Last week, my wife had another infection in her body arise. She had a fever that spiked to approximately 104 F,with a high heart rate and her blood pressure just would not stabilize. So, she was hospitalized at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Pell City, AL, which is approximately twenty plus miles east of Birmingham. Anyway, Zues, my service dog, and I packed up and went down to see what was going on.
We arrived and found my wife was being admitted to the ICU. Before we found that out, we walked into the Emergency Room where my wife was, and Zues stuck his cold nose under the covers to let her know we were there. I wish I had taken a picture, because it was obvious he was saying “Hello, we are here!”
In the Army, we were taught be prepared, and if prepared be even more prepared. Sounds a bit paranoid, huh? I was prepared, though. I had packed an overnight bag and brought a bed for Zues with a blanket. Before anyone wonders, “How can a dog be in the hospital?” let me say that the Americans With Disabilities Act states that service animals are allowed into hospitals, but cannot enter Operating Rooms or Burn Units for obvious reasons. Of course we know not to take them into an area in the hospital where there could be an infection caused by the presence of the service animal. But don’t take my word for it, go to www.ada.gov. Search out service animals, and see what the law says.
Well, during the first night there, Zues slept under his covers and the nursing staff was so amazed by his easy going attitude. I smiled and just stated the obvious, that he was working in his own way. “He is not like this at home,” I explained. This is how he is in public; relaxed and mindful of me unless he is sleeping. Keep in mind that when he needs to answer nature’s call, a plan of action was in place. I had already prepared security, and got permission to allow us access back into the hospital in the event Zues needed to go outside.
We stayed two nights down there until my wife was stabilized and I saw that other members of our family would be there for her before I was settled enough to return back to Athens. When Zues and I returned to Athens, she had surgery to remove the bacteria causing her trouble. She called me and seemed so feisty, I teased her and said things like “Maybe I should have the doctor put the bacteria back so I can have some peace.”
I thank everyone for their prayers, because God is moving and I am very thankful. Now, let us hope my wife will be returning home soon, and that there are no further complications. I was glad for all of us that Zues was able to go and be the perfect service dog, a true canine companion.
By: Joel Allen
It’s the New Year and with another Christmas passed, I know there are families who just added a new canine family member. Whether they are young or old, it does not matter. What matters is whether or not every member of the family understands what their new addition can be like. I see a lot of families get the dog they dream of having, and then they are disappointed because the dog, be it a puppy or full adult, is more than they can handle. 
Call me crazy, but I have found through my experiences that different breeds will act certain ways, and it can be predicted at times what they are going to be like as they grow up. Knowing the breed, adding a lot of love, and spending time with the dog may help avoid some of the troubles that most dogs like to display, such as eating our shoes, thinking the couch is on the menu, or even terrorizing the cat. 
Dear Doggie Claus,?
Folks, guess what happened to me?! Earlier last month, I and my ever-faithful service dog, Zues, were in Anniston, Alabama visiting my wife who has been in the hospital for quite some time. We were in the Regional Medical Center and as I was leaving with Zues in tow, a Security Officer called out to me. 
Here we are, facing another winter and many of us neglect that faithful Canine Family Member by not preparing them for the cold. When I was a boy, I remember going to see Little Girl in her dog house on cold winter mornings. The crisp smell of the air, sun shining down on the white frosted lawn and the sky being a bright clear blue as the sun was still rising. I remember feeling her shivering coat under my boyish hand and how I would hug her in that cold dog house. She would be curled up in a tight ball shivering, and she smelled like a dog needing a bath. That did not stop me from hugging her and just enjoying the feel of her breathing as I tried to warm her up. 
I have that old song “Come on Baby Rescue Me” playing through my mind right now. Seeing the dogs in need of homes, the abandoned, the betrayed, (and the list goes on,) I wish to address this need again and warn those who have been given this gift of stewardship. Wisdom has cried her voice in the wilderness of our lives, but how many of us paid attention? As much mercy as we show dogs or the like, that much mercy will be shown unto us. Heavenly Father watches everything we do, the good and the bad. 
So, what is the excuse? It could be worse. I have thirteen Great Danes, one Beagle, and one Chihuahua. Did they ask to be born into their predicament? No, and if anyone can help them then I suggest they take a ride to the pound and open their doors to a dog in need. Those of us who do this are in for a surprise because most rescues know what has been done for them and they show their appreciation unless they have a short in their brain. Remember, it takes two weeks for the new addition of the family to completely adjust. So, be patient. There may be an accident or two. The dog may even be traumatized from their last home, so watch that temper. 
Is there life after death? Is there really a God? Do animals have a spirit? I say “Yes” to all these questions. Here are my reasons for believing as I do.
When I was a kid I grew up not knowing that a dog should be trained. I thought that Lassie, Old Yeller, and Rin Tin Tin were just plain smart dogs. TV has a funny way of encouraging the way we think and believe, and life has a way of educating all of us to what reality is. So, when “Little Girl,” whose mother was a Dacshund and her father a Pitbull, came into my life, I believed she could do anything. Well, she did and she didn’t. She didn’t talk like me and she didn’t eat everything I ate, though she would have loved to. As we grew up together, I would talk to her and she would just look at me as if she knew exactly what I was saying. She also liked to bark excitedly when we came home, jumping into anyone’s stomach she was glad to see. Talk about getting the wind knocked out of you!
She also loved fireworks. She would chase down bottle rockets and catch them. When they exploded in her mouth she would shake it off and bark for more. Fireworks were not the only thing that excited her. She loved to fish with the family and was the main reason we lost a few fish. Every time we cast our corks out, she would swim out and bring them back. We often had to tie her up if we were going to catch anything. She loved to bark at the fish and would dance back and forth while the person who had the fish was trying to unhook it and dance back and forth dodging her. The look alone she had was priceless. It was screaming, “Oh give it to me!” The whole scene usually ended in the fish flipping out of our hands and landing back in the water. Thus, if hunger was an issue, we were gonna starve. Then there was the time we caught a snapping turtle that made the mistake of “honking” Little Girl’s nose. Needless to say she got even by cracking the turtle’s shell and eating it. From then on we renamed her “Turtle Girl.” 
Here is what we are telling people from our newly born Facebook page: “Alexander’s Kingdom of Training offers dog training from the very basic to the more advanced skill levels. Basic classes are $75 for a 4 week class, covering Loose Leash Walking, Stay, Sit, Sit and Stay, Come, Down, and Down and Stay. Intermediate classes are $100 for a 6 week course and covers Stop and Go, Stay, Come When Called, Bring It and Drop it, and Leave It. Advanced classes are $125 for a 6 week class and covers Too Far, Formation Walking, Hand Signals, No Leash and more.” We are currently working on a web page where pictures and videos will be available from these sites. 
Last year I witnessed a woman leave her Schnauzer, trapped in her minivan, in front of the Chinese restaurant. She was getting her nails done and it was really hot outside. The dog barked and barked. Someone dialed the Athens Police and they responded promptly. The officer who arrived noted that the dog was locked in the vehicle and no air-conditioning was running. The windows were slightly opened with the doors locked. The woman, seeing the officer at her vehicle approached the officer. He asked her why she had her dog locked in the van on a hot day like it was. She stated she left a water dish with water in the vehicle. The officer pointed out that the vehicle was extremely hot and that no dog should be confined like this. He let her off with a warning. 
Ever heard the saying, “Look back?” I saw a poster saying that and it depicted a woman looking at her parked car to ensure she left no child or pet behind in the car.
Folks, I could not help but put this story out there. I do not normally do another person’s needs in my article and I do not plan to make a habit of this. Maggie has a heart for dogs and I believe that God has a reason that we should be the voice of the voiceless. They can bark but sometimes a translator is needed. Here is Maggie’s story about a dog named Girly.
I immediately rushed her to the vet and was told her spleen would likely burst if not removed promptly. The vet quoted me $1000, and I thought “Yes I can raise that amount to save her!”
