Mulan's New Home

Guess what! Mulan went to a new home last weekend:) It is a lady who has had several release dogs before Mulan. She will be able to provide Mulan the special type of medication and dog food Mulan has been prescribed by the vet to help heal her ear infection. This makes me feel a lot better now I know she is going to a good home.

Last Update

Gwen called last week and said because of a chronic ear infection Mulan will be unable to continue in the program. We were asked if we would like Mulan back and because of the amount we travel we are unable to keep her.
Gwen said she would place Mulan with a really nice family. It really upsets me because I want to keep her really bad. So this is probably the last post I will do unless anyone has any questions:(
This past year and a half has been a amazing experience with many ups and downs and I will never forget it, ever. Mulan was my best friend and I will miss her very, very much. I love her so much that I want her to have a family that will be there every day for her. So I hope and pray that she gets a wonderful and loving family. Thanks to everyone for reading and posting on my blog, as I have said before the comments are what kept me blogging.
Thanks,
Candace Hornsby

P.S. Anyone who would like to link to my blog can. You don't have to ask

4th Update

Mulan is still in the program and seems to be doing well. She has mastered a few of the commands and I was told she performed them "enthusiasticly." She continues to have dirty ears which is a cause of concern. She also is underconfident which they said is a area of concern. They are ending the first semester. The second semester will include a lot more field trips to evaluate their skills. Fingers crossed:)

3rd Update

Hello everyone:) Mulans training is still going well. Unfortunately she is behind a bit in the program because she was not selected to be a breeder so she has been spayed. It is weird but I am a little sad because I know she would have been a wonderful mother.
One other thing is that she can be kind of skittish sometimes because she bolted after the field trip to the pet store. This worries me a little. Besides that everything is going well. Keep your fingers crossed.

2nd Update

We just recieved Mulans second report. They said that she is doing well. Her hips and elbows have passed the test for the program. She is still in the running to be a possible breeder. Her biggest problem continues to be her lack of taking the initiative. But other then that all is going well.

1st Update

We got a phone call from Mulan's trainer Wednesday. She said Mulan was adjusting well. She has been happily playing with the other dogs and eating well.
The past two weeks they have been doing temperment testing. Mulan tested on the "soft" side. This means she looks to people for guidance which is not necessarily a bad thing. They also did the rabbit test where the see if the dog is interested or aggressive to the CCI center's rabbit.
The trainer said Mulan was interested, but they could easily gain her attention again so that was a relief! They told me that it was all they could do to keep another dog from eating it! They also did a test where they brought out a large stuffed lion to see how the dog would react. Mulan was nervous but when the trainer went up to it she was less hesitant. So all and all Mulan seems to be doing well. During the next couple weeks they are going to begin working on commands with the dogs. So we will see how that goes. . . .

Graduation Picture

I know I said that the Closure Post would be my last post but I just wanted to show you a picture of her and I at graduation. We were all given cookies shaped like our dogs with their names on them, a certificate, and a blue ribbon with "Canine Companions for Independence" on it.

Closure

We just got back from turning-in Mulan and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I cried and cried and I am still crying now. The ceremonies were very nice and they had certificates and congratulations for all the puppy raisers. The house seems so quiet. I will post a monthly update from what I hear from CCI. I would like to thank everyone who has read my blog this past year and a half. I hope you have enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it:)

One Week

I can't believe it, one week from today and Mulan turns in. These last few months have gone by so fast. I have decided that once she turns in I am going to wrap up this blog. I will however post a monthly update on how her advanced training is going and wether or not she is placed with anyone. I know that everyone will be eager to know how she is doing. I will try to post 1 or 2 more time this week so you will have some final posts and pictures of her:)

Few Mulan Pics

20 days until Mulans turn-in that seems so short:( I had a few requests for some more recent
pictures of her. The reason I havn't posted any in a while is because she does not look much different. Maybe it is because I am with her all the time. I snapped a few shots of her in mine room while I was doing homework. I would also like to post a few pictures from her last puppy class but I have yet to get a hold of my dads camera. When I do I will post them though.

Last Puppy Class

Tonight we will be attending out last puppy class with Mulan. It will be at Mingo Park.
I am hoping the weather will clear up by this evening because it has been raining a lot this morning.
Two days ago we took Mulan to the doggy park. At the very edge of the park there is a shallow doggy pond for the dogs to swim in. She had a great time! She swam and swam and swam with another lab. They had so much fun. She has been tired ever since:)

Chicago and the Beginning of the End

We went and visited Chicago again this weekend. We enjoyed it a lot. This time we went to the Chicago Art Institute and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. We also got to ride the trains through the city and walk along the Magnificent Mile(a mile full of 6o retail shops).
Mulan stayed at CCI. Her ears are tons better. The antibiotics and medication we have been using have really payed off.
I am sure you are wondering what the "beginning of the end" is. Last night when we got home we found Mulans forms for turn-in, in the mail. We were all very somber. She will be turning in May 19th. I just thought everyone would like to know.
So to brighten up the mood I have a story for everyone about my hamster.
Last night when I got home my hamster's lid was ajar(it had to be my hamster not my sisters) and he was gone! Our neighbor who had been caring for them had put food and water in bowls on the floor. Naturally we all freaked out!
I searched eveywhere! Finally I a trail of bedding lead me to out new sofa bed. I pulled off the cushions and there was my hamster sitting in a huge nest of chewed up sofa cushion and hamster food! The cushions look awful! My mom is so angry. She has not talked to me since last night. It's not like I chewed them up! I know this story might seem funny to everyone else but I am still in the middle of it. So everyone hope that my mom forgives me soon. Though I really don't blame her:)

Early Turn-In

Today we got a call from CCI saying that because of the unusually warm weather we have been having they have decided they will do turn-in's early so that the dogs won't have to be in the kennels in extreme heat. That means we have to turn in Mulan next week! It came up so suddenly:(









P.S. April Fools:) Mulan doesn't turn-in until May 19th

First Day of Spring!

Wow! Is it spring all ready? This winter went surprisingly fast.
Today we took Mulan to the Vet that CCI uses to get them to look
at her ears. She has a slight yeast infection with some bacteria(nasty)
We have begun a regimen of ear washing, pills, and a ear lotion. Hopefully this will
clear it up for her. I don't want her to have to go to the kennel with a ear infection. That would
be painful for her.
The weather here is very warm and it has been 72 degrees all afternoon. I am soaking it up:)

Beautiful Day!

It reached 78 degrees today! I finally am wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It is soooooooo nice.
I was outside with Mulan enjoying the sunshine when I had a creaky old mans voice coming from a shadowy porch. He said "Nice day isn't it?" I said "Yes, it is beautiful" Then he says "You know it won't stay like this." I didn't have a reply to that and walked home in a dismal little cloud(not really but if felt like it:)
Mulan had a bath today and we aired out her bedding. My mom said my room was getting to smell like dog so we opened up all the windows to let that air out too. Funny I didn't notice it, I wonder what that implies?
Now to answer the question I have been asked numerous times. Will I raise another puppy after Mulan? The answer to this suprisingly is "no." I love Mulan and I don't mind the work she requires. My one problem is with the amount we travel. It is very difficult to go anywhere. My lifestyle right now is not ideal for raising another puppy. I will probably raise another one when I get my own place some day. Don't think I don't love Mulan any less though. She is my best friend and I don't know what I am going to do without her:(

The difference between Texas and Ohio

I just realized the difference between TX and OH. In Texas once the weather gets nice it doesn't change. In OH it can be 50 degrees one day and freezing the next! Not fun:( I got another picture of Mulans brothers and sisters. This is you "awwww" for the day!

Little Mulans!

Don't worry it is not Mulan that had puppies:) We just got a picture from Pearl III's breeder/caretaker of her newest litter of puppies. Pearl III is Mulans mom so it is kind of special for us. They are the "D" litter and they are soooooo cute:)

Spring is coming!

It is a beautiful day today and it reached 42 degrees! It was soooooooooooo nice:)
We had a couple of friends staying at our home so we took them to a Conservatory to see a traveling exhibit of Chilale glass flowers. They had the flowers in with the Conservatory plants so it was really neat finding them around every corner.
The only dark spot was we had some trouble getting Mulan in because of a cranky security guard. Luckily a receptionist vouched for us and we were allowed access. Here are a few of the glass pieces. My favorite are the floating balls they look like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Back again!

We went to Buffalo for the weekend and we ended up having to leave Mulan at the kennel because there was a lot of snow up there. She is back home now and doing well. Her ear infection is mostly gone. I am glad because I know they are kind of painful for her. She is maintaining a stable weight now which is between 61-63 lbs. I don't think she is going to grow any bigger.

Puppy Class

There is a puppy class tonight. It is kind of sad in a way because I don't know how much longer we will be able to attend them. All we have left with Mulan is Feburary, March, April, and then she goes back in May. We are not sure when in May so it could be 3-4 months. Wow how time has flown!
On a different not Mulan has a very stubborn ear infection we are using Montemax twice a day as suggested by CCI. Does anyone have any suggestions for flushing it out?

Mulans Back:)

Mulan is back and doing well. She seems to get sweeter every time we get her back. Maybe because I miss her so much. I have a new picture of her just so you can see her I know it has been a while. Besides that there is not so much new. I guess because it is winter and we aren't doing as much as we do in summertime:)

Ice Storm!

Yes, there was a ice storm in Dallas while we were visiting. We woke up one day and it was a balmy 60 degrees, by that evening it was pouring rain and a good 30 degrees cooler.
Visiting Texas again was enjoyable but very sad. I don't know if I would do it again because it hurt so much. I guess it was too soon.
Mulan is still in heat at the kennel but we should be getting her back by next week. Then I can post some news that people will read! lol

Dallas

We are going to go to Dallas for the weekend:) Some old friends of ours are getting
married. We are all really excited about seeing everyone and visiting old haunts.
Mulan is still at the kennel and she will probably come home around the 24th. I still
miss her.

Growing Up!

Well it is kind of a funny subject but I guess it needs to go on record in some way. Mulan went into heat yesterday. She is growing up! We had to take her to the CCI kennel and she will stay there for the next three weeks! That is a long time. I feel really bad because we just picked her up again when we came back from Chicago. I also miss her more then I have the other times. I guess it is because I know she is going to be there for so long. I have to finish my geometry lesson now so G2G.

A New Year

Well it is the start of another year:) So many things have happened this year. I would have never thought last January that I would be living in Columbus, OH by the next year. It is kind of scary to think where I might be next year and what will have changed. I know that I won't have Mulan anymore:( I am lucky though that I am getting to keep her still for another five months. Well I have to go give Mulan a bath. I will post again soon hopefully!