Miracle At Plum Island
The Amazing Tales of the Service Dog Project by JDR-IN
On the 11th of June, late in the afternoon, Lola wandered around the huge crowd during Sunday Stew looking for her brother Perry. After several trips through the main barn and checking each of the kennels and the horse stalls, she found Perry hidden under one of the training ramps in the Arena. Perry was rolled up in a fetal position, and was staring at the canvas walls while tears formed in his eyes. Lola said, “Perry, what’s wrong, I’ve never seen you cry before, even when you were having trouble with your back legs and were sad that you probably would never become a Mobility Service Dog.” “Oh Lola, you wouldn’t understand if I told you the whole story.” “Yes, I would Perry if you would just give me a chance?” “Ok sis, it all started with that phone call from Lulu in sunny California late last week.”
Hello, many know me as JDR-IN, and I’m presently sitting in my rocking chair, back home in Indiana, trying to remember what Perry told Lola that day. Yes, I was there on the farm for the Sunday Stew; I managed to stay off camera and no one actually identified me with such a big crowd in attendance. While there, like every visitor, I performed some rather hard menial-type work. In between chores, I did find a few spare seconds to talk to a few of the Camera Peeps and also I spent considerable time petting a few off the puppies and every farm animal that came near me, including the chickens of all things. As the day closed, and I prepared to leave for my journey home, I wandered around the farm for a final look-see, when I came upon Lola and Perry in the arena exactly at that moment when he began telling his story, this is what I heard:
Perry told Lola how disillusioned he was that he was getting older and hadn’t really amounted to much. He told her that he had big plans when he arrived at the Service Dog Project and here nearly a year later he hadn’t fulfilled any of his dreams. Lola listened patiently, and she to recalled having some of those same exact thoughts as Perry, as recently as last night, when she attended the monthly girl’s night out campfire on Puppy Hill with all of her sisters. Perry perked up a bit, and realized he wasn’t the only one feeling a little blue these days. He told Lola that being the only male Big Pup was tough; he felt different when he looked in the mirror, and he didn’t exactly know why. Lola reassured Perry that of course he was different, he was taller, and had a greater legion of followers than most of the other pups on the Explore.org web cameras. Perry agreed with Lola, and chuckled a bit when he told her he sort of liked being the center of attention, but at other times it was kind of hard mentally knowing everyone was watching his every move. Then Perry sighed one final time and said, “Lola, bottom-line what I’m really unhappy about, is that the 16th of June is our first birthday, and I haven’t heard or seen anything whatsoever about anyone preparing a party for us. It means so much, to see after all we’ve gone through in our training, that someone would sponsor just a little birthday party for us to recognize our efforts don’t you think?” Before Lola could say anything, she gently laid down her head next to Perry’s and snuggling together they both were sound asleep within seconds.
What could I have done? I knew that Mariah & Oscar had already coordinated a massive get together scheduled for the 16th of June, out at Sandy Point State Reservation on nearby Plum Island. Since it was a surprise party for the Big Pups, I wasn’t at liberty to inform Perry and Lola that indeed there was going to be a celebration for them. Lulu in sunny California was in on it to; she told me the whole story earlier in the week. She had phoned Perry as a ruse to confuse him into believing nothing special was going on at SDP. In fact, Lulu told Perry a whopper of a fib. She told him that on the 16th of June, the entire group of farm animals, including all the dogs on site, were to be evacuated to the Ipswich Animal Shelter, so Explore.org could install new infrared cameras on the farm. These high-tech cameras would provide optimum coverage of the Flat Field, and inside the Arena, and provide nighttime coverage throughout the farm. Lulu told me Perry was happy about the new cameras, but she sensed a deep disappointment in him, when he asked in a hesitating voice why this was happening on the 16th. So, poor Perry had nearly a whole week to sink further and further into depression. Knowing all this in advance, I must admit, I was depressed myself in having to keep silent about the surprise party. So, that about sums up what I heard Perry and Lola say that day. I’ll close for now, and resume this story later in the week when hopefully I have some more pleasant information to share.Here it is, the morning of the 15th of June already. Mariah has phoned me every night since Sunday’s Stew and told me how the Big Pups have been trying to act as normal as can be. All of them have had one of their best weeks of training, and especially Perry who was a big hit on the 12th of June, at the Ipswich Public Library when he aided an elderly man that nearly fell down the steps located at the entrance to the Reference Department. Perry alertly saved him from falling, and subsequently his efforts were rewarded the following afternoon, as he and his guests, Ebony, Lola, Mia, Roxanne, and Willow, were invited to Ipswich’s City Hall and Perry was presented with the keys to the city. On a more sadder note, Mariah also informed me just moments ago, even with the Big Pups doing so well, word was out that all of them were becoming increasingly agitated. Lola and Roxanne weren’t speaking to each other after Lola accidentally tripped Roxanne while playing on Puppy Hill. Also it seems, tragedy struck the other Big Pups when Willow pushed Ebony away from her usual spot at the feeding table last night, and by the time Ebony recovered her balance, Mia had finished Ebony’s meal. Of course all three of them weren’t talking either. Even Perry had a difficult night as he with the keys to the city wrapped around his neck, returned to the farm and slept on the hard floor in Kennel #10 by himself. Even with all of this sad news, Mariah was giggling in anticipation of the surprise party the whole time she spoke to me this morning, and then closed with asking me what time I would arrive at Plum Island on the 16th. I told her not to worry about me, and inside I too was smiling knowing the big party was near. Got to run, my flight leaves this evening for Logan Airport, and I’d better start packing.
Greetings everyone! It’s now the 24th of June, my birthday, and I’m still incredibly joyous about that delightful Big Pups birthday party on Plum Island. No reason to go into precise details; I know all of you watched the gala event on Explore.org’s remote cameras. To briefly summarize, I had the time of my life, and the joyous smiles on the Big Pups faces were priceless. I have never seen Perry happier. He cried a lot, but they were tears of joy. Mariah and Oscar are to be commended for their coordination efforts and who can forget Dash and the Muppies insuring the safety for everyone as they provided security during the entire event. Luna, Bailey, Opal, and Chaos headed the welcoming committee and alertly passed out sun umbrellas and towels to those heading toward the gala festivities setup on the shoreline. I’m not sure if the cameras caught all of the non-stop action on the beach. Lulu, sporting her new Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, got a lot of attention from whom else, Bentley. The Big Pups ingeniously formed a dog-pyramid on the sand, and all of the Chuppies, Muppies, Nuppies, and Pimentoes climbed aboard, and of course Camera Mark took the spectacular photo that attests to the fact that this was the best party ever. Yet that joy of forming the pyramid with all of the young doggies wagging their tongues and tails wasn’t the happiest moment of the day. For me and everyone that witnessed it, it was the moment after the Big Pups blew the candle out on their birthday cake. Hovering over the park at the exact moment the Big Pups made their wish, was a bilious cloud that miraculously formed the image of Mary the Donkey with wings. Need I say more? Before heading home, I briefly spoke to Perry and he said “John, I can’t wait until our 2nd Birthday, and I hope you and all the Camera Peeps can find a way to join us here at the Service Dog Project.” I told him that it would be nearly impossible to stay away after the joy of today’s perfect celebration. God Bless!
