In our final days with Kyndall, our social schedule is accelerating. Early yesterday afternoon took 
us to a volunteering activity I couldn’t resist: an annual event hosted by the nurses at Scripps Memorial Hospital to thank the support staff there. Throughout the day, aides and orderlies and other such folk are invited to stop into a large hall on their breaks or after work to get massages, aromatherapy, and other soothing services. Apparently last year someone had the idea of adding in a station where dog-loving workers could get a puppy fix. The dogs were such a hit that CCI was the first organization asked to participate again this year.
Kyndall and I signed up for the 2 to 4 p.m. shift, which we shared with 7-month-old Raider (a dead ringer for Tucker when he was that age), 8-month-old Daisy, 1-year-old Nairobi, and their respective puppy raisers.
Throughout the shift, we had a slow but steady stream of visitors who seemed eager to plop down on the carpet and get themselves covered with yellow fur. Kyndall’s attitude toward them all seemed to be: “If this is the life of a working dog, bring it ON!”
After our shift, we returned home, then headed out with both Kyndall and Kora a few hours later for Kyndall’s very last puppy class (before Advanced Training.) It was a shockingly large group — 17 dogs (including the Flynns’ adorable 11-week-old Mai-Tai, in attendance because the Flynns still have Merry, their goofy golden retriever who will also be turning in with Kyndall Friday.) We all walked our dogs around the parking lot (in the dark) and practiced recalling them at some distance. Once inside again, we did Laps and Ups and Unders. Kyndall seemed distracted. But I think she was probably just tired out from all that “service” work in the afternoon.
The days draw down to a precious few…
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