Re: Our Dog Jada

[Guest guest]

I agree that animals are great for kids in general. Here's our story.

When our son, Trysten, was a few months old, we decided to add a dog to our

family to grow up with him. We took him with us when we found a family that

was offering German Shepard and lab mix puppies. We knew we wanted a female

puppy so when we arrived the family brought the 4 female puppies for us to

see. We put Trysten in the middle of all 4 puppies and over a few minutes

all but one had left his side. Trysten sat and played with the remaining

puppy. We took that puppy home and named her Cierra. She and Trysten are now

both 4 years old and they have yet to have a bad moment. They play together,

run together, sleep together and everything in between. Cierra sits at the

door when it's time for Trysten to come home from preschool and greets him

with 'open arms'. Cierra provides him with complete unconditional love which

has been a true blessing for him. She loves him no matter what problems he

has and is usually the one who cuddles with him when he is tantruming or

struggling to speak. Cierra is just as great with our second son, Devlyn,

who was born 14 months after Trysten. We have recently added a second pure

bred german shepard to the family and she is just as great with the boys.

They both are required to help take care of the dogs. They help feed them

and let them out when it's 'potty' time. The dogs play with the kids all day

long and sleep on the floor in the boys' bedroom.

I've read a handful of books and materials on raising a special needs child

(written by both professionals and those who have special needs themselves)

that state having a pet (one appropriate for the child's

age/strength/condition) is a great opportunity for any special needs child.

It teaches the child to care for someone else while receiving unconditional

love in return. Special needs children that are raised with animals tend to

live happier longer lives has been stated in many of the articles and books

I have read.

On Jan 7, 2008 12:38 PM, greeneyed_angel27 <greeneyed_angel27@...>

wrote:

> Hello this may seem like a strange topic but given I have seen people

> asking about service dogs and such, I have to say I am an advocate of

> teaching and having animals around our children whenever possible.

> My reason for this is this, A year before my son was born I got a pup

> from the let say a group that trains work dogs for useful purposes for

> work. The joke was it would give me practice taking care of

> something,since I had never been around too many children well Jada

> was my first baby a mix bread that was happy and according to my

> husband a broke dog because all she did was follow me around when I

> was pregnant. Once my son was born, she fell in love and even at a

> year thought he was her pup. When my son crawled she was right there,

> when he tried to stand and walk which took a while she was what he

> stood on and feel on when he took a wrong step. My sons first words

> were jada, when he was hurt she jumped right in nobody could come near

> him if she didnt know you. My point is, when my got the tripple shot

> and the next month the manditory flu shot at age 2 Jada was the first

> to pick up on things. She never left his side and watched his every

> moved even more and alerted us when he began to wander and when we

> wanted something she actually became his voice before I did. My point

> is for those of you seeking animals as a way to reach our children I

> applaude you. I was given a special animal as a gift and once a need

> for her to show her stregths she did just that. She travel with us

> and is usually my sons pillow or horse, even though she is not very

> big. She takes just about anything from my son, does not growl, just

> loves. She is a part of our family and I dont think any of use could

> have gone thru all of this without her. My husband who is not a

> animal lover, even admits this.

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