Living with an unseen injury!! ( Pt 1)
Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is often times frustrating and difficult! People see you on the street or in the shopping centers and assume because they can't see the physical signs of an injury that you must be in good health. This is often untrue, especially for our service members in the Armed Forces of the United States. Those of us suffering with a TBI often deal with mood changes, memory loss, chronic pain and migraines which are more often times than not very debilitating. Often times sensitivity to light and sounds are frustrating. Then there is PTSD the most haunting and terrifying of the unseen injuries, as it affects our minds, emotions, moods, and families. Often times service members are very easily irritated by the smallest of things, keys miss placed, shoes not in their place, children playing, television shows, over bearing conversations! We are often afraid to enter a crowded restaurant to enjoy a meal with our families, hyper vigilance while driving terrified to stop at a red light or stop sign for fear of being vulnerable to ambush. Unable to hold conversation of more than a few short moments with loved ones. Loss of memory is very prominent among sufferers of PTSD. Fear of being exposed in the open, unable to stay focused one any tasks for more than a few seconds. Often times PTSD sufferers are easily (set off) by the slightest memory or trigger of any traumatic event or memory. More and more the military tries to deny a diagnosis of PTSD to our service members and labeling them as having only anxiety or adjustment disorders.
Missouri Dog Breeding Cruelty Law
Missouri is taking steps to control the humane breeding of dogs within the state. Great news for reputable breeders within the Show Me State!
This is a big step in the right direction and this has the full support of Daffron Doghouse. The Doghouse will not fall under this law because we do not have enough breeding females (10) to be considered a "commercial breeder". Right now we only have one breeding female but hope to purchase two more in the next few years. With proper breeding cycles and rest periods between cycles that should give us two litters of puppies per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. We currently keep all three of our dogs indoors as part of the family. They are taken outdoors for exercise multiple times per day. As part of their social training as service dogs they also enjoy outings to many places ordinary pets do not get to go. Once we are moved to the lake in June 2011 they will also enjoy a lot of swimming and playing in the lake and creek. All dogs will also spend time riding in the boats. We are expecting our second litter this spring (just after we move to MO in June) and plan on raising this litter and hand training them all as service or therapy dogs for wounded warriors. This training process takes one to two years depending on the individual dog. The certification can not begin until they are at least a year old. We do plan on building some outdoor dog runs with shelter areas in the future. These will mainly be used to separate the female dogs while they are in their active heat cycles or to contain the dogs when we are away from the house for more than just a short time. Eventually we would also like to have an indoor room attached to the house to serve as a puppy playroom and doggy care room while we are away rather than putting them in outdoor pens.
The Doghouse would like to thank all of our friends and family that have been supportive of this dream!
Our History and Vision...
The dream began in 2009 when we bought Zeus to train as a service dog for our daughter. This birthed the dream of breeding GSD's and raising them for service dogs. We primarily want to support our nations Hero's by eventually being able to provide these dogs to wounded warriors or special needs military families free of charge. In early 2009 this was only a dream. We have all worked closely with Zeus as a family and all taken an active role in his training. In November 2009 we were on leave between duty stations on the streets of St. Augustine, FL. A homeless Vietnam Veteran spotted Zeus and commented that we had a beautiful dog. We stopped and talked with him for well over an hour. He told us with tears in his eyes that Zeus and these dogs could understand him because these were the dogs that were over there with them. I knew instantly that our calling had been confirmed in a way that only God could bring about. Zeus had touched the life of a true hero.
Since that day amazing things have happened that have made this dream start to become a reality. God has caused a chain of events that have given this dream it's foundation. He has brought people into our lives in ways only He can do. He has grown this dream into a reality that is unfolding right before our eyes!
Dec 2009 - Chuck reported to Ft. Carson, CO expecting to immediately
deploy after attending a leadership school. He was told he had
medical issues preventing him from deploying with his new unit.
He was placed in another unit that was not deploying. Instead of
the kids and I living at the Doghouse and having repairs made
while he was deployed we would be remaining in CO as a family.
We were thrilled he didn't have to deploy! This also drastically
changed the schedule on finishing the repairs and remodeling of
the Doghouse.
Jan 2010 - We adopted Dandi, an AKC GSD Female who's owner had fallen
on hard times,
Feb 2010 - We adopted Puma (AKC GSD Male), and Tasha (AKC GSD Female)
who's owners were moving out of state.
Mar 2010 - Trip to the Doghouse in MO. Two day trip for some quick clean
up and a few very minor repairs. All looks well!
May 2010 - Re-homed Tasha.
- Dandi & Zeus had our first litter of pups!
- Zeus & Amanda Pass their CGC class! Start agility training.
July 2010 - Puma pulls wheel chair. Puma re-homed.
Aug 2010 - Zeus passes CGC Test!
- Pups are all placed, as far away as Wyoming and Mississippi.
Four were placed with disabled persons to be trained as service
and companion therapy dogs by their new owners.
- We kept one pup for Amanda to train as her service dog.
Sept 2010 - Dandi re-homed to a ranch in, CO in exchange for
one stud service from their male GSD Gunnison Saxon.
- Took Zeus, Puma & Alli to Mesa Verde for intensive training.
Oct 2010 - Supported Camp Hope in sending two care boxes to deployed
troops.
- Army started a MEB/DES (Medical Discharge) process on Chuck.
Nov 2010 - Met Counselor from TBI Freedom. Chuck began receiving
services from them. This has been our biggest support and
resource breakthrough!
- Made a visit to the Doghouse. Made sure it was sound for
winter. No time to work just a one day trip.
Dec 2010 - Chuck's brother had a major stroke in Mississippi. Everything
on hold for a few months while we support them. Chuck returns
to CO and begins having severe anxiety attacks. Emotional
issues have caused TBI and PTSD symptoms to drastically
increase.
Jan 2011 - The family grows as Chuck's brother, sister in law and nephew
come to live with us in CO following his stroke rehab.
Feb 2011 - Training continues for Zeus & Alli. Intensive mall visits and new
service tasks.
Mar 2011 - Working trip to the Doghouse MO. Winter took it's toll on the
house! Ice damage left mold in the ceiling and water run off
caused the new bunk room wall to rot and mushrooms were
growing on the inside part of the wall. This will all have to be
replaced before work can begin on addition in June.
Apr 2011 - We are accidentally expecting another litter of pups. They are
full blood GSD from Puma and Alli. We didn't intend to breed her
because it was her first heat but Jeremiah let the boys out in
the yard one morning while I was in the shower. OOPS!!!
In June of 2011 we will ALL (9 of us) be moving permanently to the Doghouse in Edwards, MO. Chuck will have 30 days of leave in which to build the addition which will be the community closet for the whole family since the house has no closets, the bathroom (moved from the bunk room) and the new laundry room. He will also have to plumb the rest of the kitchen and the new addition. After leave Chuck and I and the two younger boys will return to CO to finish his Medical Board process. And later in the summer we will unite with the rest of the family to start our new lives in the Doghouse. Oh and did I mention in the midst of this transition we are expecting the new litter of pups in mid June!
God has continued to bring people into our lives that have helped us to understand more about how to prepare for excellence in this undertaking. There is so much more to learn than we first expected but we are thankful for the right people in the right places at the perfect timing to help us on this journey to the dream!