Something's Coming... Something Good

Hi and love to all from my happy place, Canine Companions for Independence’s Northwest campus/National headquarters in Santa Rosa, California. Like an island oasis for dog lovers, the Jean and Charles Schulz Campus is situated on 12 acres of land in industrial Santa Rosa, hemmed in by foothills. This beautiful campus was built with the generous support of National Board officer Jean Schulz and her late husband, Peanuts comic strip creator Charles M. Schulz. 

Gittinger Hall's Golden Wind Vane

Following the road through the main gate and onto campus, one winds around a giant fenced-in, well-kept grassy dog play yard complete with an agility field, picnic tables, buckets of water and supplying hose, as well as an abundance of tennis balls and Chuck-It ball launchers. Named for long-time supporter and National Board officer Anne Gittinger and her husband Wayne Gittinger, Gittinger Hall is the dormitory where Team Training students stay for the duration of their visit. Easily spotted and not soon forgotten, on its tall roof is a wind vane shaped like a Golden Retriever! Outside, sidewalks meander across sections of campus and through manicured gardens with citrus trees (the wafting smells are said to provide a tempting distraction for the dogs in training). Selectively-placed outside certain buildings and sidewalk junctures are dog potty areas with bark chips and buckets. Here on campus there is respect and reverence for dogs - and I love that - and careful attention paid to ensuring access for people with disabilities. Most building exteriors and interiors have handicap push plates, the entrance to the dog play yard is wheelchair-accessible, and the Gittinger Hall kitchen is set up with wheelchair-height essentials in mind. 

But I digress... I've jumped ahead. Let me back up...

On Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to catch my first flight. A few cancelled and rescheduled and delayed flights later, I arrived in Santa Rosa after about seventeen hours in transit. However, that's nothing to complain about. My fellow Team Training students also traveled here from around the country, so committed to attending despite the frigid weather that some drove across multiple states for many hours after their flights were cancelled. I had the joy of being received by my lovely friends who provided a collective warm welcome and reminded me of how much I love being here and why. Thank you!

On Sunday evening, the Team Training students who had arrived to campus gathered in the Gittinger Hall common area to attend an "Orientation to the Dorm" meeting that was warmly and professionally provided by the Dorm Caretaker. Topics covered included safety basics and after-hours contact information, where to find needed supplies and equipment, how to request assistance in the event of maintenance issues, and other such relevant guidelines. Dorm amenities include a shared kitchen, common area and library, accessible rooms with roll-in showers, individual garden-level patios, and much more. The attention to detail and level of thought given to helping students feel more at home during their two weeks of Team Training has increasingly and consistency impressed me over the seven years that I've been involved with Canine Companions.

During these two weeks, seven deaf and hard of hearing adults will be trained to partner effectively with skilled Hearing Dogs in order to enhance their environmental awareness. In support of its mission to provide these exceptional dogs, Canine Companions provides top-notch training and follow-up services... and while working with deaf and hard of hearing individuals and those with hearing loss, careful attention must be paid to ensuring effective communication in order to accomplish these goals. Emphasis on communication was apparent on several levels, from the way the Dorm Caretaker encouraged students to ask for clarification if needed, to the presence of a volunteer audiologist who offered students support with their assertive listening devices. She ensured that each of our rooms had door-knock strobe alert devices attached to our doors, checked that the TVs had closed captioning turned on and working, and offered troubleshooting with our tactile alarm clocks as needed. All of this so that we can be matched with dogs whose skills we hope will outsource our reliance on some of this technology!

Returning to my room for the rest of the night, I felt so tired but content. And excited, possessed of palpably delicious anticipation!!! Walking down the hall, I passed a number of empty dog crates lining the wall. Each crate had a square printout labeled with a dog’s name, gender, and breed type. So that you can enjoy the suspense with me, WHO will it be!??!!?!?!

To be continued...