Regina Helfer's Posts
Looking back to move Forward
Sometimes in life you need to look back and remember in order for you to move forward. Let me introduce myself. My name is Regina and I am a dog lover!
Those of you that are dog lovers too know the impact that these animals have in our lives. You also know capturing these memories on photos keeps them in our hearts forever!
I want to share with you the life and times of our current Bernese Mountain Dog, Freeport, and our new Bernese Mountain Dog, "Mr. Cooper". Before I can bring smiles and laughter to your faces with the antics of these 2, I have to bring you back to where it all started. I thank Kodak every day for the memories that they have allowed me to capture and re-live! Remember when the 'Scan Van' was in Rochester? I have thousands of photos now on Kodak Gallery to do with as I wish.
1996 - Kunik - our first Berner - Larry and my first dog together - my first pure breed dog - my little 25 pound puppy! He came into our lives full tilt! He loved life, loved children, and loved snow! And I really think he loved us.
His picture is all over the world from tourists asking to pose with him, especially in Niagara on the Lake. His impact on the casual bystander was mystical! I remember a time when he helped a child get over his fear of large dogs. It took Kunik 30 minutes of lying down and allowing this little boy to hesitantly touch at first then crawl and finally hug him in the end. It brought tears to all who took the time to watch this miracle. He would have made a great Therapy Dog.
1999 - Geddy - our Landseer Newfoundland - a playmate for Kunik - a Father's Day gift for Larry. She was our little princess, our snuggler, a lady's lady!
She loved Kunik, loved life and loved snow, and I'm pretty sure she loved us too. She would have made another great Therapy Dog.
We lost Kunik in 2005 to cancer; we lost Geddy in 2008 to cancer - devastating on both losses. Unspeakable heartache. So much we learned from them; so much we didn't get to do - Pet Therapy was one of them.
2006 - enter Freeport.
Geddy was lost without Kunik, but I don't think a new puppy in the house was in her plans.
I can't say she loved Freeport, but she protected him and taught him well. He grew up with her his first 2 years then she was gone. I think he still looks for her when he sees another Landseer Newf!
The opportunity arose to train as a Pet Assisted Therapy Team through the Humane Society's Lollypop Farm. I jumped at the chance to do with Freeport what I should have done with Kunik and Geddy.
We passed and are now registered as a Therapy Team and a Reading Education Assistance Dog Team, where students actually read to the dogs! What a great program. The children love him!
2009 - moving into the present: On June 16th, our newest addition to our family has come into our lives - Harraseeket's Mr. Cooper! At 8 weeks old he's a puff ball! Another puppy for Father's day - go figure!
Follow along with me as I share the antics of raising Cooper with Freeport and preparing him to become another Therapy and READ dog.
If nothing else, it will make you smile, laugh, shed a tear for those we have loved before and love now, and maybe, JUST maybe, want to bring out those memories, in whatever format you have them in - photographs, digital images, videos - and remember!
Those of you that are dog lovers too know the impact that these animals have in our lives. You also know capturing these memories on photos keeps them in our hearts forever!
I want to share with you the life and times of our current Bernese Mountain Dog, Freeport, and our new Bernese Mountain Dog, "Mr. Cooper". Before I can bring smiles and laughter to your faces with the antics of these 2, I have to bring you back to where it all started. I thank Kodak every day for the memories that they have allowed me to capture and re-live! Remember when the 'Scan Van' was in Rochester? I have thousands of photos now on Kodak Gallery to do with as I wish.
1996 - Kunik - our first Berner - Larry and my first dog together - my first pure breed dog - my little 25 pound puppy! He came into our lives full tilt! He loved life, loved children, and loved snow! And I really think he loved us.
His picture is all over the world from tourists asking to pose with him, especially in Niagara on the Lake. His impact on the casual bystander was mystical! I remember a time when he helped a child get over his fear of large dogs. It took Kunik 30 minutes of lying down and allowing this little boy to hesitantly touch at first then crawl and finally hug him in the end. It brought tears to all who took the time to watch this miracle. He would have made a great Therapy Dog.
1999 - Geddy - our Landseer Newfoundland - a playmate for Kunik - a Father's Day gift for Larry. She was our little princess, our snuggler, a lady's lady!
She loved Kunik, loved life and loved snow, and I'm pretty sure she loved us too. She would have made another great Therapy Dog.
We lost Kunik in 2005 to cancer; we lost Geddy in 2008 to cancer - devastating on both losses. Unspeakable heartache. So much we learned from them; so much we didn't get to do - Pet Therapy was one of them.
2006 - enter Freeport.
Geddy was lost without Kunik, but I don't think a new puppy in the house was in her plans.
I can't say she loved Freeport, but she protected him and taught him well. He grew up with her his first 2 years then she was gone. I think he still looks for her when he sees another Landseer Newf!
The opportunity arose to train as a Pet Assisted Therapy Team through the Humane Society's Lollypop Farm. I jumped at the chance to do with Freeport what I should have done with Kunik and Geddy.
We passed and are now registered as a Therapy Team and a Reading Education Assistance Dog Team, where students actually read to the dogs! What a great program. The children love him!
2009 - moving into the present: On June 16th, our newest addition to our family has come into our lives - Harraseeket's Mr. Cooper! At 8 weeks old he's a puff ball! Another puppy for Father's day - go figure!
Follow along with me as I share the antics of raising Cooper with Freeport and preparing him to become another Therapy and READ dog.
If nothing else, it will make you smile, laugh, shed a tear for those we have loved before and love now, and maybe, JUST maybe, want to bring out those memories, in whatever format you have them in - photographs, digital images, videos - and remember!
