Early tomorrow morning I’m heading over to Paws for Purple Hearts to pet newborn puppies. Yes. You read that right. I’ll be petting puppies to help socialize service dogs. This is my Christmas present from me to me.
Paws for Purple Hearts instructors teach service members to engage with specially-bred Golden and Labrador Retriever puppies. Together they undergo an intensive 18-to-24-month service dog training regimen—learning more than 90 commands–while the veterans reintegrate into civilian life. These service dogs are then given to veterans who have sustained mobility-limiting injuries. The dogs reside for the rest of their lives with their new owners.
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And for my cat-loving friends, here’s a little something bookish for this cold December morning. The cat’s right, of course, and he’s got a point. But then if you live with a cat, you know that already.
Teri Carter's Library 
Oh my god, the faces of those dogs on the Paws website. It gave me this weird chill of happiness, to see them all lined up together like that.
It’s been a strange December. This is my reminder not to be so cynical, that there are good people in the world doing good deeds, and to focus on that.
Next time you go I would love to come!!
I’m tagging along with Cathy. We’ll find out how it all works and then we can all go the next time!!
Pet one for me, please.
I’ll pick one out for you, Joe. 🙂
I hope you had a splendid day with the pups and didn’t leave too sad that you weren’t bring any home with you.
Love those puppies. Oh my. And that cat reading the To Kill a Mockingbird. I about barfed coffee out my nose. Laugh of the morning!
I love it! My cats have had the same reaction to the book, I think. And I love that you’re petting puppies for this program — that’s so great. I took a break from volunteering at the APL for a few months because of school, but I am going to try to get back into it soon.