Perhaps you’ve noticed the new widget in the right-hand column on this page, the one that says A SERVICE DOG FOR MINERAL/PLEASE CLICK THE PICTURE TO DONATE. (If you don’t see it, scroll down a bit.) the new button above the blog that says SERVICE DOG. And perhaps you clicked on it and read it and thought, “Dude. I thought Animal and Mineral were nine; that kid looks five.” Yes. It’s an old picture. I put it up because he looks so happy and carefree. It’s not a look I’ve seen much of in the last approximately four years.
It’s something I want to see again from him, a genuinely happy smile. I think a Service Dog will help him find his smile again.
We’ve already met with Megan from Triumphant Tails. She has observed Mineral twice (and will again on Tuesday; we’re all going to Costco). She thinks a service dog could help him — but it’s a long, slow process, and she wants to take her time before looking for a dog for him. She mentioned last week that she’s concerned because our house is so small (for seven people and one dog. It’s got four bedrooms and the space is much better-utilized than in our last house, but of course we all share rooms.) And also because we have so.many.young.kids. Yep. Isn’t that always a problem?
The challenge with having so many young kids is making sure that Mineral works with a dog within the parameters of our life (meaning, with all of us around) but that the other kids don’t interrupt that bonding. Megan actually prefers that families who have other children also have another dog — so the other kids don’t feel left out and can work with the other dog. So it’s awesome great fantastic good that we already have Maizey.
My Masterpiece (holding Wolfie, The Informant's wolf) and Maizey
Meanwhile, as I’ve mentioned before, a Service Dog will cost about $8000. Megan charges a training fee, and then an itemized monthly bill for dog food, treats, crate and traveling. We do not have $8000. If we had $8000, I might be typing this post from an iPad, or at least from an iPhone. Or I’d be typing this post while both of our cars were paid off and we only ever used our debit card to buy things.
I reached out to a friend who works at the Humane Society and asked if she knew any rich eccentric dog-loving people who wanted to provide money so that Mineral could get a Service Dog? She said no. But she suggested a fundraising site. So I made a page for Mineral, where anyone can donate.
(By the way, at first I had all my pages linked — fundraising page with twitter and Facebook; my blog with twitter and Facebook — but it quickly turned into a clusterfuck of social media in which I’M CONSTANTLY ASKING YOU TO DONATE MONEY. I find that really annoying, so my friend Rachael from Letters to Ames suggested I detach everything and simply pick one day per week to bombard you all with fundraising stuff. Thus, Mineral Mondays is born! Thank you, Rachael!)
I have several donation levels, including a video of barking children if you donate $25!
And — here’s the one you’ve all been waiting for — a video of myself eating a dog biscuit if you donate $100! Our very first donation was for $100. This is for you, Joy!
Filed under: Daily Life, dog training, friends, Mineral Monday | Tagged: gofundme, Mineral Monday, service dog, Service Dog training, Triumphant Tails | 6 Comments »
