Everyone Needs a Little Hope

Everyone Needs a Little Hope

India the Bernedoodle opened her big brown eyes and rolled over toward the alarm clock. Her large belly stretched over the side of the pink pillow she was sleeping on. It was way past time for her owner Tracy to get up. If Tracy didn’t wake up soon, drastic measures would have to be taken, including licking her face and toes. Today was the day India had been waiting for at Camp Doodle Woods. Her puppies were about to arrive!

Jones short for Indiana Jones, the Standard Poodle and the father of the new puppies, wasn’t too sure about this new adventure, although normally he was up for anything. What if Tracy couldn’t find India’s list of needed items for the delivery? What if the new puppies didn’t like each other? What if the humans did not know what to do? What if India had problems during the delivery?

Ding Dong. Ding Dong. At 8:05 am the doorbell rang. Tracy opened the door to greet Gus, the Golden Retreiver. He had arrived to be the official recorder and timekeeper for the birth of the new puppies.

Gus barked, “So nice to see you, Tracy and India. Today is a fabulous day for new puppies.” Gus made himself comfortable in a big chair.

India barked to get the attention back on her. She looked at Tracy as if to say, “I know you are very busy at Camp Doodle Woods, so I took the liberty to write a list of all the things I am going to need for the delivery. Do you have the list?”

“What list?” replied Tracy. “Oh, that list? Just kidding, I have it right here.” Tracy pulled the list out of her pocket and unfolded it. “Why does it say you need hot water, India? Well, I guess everyone knows that a new mother requires hot tea after the delivery. Let’s go over the rest.”

• A tiara for me to wear during the delivery…Check

• My special heating pad… Check

• Salmon and sweet potato dog treats after the delivery…Check

• A new yellow ball for the car…Check

• A spare pink ball for emergencies…Check

• A chance to run to the new house once a day without puppies…Check

• Ten cans of the special dog food you give us at Christmas…Check

• A photo of me with all the puppies…Well, obviously, Check

• My favorite vanilla ice cream…Really?

• Lots of massages by you…Check

Tracy replied, “I really appreciate your list, India, but I have one as well.”

• A safe place to give birth to your puppies and and to raise them…Check

• A whelping box…What?

• Good nutrition and lots of food to nurse the puppies…Check

• Finally, lots of warm beds, toys, activities, and nutritious food for the puppies…Check

“Well, Tracy, that’s not as much fun as my list, but I appreciate all the effort you put into your list. Tracy, please come close. My body feels strange. I think the puppies are coming,” India whined.

Meanwhile, back at Camp Doodle Woods preparations were being made for the new puppies. Willow the Golden Doodle was assigned to make sure all the puppy beds had blankets with a stuffed toy dog in each one. All the other dogs were working together to carry in different toys, ballons, and treats for the new puppies.

Back at the house, India was going into labor. Tracy held her paw to keep her calm. Jones was pacing back and forth by the pillow while the other dogs looked through the outside window to show support.

“Tracy, this pregnancy feels different than the other time,” said India.

“How so?” replied Tracy.

“I just know this litter of puppies will be special.”

“India, you say that every time!” exclaimed Tracy.

“But this time I mean it. My back hurts, Tracy, can you fetch my heating pad?”

Tracy quickly came back with the heating pad for India’s back. At 9:45 am, the first puppy arrived. Gus recorded the time in his scroll. During the next hour, India gave birth to thirteen brothers and sisters. The last puppy was smaller than the rest. Tracy put colored collars on each of the puppies to tell them apart. Gus announced the names of all the puppies to the dogs waiting outside the window. Gus proclaimed, “Today, India and Jones are the proud parents of Gracious, Humble, Justice, Hope, Mercy, Brave, Spirit, Passion, Truth, Faith, Persistance, Inspire, and Journey.” All the dogs jumped up and down to show their excitement for the puppies.

During the first week, the only thing the puppies could do was smell. They stayed close to India. It was a rough life…sleeping, eating, and sleeping some more. Three days later, Tracy’s doorbell rang. Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Tracy opened the door to see Maddie, a certified therapy dog for Love on a Leash.

“Hello Tracy,” Maddie said. “I understand that your puppies are ready to begin training.”

“Why, yes, Maddie, thank you for coming so quickly to monitor and record the puppies achievements,” Tracy said. Then she pulled out a schedule of what each puppy must learn in the next eight weeks.

Week One:

Puppy School or Early Neurological Stimulation

Tracy held a tin can with different smells to the puppies’ noses. Some of the smells included clove, soil, alpaca fur and a tennis ball. All the puppies learned these smells were something good. Maddie carefully watched each puppy. Using the progress sheets, she noted that Hope needed more time to learn the smells. Truth picked up the smells the first time.

Week Two:

Tracy rubbed India’s belly with a cotton ball that had the saliva of a diabetic man. When the puppies came up to nurse, they felt safe and warm. They learned that the smell was normal.

Week Three:

Different smells were rubbed on the food bowls of the puppies. As the puppies grew, they were exposed to new things. Tracy guided them to discover things for themselves so they would be empowered. It was important for the puppies to do things on their own and believe in their own abilities. Hope continued to be a little cautious.

Weeks Four through Six:

Ten Touches was introduced to the puppies. Each day volunteers came to Tracy’s home twice a day to hold the puppies. The volunteers gently used their hands to

• cover the puppies’ eyes

• pull on the puppies’ ears

• put fingers in the puppies’ mouths

• run their hands over the puppies’ fur,

• pat the back of the puppies

• turn the puppies over

• rub the puppies’ bellies

• introduce different textures for the puppies to walk on

• gently tug on their tails and paws

• and wash the puppies.

By the time school was over all thirteen puppies fell asleep in a dog pile. Hope was on the bottom of the pile. Tracy carefully pulled Hope out and put her next to Truth. Tracy whispered to them, “I am so lucky to have thirteen of the best puppies in the world.” But none of the puppies heard because they were all sleeping.

Week Eight:

A special temperament test was conducted on each puppy to find out what special skill each puppy had. Hope was worried she would not pass.

Gus said, “Just do your best, Hope. It’s just a test to find out which new family you will be perfect for.”

Hope was upset and said, “I don’t want a new family. I want to stay here. I like you, Tracy, and all of my friends.

“I remember saying that as well, Hope. But I know you will be a perfect fit for a special family that needs you,” said Gus.

Truth overheard Gus and Hope talking. “Let’s practice all our skills together, Hope, before Tracy tests us.”

“Okay, Truth,” Hope said. “Thank you for being my best friend.”

On the last day of puppy school, Tracy took all the puppies on a nature walk. The puppies followed Tracy as she walked through the wildflowers, across the meadow, and through the woods to get to the new house. Hope loved smelling the wildflowers and decided to roll in them. When she looked up, all the other puppies were gone. Meanwhile, back at the house Tracy and India realized Hope wasn’t with the group. Tracy opened the door to let all the puppies in the house except Truth.

Tracy said, “Truth, you can smell better than all the other puppies. Use your nose to find Hope.” Truth ran ahead of Tracy through the woods, across the meadow, and soon she found Hope sitting among the wildflowers. Tracy was out of breath and saw Truth sitting next to Hope. “I am so proud of you, Hope, for sitting and not moving. And, Truth, I am so proud of you for using your nose. Extra treats for the both of you,” said Tracy.

At the end of the week, all the puppies were groomed and made a trip to the vet. Tracy gathered all the puppies and told them she was so lucky to have thirteen of the best puppies in the world.

What do you think happened next?

Ding Dong. Ding Dong. The doorbell rang. Tracy opened the door to the new families.

Faith became a service dog to a soldier returning home with PTSD.

Justice and Spirit became therapy dogs for Love on a Leash.

Truth became a service dog for the gentleman with diabetes.

Humble and Persistent went to families.

Gracious became a service dog for the airport.

Inspire went to a painter of dogs.

Passion became a R.E.A.D therapy dog for a teacher.

Brave became a Search and Rescue Dog.

Mercy became a therapy dog for a hospital.

Journey became an emotional and support dog for an elementary school

And Hope…What was her special gift?

Hope was worried she had no special skills. She sat in Tracy’s lap after all the other puppies had left with their new families.

Hope said, “What about me, Tracy? Doesn’t anyone want me?”

Tracy said, “Just wait, Hope. Ding Dong. Ding Dong. The doorbell rang. Tracy answered the door holding Hope. A family came in. The mother was holding the hand of a young boy with Autism. The boy laid down on the floor and would not look at anyone. Tracy gently put Hope on the floor. She ran to the boy who had turned his body away from his family. Hope began licking the boy’s face and hands. The boy sat up and began rocking back and forth holding Hope. Hope’s tail began to wag. “I finally found my family,” Hope said. “Can I keep him, Tracy?”

“You bet,” Tracy said.

So, what makes a family? It takes a special human like Tracy who cares deeply about raising puppies that are well balanced. It also takes special parents like Indie and Jones. Mix in some friends like Faith and Passion. Don’t forget Justice and Truth. Add in Mercy, Brave, Inspire, and of course a little Hope. Hope may have been the smallest dog in the litter but she realized she could make a huge diffence in the life of a child. So, India was right! This group of puppies will go forth and make a difference, just like all her other litters.