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Tarka
 Tarka and Tring are golden retrievers born
in the LPAD program. They are sisters, and this is my first experience at raising
two puppies at a time. Tarka arrived at 7 weeks of age, much to the delight of Joy
who now had a young, energetic playmate.
Tarka returned to CA to begin advanced
training at LPAD in September 2002. She decided she just could not be an
assistance dog and was released to a young lady named Nicole and is now
queen of her house in Long Beach, CA.
Tring's original puppy raiser had to decline, and when I found out she had no
foster home to go to, I agreed to take her. She arrived in mid-July and it was fun
to watch the reunion of the sisters.
Tring also returned to CA to begin
advanced training at LPAD in September 2002. It took her a little longer to
decide that assistance dog work was not for her but she was ultimately
released to Diane and Carol in February 2003. Not only is she queen of their
house but she helps Diane with LPAD fund raising and is hoping to do therapy
dog work with Carol.
 
Click on images to enlarge
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Freedom "I
am female yellow lab. I was born on 1 July 2002 in CA in the Loving Paws
Assistance Dogs program. My dog mom and dad were Emma and Sutter. Since me
and my 7 sisters and 2 brothers were born close to
 July
4th, they dubbed us "the Patriotic Litter" and my new mom, Carlene, chose
the name of Freedom for me. I went back to CA in October 2003 to start advanced training. I did very well
and graduated as a service dog on 30 July 2004 to a sweet girl named
Brittany. I will help her do many physical things like opening doors,
picking up things for her and being her best pal so she does not have to be
so shy."
Having Freedom Means Having Freedom
Before I had Freedom I was very shy and unhappy because I have Mitochondrial
disease and it is very painful. It leaves me with no energy so I miss a lot
of school, and life seemed too hard to do. I didn't like talking in front of
people at all.
Since Freedom has been in my life, I have accomplished many things. I have
put on many fund raisers spreading awareness about Mitochondrial disease and
raising funds for research to find a cure. I have given many interviews for
a number of papers and done a handful of live interviews for our news
station. I go to science classrooms and talk about the mitochondria cells
and how it affects me because mine do not works correctly. I get kids to
help with my dinners, golf tournaments and walk a thons. I have raised
almost 20,000 dollars in less than a year. and was named the first Youth
Ambassador for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
Freedom has given me so much confidence, courage, stability and
unconditional love. I meet people and talk to them because they see Freedom
first and not my wheelchair.. Freedom helps me if I need help or if I drop
something, she stays at the hospital with me and I am in days, weeks and
months at a time. She is my best friend and thank the Lord for leading me to
Loving Paws in Santa Rosa.
~~Brittany Wilkinson
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Star
 "I
am female golden retriever born 17 March 2003 in Florida for the New Horizons
Service Dogs program. My litter has a patriotic theme too and so my new mom,
Carlene, chose the name of Star for me. I flew all the way to Helena, MT from
Orlando, FL by myself! It was almost 100 degrees down there and when Pat and
Carlene picked me up at the airport it was 30 degrees! AND, when we got up in
the middle of the night to go out for a potty stop, there was cold, white stuff
all over the ground. And the next morning, Auntie Joy and Freedom showed me how
much fun it was to play it it and I tried to eat it all! I am having a great
time in Montana, really love Carlene and Pat and Joy and Freedom. I will be here
for a long time and then go back to Florida for college when I am older but that
is too far away to think about now. I hope it snows again soon!"
Star made it
through Advanced Training successfully and is now a service dog for a little
austic girl in FL.
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