Busy Boy - Kody

In November of 2014, Kody, along with another KPETS dog were chosen to play "Sandy" in the show "Annie" at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center. The show ran until 12/20/14.

Here are some highlights from the show:

Here's a video clip commercial for the show

Here's a link to a review:

Here's an editorial response.

Still another Review: In the realm of "never work with children or animals" if you don't want to be upstaged, mention must be made of Genevieve Gagnon, a totally darling Molly (her stuck-in-the-bucket moment is worth the price of admission), and of Kody and Aili, the revolving Sandy cast. The dogs are bound to become divas demanding their own dressing rooms and bowls of treats. Yes, this crowd is stiff competition for the main cast. Fortunately, the rest of the ensemble, from orphans to Hooverville residents to Cabinet members and Warbucks staff members, manage to hold their own perfectly against a strong set of leads and the adorability factor of Gagnon and the Sandys.

ANOTHER PUPPY!

Just when you think life is all calming down and you're getting into a new groove as the youngest (Kody) matures to an awesome young 'man'........

Introducing KYLEE! ! !

DVGRR posted a tripod puppy in late July and I had to respond! Ever since losing  Podley 4.5 years ago, we've always wanted another special puppy. I had my name in as a potential adopter with three golden rescues in the surrounding areas. So when little "Gracie" popped up in my email, I contact them immediately.

Bill was in New York for three days but I had forward "Gracie's" info to him and he had seen her picture and video. He was ok with the idea! Imagine that?!

BUT someone had beaten me to it! We were devastated! How could this be!  We would be the perfect home, she'd be a therapy dog, we had a fence, dogs to play with, etc. Bill was upset too. Negative feeling consumed me- sleepless nights.  But then I came to accept this. God had other things in mind. I repented, prayed she'd go to a very good home, etc.  I emailed the rescue to see if another tripod was still available.

As I pulled up to a red light in my car, I popped open my email just to see if there were a response. As I scanned for an email from Sara, I saw her response:  "Before I tell you about Angel, are you still interested in Gracie?"
My heart pounded, my hands shook! The light turned green! NOOOOOO! So I used google on my phone to "Call DVGRR" and it did! I spoke with Sara telling her I was driving and  could not read her whole email. What was up? The other family had emailed her the night before stating a puppy at this time just would not work for them. OMG - does God work in mysterious ways. He had a lesson for me to learn. I get it. Wow, I"m trainable, even at this antique age!

Long story short....."Gracie" is now Kylee (meaning victorious) Lu (as in Cinda Lu, our first golden's middle name.

They Grow SOOO Quickly

	Our sweet pumpkin, Kody...Oct 2013
Kody's very first visit to Maple Farms. He went right up to the wheel chair and laid his head on his friends lap!	Kody helped promote the KPETS ExtraOrdinary Give - Nov 2013
The boys: Zeke, Kody and Max 2013	Christmas Kody, 2013

Party Time - GOLDEN STYLE (4th of July)

Party time at the Gerths for the 4th of July Weekend: Ken, Jan / Owen and Jasper Pat, Barb / Lake and Charlie Rob, Deb / Rosie and Pippa Tania / her son's golden Brodie Bill, Karen / Max, Zeke, Kody

Kody's First Swim!

We learned goldens do NOT need life-vests to learn to swim!

 Kody's first and second swims at Sun Hill Kennel were not what I'd hoped. The first time, we put Sammy's vest on him, just in case -  you know - give him a little more comfort of staying above water when he got it.

Short story: First time - he fell in once. I put him in twice and the rest of the time, he played "Lifeguard".

Second time we went, we got cut short due to the weather and it's just as well. No luck that time either.

BUT the third time's the charm or maybe it has to do with Vic coming out and giving us a hand. With Vic 'encouraging' Kody at one end of the pool, and me at the other, we had one little 11 month old puppy swim the length of the pool!

Life guard Kody on duty  Day one at Sun Hill

After several times of swimming back and forth with Vic's encouragement, Kody took off for the field to roll and roll on solid dry land!  But when Vic called him, back he came ready for more!

We worked with him until finally, Kody actually scooped up the tennis ball floating in the pool and swam around in a circle to turn around and bring it to me.

He went in one end and would follow me as I walked around the pool, doing big cirles. This showed him HE COULD SWIM!

By the time our time was up, Kody was SOOO close to going in on his own. He's whimper and step in and whimper some more, but just couldn't take that one last step to get all the way in.

Next time big boy! You can do it!

Thank you, God!

Kody fills in for Zeke at LRH

Kody was in demand one morning for a photo shoot (next story) and rather than run the little guy home and pick up Zeke, I got permission to take him in to Lancaster Rehab Hospital instead of Zeke.

This is a totally new setting for 10 month old Kody but that did not phase him. We entered the lobby and he cried his usual cry for someone to pet him. We eventually made our way back to the PT gym to 'work' with the patients.

Our first patients took Kody for walk. They were holding the long leash and I had total control of Kody holding on to the shorter leash.  That went well for both patients - one slower and one at a normal pace. I did have to hold him back a bit, but he cooperated perfectly.

We did a few games of fetch with two patients. I did have to hang to the leash as he'd go get his ball and want to show it to everyone else in the gym. He'll learn. I'll have to take better treats so he knows to bring it back to me!

We also helped a lady work on her grip by holding a brush to groom Kody. He jumped right up on the mat table! I had to re-position him for her comfort and ease of reach, but for a ten month old puppy, this pooch did great! He eventually laid there perfectly still while she brushed him all over. ( I say eventually because he wanted to play with the brush when she first started!)

After all this, it was time to leave but one of the therapists came to find us and asked us to come back to the day-room at the end of the one wing. She told me a patients whole family was there and felt Kody would be a fun addition to their visit. I agreed to go back for a few minutes.

We ventured down the hall and as we rounded the corner we say the room - with people over-flowing it's walls. When she said whole family, she wasn't kidding! BUT, I had my concerns.... They were a plain family, not usually know for the love of dogs INDOORS!  Kody was soooo excited to see everyone's focus on him. He cried and tugged to get all the pets he could! I held on tight and the 'mother' of the group shirked back and cried "Get him outta here!"

The therapist ignored the statement and spoke directly to the patient, most likely "Dad". I could not hear nor understand what he said to her, but her reply was "No, he doesn't bite. He's a puppy and he's just happy te be here. He wants you to pet him". With that he reached out his hand and slowly lead Kody over to he outstretched hand. Upon that move, everyone else seemed to want to pet Kody too.

One by one, the children (and there were a lot of them) came out from their seats to pet Kody, too. The therapist asked if the patient would like to play fetch with Kody. I'm thinking, are you kidding me. He's never going to work with so many distractions!

We gave it a shot. "Dad" tossed the ball over to the nurses station. Oh boy! Now they all wanted to pet him. He cried with glee! Now all the parents of the younger kids came out to watch the fun too!

We never really did fetch a whole lot - or should I say Kody didn't (but I did). But that's ok. We made the whole family laugh and brightened their afternoon.

Kody will learn. I'm just elated he LOVES everyone and is not afraid of anything.

Thank you, God!

Kody's first visit

"Once upon a time, there was a little puppy named Kody". This is how the story starts everytime I hold that little puppy since day one. "Kody grew up to be the best therapy dog ever. He loved everybody and everybody loved him ...."

Kody's very first visit to Maple Farms Nursing Home right up the street from us was a perfect start and I pray an indication of how wonderful a therapy dog Kody is going to be!

We visit in a group setting and since they permit unregistered dogs in to visit, I took our little puppy in to see our regulars. Kody was five months old. We went over to a lady in a wheel chair, and he laid his little head right on her knee. No prompting from me! He just did it.

Thank you, God for this precious little boy!