and I got blamed! He also chewed through the new bag of dog food and some spilled out onto the floor. I didn't want my puppy raiser to deal with mice – we all know that lazy cat wouldn't dare lift a paw to catch one – so I merely ate the food in an effort to keep my home rodent free. Did my humans thank me? No. I earned several long, torturous lessons on Leave It. He also hides and when I least expect it, he jumps out from his hiding spot and scares the life out of me.

Clearly, Santa, The Cat Has To Go!

Wags and Licks,

Merit

PS - If I wake up Christmas morning and that cat is still here, you’ll have to deal with me – and I’m no small dude anymore, I’m almost 50 lbs! You may have giant reindeer with huge antlers protecting you, but I chew on antlers for desert and I eat venison for breakfast, lunch and dinner – so watch out!

Holiday Thank You

During the holiday season, it’s important to take time to reflect on those who have impacted your life. Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to volunteer for OccuPaws in several capacities. While I’d like to believe my involvement has enriched the organization in some way, I feel that the benefits I've received will far exceed anything I could ever hope to give back. So I’d like to thank my current Guide Dog in Training, Merit, for the remarkable ways he finds to change my life every day.

You've added a new sense of adventure into my life.

Every day, I make decisions and plans with the thought of whether this will be a new and positive training experience for you. The immense task of preparing you for the world forces both of us to explore and venture to places and meet people we would have never encountered otherwise.

You’re always so enthusiastic and upbeat.

Whenever I see you, you’re full of happiness and enthusiasm which makes being with you so enjoyable. Even when I’m grumpy, stressed, or tired, you find a way to make me feel good. You always make me feel loved and appreciated.

You’re an amazing listener.

Although you probably have no idea what I’m telling you and talking to you probably makes me the ‘crazy dog lady’, I can take solace in sharing my secrets and challenges with you. It is incredibly therapeutic and I cannot thank you enough for always finding a way to make me feel better.

You inspire me.

Every day you go to work happy to assist someone in any way you can and if you don’t know how, you’re always willing to learn. You work long hours without complaint. You are willing to do whatever I ask of you without regard for personal gain. You are a true example of balance and selflessness.

You've taught me so much about compassion and caring.

You are always filled with love for everyone you come into contact with and you care deeply about everyone you meet. No one is a stranger to you. Everyone who knows you, myself included, should consider themselves lucky to have you in their life.

Many puppy raisers say they raise dogs so that someday that dog can go on to change someones life, but you didn't wait for a certificate or a visually impaired partner, you found a way to go out and change the world all on your own. Thank you for letting me be the one on the other end of the leash.

Things My Human Always Says

Insight from Merit on the things his puppy raiser says.

You need another bone like I need a hole in my head.

I always think this means I don’t need another new bone, but my human always says this right before she buys a new bone, so I don’t know?? My Human is confusing!

You need to find a different playmate. The kitty doesn't want to wrestle with you.

When I don’t play with the kitty, he sits on the sofa and bops me on the head and then my human scolds him. But you know what? Kitties make great wrestling buddies, minus the spitting in your face part. My Human doesn't know everything!

Guess who’s going to _____ today?

My human loves to play this game, “guess where we’re going…” and she calls me at all hours to play. I never win anything and she never gets tired of it. My Human is a lot of work!

You are way too much like Scout.

My human usually says this when I’m chasing my tail or flopping over for endless belly rubs, so I think she means it’s a bad thing. But I always take it as a compliment; have you seen what a smart, handsome boy he is? My Human needs to have more fun!

The food bowl is empty and food isn't going to magically grow in it.

It always, always fills back up. Always. I just have to stare at it long enough. My Human should be more optimistic!

I could never say “No” to you.

Really…because I just tried to eat that dead worm off the sidewalk and I’m pretty sure something similar came out of your mouth… My Human has a bad memory!

Get that puppy tongue away from me.

My human has a love/hate relationship with my puppy tongue. She loves my kisses sooo much that she can never, ever get them. Because she can only accept them in quantities large enough to give her an entire bath; at least that’s my version of the story. My Human needs to learn moderation!

I cleaned up after you and it took all day.

It seems like my human is always cleaning up after me. And she is the only human I know who has all day to do it. Sometimes I think it’d be fun to follow her around all day, just to leave a trail of dog hair and toys behind everywhere she just picked up. My Human is very dramatic!

You’re too cute.

I’m always like, duh. Then I’m like, wait!, you’re just saying that because all humans start to look like their dogs eventually. My Human thinks a lot of herself!

Pantsing

Yesterday, I discovered a really fun new game! Kelsey's little brother brought over a few new friends for me to play with. They're my favorite kind; smelly football boys! I was so happy to meet them, I ran up and wiggled against the first boy's legs. Yet, the more I wiggled, the more this thing kept waving in my face. It just kept teasing me, so I grabbed and pulled. Suddenly, all the humans were laughing really hard. I don't know why but I was having so much fun that I moved on to the next smelly boy. Except, he had the same thing waving in my face. So of course, I reached up and pulled. Except his pants were smarter - they pulled back! What fun - a new game! I was just about to pull super hard when Kelsey picked me up and took my new toy away. Meanie.
I was sad all night that I'd lost my toy, but I shouldn't have worried. That night, when Kelsey's brother came home, he brought the toy with. So of course I ran up and pulled. Success!
Having decided that my walking around pantsing the public was probably not a good idea, Kelsey invented a new game for me. She hung a pair of pants off the door, I pulled really hard and BAM! the door opened. Instead of getting in trouble this time, I got a treat! This is awesome! The next time I went to the door, the pants were too high for me to reach, but this other rope was hanging down, so I grabbed that and pulled really hard and BAM! the door opened AND I got lots and lots of treats. This is so cool!
Now every time we leave our bedroom, I have to open the door for Kelsey. What a perfect little gentleman I am. Although, until I overcome my affinity for pants I may have to wear a warning sign.

WARNING: Only those with securely belted pants need approach

Cold Stone!

Join us for a fun night. I am so sure that you will "Like It" that you may even "Love It" enough to say you "Gotta Have It".