About Walking Along with My Dog
I received my first guide dog, Heath Bar, in 1990. While learning how to become a working member of this team, it was suggested that talking or singing on long walks would prevent boredom. Being a person who has made up silly songs from the time I was young, I accepted this task. However, it was my eight-year-old son, Nolan, who created the following silly song:
Heath Bar, Heath Bar, singing a song.
Paddy paddy paddy.
Paddy paddy paddy.
Heath Bar, Heath Bar, walking along.
In 1997, when it was time to get my second dog, Egypt, I made some slight variations to the melody and rhyme. In 2001, I returned to the school and received my present dog, Kojak. I varied my son’s original song once more, and came up with the line, “Walking along with my dog.”
For two and a half years I sang these words to him. Unfortunately, in the spring of 2004, Kojak began showing a slight limp. Gradually over the next month or so, he demonstrated more difficulties and could no longer run or play ball without severe pain.
After several trips to an orthopedic specialist, Dr. Jackson, in Southfield, Michigan (350 miles from my home) it was determined Kojak needed a spinal surgery. Calculating the total cost which included lodging, food and mileage, the final expense was estimated at seven thousand dollars. Realizing the cost would be taxing my resources, I contacted Kojak’s school to see if they could help. Their recommendation was to retire Kojak and get a new guide dog, as there were no monies allocated in their budget for medical care.
Fortunately, I was able to raise a few hundred dollars through the Lion’s Club. Kojak’s school was able to provide one thousand dollars from a special dowry left by a generous lady. Dr. Jackson also kindly reduced his fees, which helped greatly. Unfortunately, I still needed about four thousand dollars to cover all the costs. Being gainfully employed as a school social worker, I decided to forfeit some of my savings and scheduled Kojak’s surgery for November of 2004.
Since Kojak is a member of the school faculty, I prepared the students for half of the social work team’s need for sick leave. With lots of good wishes, Kojak came through very well. Digging through my closet, I dusted off my trusty old white cane and readied myself for my previous mode of travel. Kojak reluctantly stayed home for the next two months to recuperate.
At the end of January, 2005, Kojak was ready to go back to work. All the students were very happy to see him. In their many questions about what had transpired, one student raised the concern about animal insurance. As I explained about the limited resources for animal medical care, I shared with them the struggle some service dog owners might have. I informed them how there are still many blind and disabled individuals who are unemployed. We talked about discrimination and human limitations, which could make working difficult for some folks.
Through these discussions, I wondered how many people must have to face the horrible reality of retiring a service animal prematurely. Not only would the animal be in pain or have to be put to sleep, but training for a new partner is very involved. An individual must take time out of their lives to learn to use a service dog. It then takes several months to bond and become a true working team. This of course, is all done while grieving the loss of the previous animal. The stress of the loss, guilt and re-bonding is not something to be taken lightly.
The results of these conversations led me to the idea of turning Kojak’s song into a book. I promptly went to my talking computer and wrote out more verses to, “Walking Along with My Dog.” I contacted Mark Carney, owner of Raven Oak Recording Studio. He had helped me with a previous children’s book and CD and agreed to record the song free of charge.
Next, I contacted two musician friends of mine, Gary Garn and Tyler Detloff, who also agreed to help while both refusing payment. Within a couple of weeks, near the end of March, we laid the main track of the record. As we left Mark’s studio, I casually mentioned that all I needed now was an illustrator. Mark informed me of his wife’s artistic abilities, including the art of drawing.
I contacted his wife, Deborah Carney, and chatted with her about my goal. She wrote down my ideas as I relayed the images in my mind and how they corresponded to the words for each page. Joining the other’s “no-fee policy”, Deb had samples for my visual friends to review within two weeks. Unanimously, they agreed she had captured what I described and then some. While Deb worked on the illustrations, I explored the possibility of establishing a non-profit corporation. Dyke Justin, a local attorney, found my ideas exciting. A fellow animal lover, Dyke gave freely of his time to help me set up a corporation. He educated me on how to obtain a 501C3 status. He also helped me develop purchasing contracts for agencies who wish to sell ISAHEALTH Fund products for their animal cause of choice.
By September of 2005, Deb brought to life the entire cast of characters as they traveled through delightful scenes of mayhem. My next task was to find a way to get the illustrations ready to be printed into multiple books. I contacted Julia Rawlings, instructor of the Sault Area High School’s Career Center print shop. Explaining the school’s guidelines for charging no fee for a non-profit organization, she agreed to assign a student, Courtney Woods, to scan the pictures and words. Julia formatted it all into the proper PDF file for the printer. Donating her own time, Julia spent long weekends in her classroom, to meet a hopeful deadline so the books would be ready for Christmas.
Now I needed money for printing the book and copying the CD. I contacted the Lions Club of Sault Ste Marie, Sault Animal Hospital, and friends. Within two weeks, I had $1800 to help with the start-up costs. Still low on funds from Kojak’s surgery, I took out a loan and completed my goal of creating the books and CDs.
In the mean time, Julia worked with McNaughton and Gunn to work out a few glitches for making the PDF file. By the end of October, we were able to provide them with the proper disk. On December 14, 2005, 792 copies of the book and CD arrived on my doorstep.
On December 17, 2005, the first signing of the book was held at our local Glen’s Market. Fifteen books were sold. By December 29th, 142 copies were sold to local animal agencies and individuals.
Behind the scenes, one additional person provided a key service throughout this whole endeavor. Acting as the glue keeper, this person connected all the elements together. Without him, I am certain this project would still be in the beginning phases.
His name is Billy Park. He’s my wonderful husband who drove, delivered, mailed, packaged, read, reviewed, sold, and ran other endless errands so deadlines and connections could be met. To him and all the others who made the book and CD reach fruition, I cannot say “thank you” enough!