1/22/13

From Pat in Washington DC who has Rika, a 2008 Strongheart/Ulrika pup

Dear Elizabeth,

I have been meaning to write you for so long. But I wanted to wait until Rika and I got our final approval visit in at the new Walter Reed. And today was the day. I started the process in September and finally have gone through all the necessary steps. The approval process was agony. It took me 3 trips, 4 blood tests, finger printing, a background check and an interview with an occupational therapist. And that was after I had sent them all of Rika’s paperwork. But it is worth it. I am looking forward to visiting there a couple of times a month.

Rika is such a natural. Today we met a young man who lost both legs in Afghanistan on December 12th. It was our privilege and honor to visit with him and yet all he could do was thank us for taking the time to come. It makes me so proud of the men and women that serve our country. She was also petted today by a guy with a prosthetic arm (he used that to pet her) and she was totally fine with it. She is pretty unflappable.

Rika currently visits at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, the VA Hospital, and Episcopal Center for Children. And she is great with everyone. The picture of her “kissing” the guy was taken at the VA. Unfortunately they won’t let us take pictures with the kids. But that is where she really shines. Generally she is off leash and gets to chase tennis balls. But she has the patience of a saint when a kid decides he/she wants to brush her or walk her around on a leash. The only problem is she does not want to leave. More often then not I have to get a kid to catch her and bring her to me.

One of her other talents is posing for pictures. I have set up a little photo studio in our basement. I just bring some cheese and she goes and poses. She is a good sport with all the stuff I put on her as you can see by the pictures. I make cards for her and mostly pass them out to the kids. Although I am finding out that the people at Walter Reed also like them a lot.

Jim just poked his head in and said “be sure to tell Elizabeth how much joy this dog has brought to our lives”. Not only us but so many others as well. Thank you!

Pat

Rika, where words would never be enough