January 10, 2008

Don't know if you remember, but I have 10 brothers and sisters. They are with other CCI puppy raisers all over the United States. Just for fun, I checked in with my brother Pilot to see how he was doing and ask him some questions. He lives with his puppy raiser in Grove City, Ohio. Click on his photo there on the right to see more pictures of him!

PARKER: Hi, Pilot! How are you doing? What's it like where you are?

PILOT: We live in a new house (well at least it was new 'til me and my pals tore it up) and we have good neighbors. One of the pictures I sent has my neighbor Hannah and me sitting in a lawn chair together. Isn't she cute?

PARKER: Yup, she looks really nice. Who are your pals?

PILOT: They are my adopted "brothers" who live here, too. Jeremy is the oldest. He's 13 years old, and he's a black Lab. Sagar is also a black Lab, and he's 2. They both got kicked out of CCI, so Mom says it's my job to make sure I don't flunk out like they did. I think she's only half-kidding!

PARKER: Are they what Marianne calls "Change of Career" dogs? Do you get along with them?

PILOT: Yeah, I guess "Change of Career" is a nicer way to put it. I try to be the boss, but it's kind of hard with an old man and a freak who thinks he's still working. *snicker*

PARKER: What's your puppy raiser like? What kinds of things do you do with her?

PILOT: Roxanne is AWESOME! We do the usual stuff, I guess. I go to church, hand bell choir practice, restaurants, movies and stuff like that. Nothing too special, but I really like visiting with people.

PARKER: Oh, me too! That's the best part of going anywhere, is having people stop and ask questions about me and give me lots of attention. Of course, they can't pet me when I'm working unless Marianne says they can, but most people know they have to ask. Marianne usually says "yes," unless I'm not behaving myself. *AHEM* Say, what's your favorite toy?

PILOT: Anything with a squeaker in it! I love to run around squeaking it really loud.

PARKER: Yeah, me too! We're a lot alike. What's your favorite command?

PILOT: My favorite command is "up" and my next favorite is "release." That is how I get to eat!!

PARKER: Oh, yeah -- FOOD. *sigh* Say, I have a couple of questions for your puppy raiser. Roxanne, what are some of Pilot’s quirks?

ROXANNE: Pilot is a funny dog and one of his worst quirks is putting his front paws up on things. If he's in a chair, that isn't good enough, he has to put his paws up on the back of the chair. If he encounters anything elevated he has to put his paws up. This is a good thing for his training, but he does it even when he's not invited. We're working on that!

PARKER: Uh-oh. What's his best personality trait?

ROXANNE: His best personality trait is JOY. He is the most joyful dog I have ever had and because of that he tends to bring joy to my life and other people he meets. This is so different from the last dog I raised, Sagar, who was an old soul the day he was born.

PARKER: Marianne says Pilot sounds like her third puppy, Jolly Rolly, and Sagar sounds like her first puppy, Trevin. Me, I'm just a happy boy who loves the spotlight! When does Pilot go to CCI College?

ROXANNE: Pilot goes to College in May. We live close to the North Central CCI campus, so it's not too far from home. When do you go to CCI College?

PARKER: I go to the SW Campus in Oceanside, Calif., in August. Hey Pilot and Roxanne, thanks for talking to me.

PILOT: Bark at ya later!

Chow for now!

Parker

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to Call7ForHelp@TheDenverChannel.com.

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.