Pandita

My first guide dog was a winner from the beginning.  I, Carol, was so fortunate to get Pandita at Downtown Disney on a beautiful fall day.  Pandia, everyone asked, “is that really her mane?”  I was just as mystified as the others, Why not Pandy? But, I stuck to the name and Pandita is embedded in my brain.  What a dog!  She seemed to sense that being older and slower, that I needed her patience and smartness.  Pandita and I went everywhere in Irvine, and so many “strangers” still ask about her.  I was so fortunate to have a good friend, Lois, from my church who was there for me and Pandita when I went to the hospital, twice.  She is her second mother.  It was a sad but proud day when I put Pandita on the puppy truck to return to San Rafael for her official training.  Pandita passed through her ten phases of Puppy Training School and in July was ready for graduation!  She did 10 days of home training with her new master in Sacramento and then on to graduation in San Rafael.  Her new Master, Ericka, was picked up and brought to San Rafael by a Guide Dog van; but the van was two hours late arriving because of an accident on the freeway.  Ericka and Pandita arrived at 1:15, we met briefly and then on to graduation.  Pandita was so professional when I first saw her.  It made me feel a little jealous, then she gave me a brief tail wag and I realized that this was what it was all about.  She was a working guide dog!  When her harness was removed we got to reunite and love a little.  Ericka is a mother of three with the fourth due soon, and that’s just great because Pandita loves children.  I’m eager to hear how they are getting along, I now understand how a mother feels when her child leaves the nest.  Happy days, Pandita.  I’ll miss you but am very proud of you.