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It has been a while. Halo retired in April, when we got back from our place in Florida. He is loving being a "dog" and not having duties. I will ask him to do something simple and he gives me a look like "lady you retired me and I am doing my job". So, made it through my daughter's wedding, in our back yard, two weeks ago. Had about 130 people, Sushi truck, 2 bartenders, dance floor, DJ, nacho bar; have heard nothing but it was the best wedding people have ever been to. It was just a big party. Then had foot surgery the following Friday, a week ago. Still recovering from that. Not a big surgery, but being on the foot means being off the foot for two weeks and limited for 3 months. If doctor clears me, I will head to my winter home in Florida on the 24th. Still no word on my team training for my service dog from Canine Companions. Should be soon, early 2024, I hope. Linda and Halo (retired)

I took a rolled up turf with holes in it for my cruise with Halo. I had previously had my husband make a 4x4 box, filled it with dog litter and then the sod. It seemed to take forever, but I trained Halo to use it. He was not happy as he has an acre to use whenever he wanted, but I wouldn't let him out until after he relieved himself in the box. Every time he did, we made a party of it; he got amazing kudos and treats. He didn't like it at all, but it was sure worth the relief for us that he knew how to use it. And he did use it on the cruise. But he would look off the balcony every morning to see if we were at a port and would hold it until we got to real grass on real land. He is one smart boy. He is retiring in a few months and my next dog will be trained the same way. Linda and Halo

Chris so glad you and everyone are ok. The hurricane really missed us, way south of us. Originally we were supposed to get damage from the outer bands, when it took the little shift south it missed us completely. Absolutely nothing, no wind, no rain. I was wondering if anyone could provide me with a Celebrity vacation planner recommendation? I don't know if that is allowed here. I usually cruise Carnival, but we are going to give Celebrity a try and they have a great special good through tomorrow. I book directly with the cruise line, but would like a direct contact with them if possible. Also, I anticipate taking my new service dog on that one. Has anyone cruised Celebrity with a service dog and recommendations for them? I was looking at a veranda/balcony. I was able to have Carnival put the relief box on the balcony. Will Celebrity do that? Linda and Halo - for now (soon to retire)

We moved a house in on our property, we are on 1 acre. Small farmhouse, mother in law house. Completely gutted it and making it accessible for my progression. My, adult, daughter wants to raise her kids in the house she was raised in. She gets married next September. They will start out in the small house and then when they have kids we will switch. My husband keeps saying what we are going to do to this house, replace carpet and other items. I keep telling him no, the daughter can do all that when she moves in. I am not planning on having a nicely redone house just to move. The great thing about Halo retiring with her, he never moves from the house he knows. He is so lucky. And the future son in law thinks Halo is the best. Even though they have a dog, he loves Halo so much. So Halo gets to live out his life with his human sister, human brother in law and dog nephew. Linda & Halo

I did accepted to receive a dog from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). 12-20 months before I get invited to the team training. My schedule is very flexible, but I did have to let them know that September 2023 will NOT work. My only child, daughter, get married the end of next September and I kind of thought it would be important to be available for that. Halo stayed with our daughter and fiance, they live with us right now, when I was in Hawaii for 3 weeks with my husband. He was there for 2 months on a job. Halo did not want to come back in, there is an apartment out back they are staying in, when I got back. Confirming he is going to do great with them in retirement. We are heading back to our home in Florida in November. My husband and I have a 6 day cruise in November. We are bringing friends with to our Florida house to watch Halo while we are gone. Flying back and forth is just too hard on me, so we thought having the friends stay with Halo while we cruise, my husband does not like to cruise with Halo was a better option than leaving him in Idaho and coming back for him to fly back to Florida. And then we will do some stuff with the friends, fishing, St Augustine, beaches, etc. before they fly back to Idaho. Linda and Halo

Hi everyone. Had my in person and final interview with Canine Campions for Independence in Santa Rosa, California (same location Rox got her babies). That was yesterday. Now I wait to hear if I was accepted to get a service dog from them. Then I wait up to 20 months, usually about a year, to get the dog. Halo is close to retirement. He is still doing ok. He was trained when I was more mobile. I need some different kind of help from a service dog. Although he is smart and could learn it, it really isn't worth it since he will be retiring so soon. Probably would have been taught the functions, pulling clothes baskets to help with laundry and assisting with opening doors, if the pandemic hadn't hit and the shattering of the leg. Which both caused us to stay in the house for 1.5 years. He did stay with my daughter and her fiance when we went to Jamacia for a week, then to Hawaii for 3 weeks. He will be retiring with them and it was kind of a test retirement. He is loving being a dog. Will stay follow his commands and behaves in public exceptionally well. But he is sure loving being a "dog" and getting to go to a park without his work vest and just play. Not a dog park, just a park with his buddy, my daughter's dog. Linda and Halo

Lady Jag, you can always take your own sod. Just roll it and put it in a plastic garbage bag and then leave it on the ship. I trained my dog to the fake stuff, took some and then left it. Worked great and, even though training him to it was a pain, having familiar really helped once on the ship. I get it is a hassle to carry extra stuff, but it was so worth it. I bet you could buy some once in NY in the hotel area. Linda and Halo