Paws on the Street – Part Eleven Enjoying Everyday Life With Chief Blue Seeing Eye® Dog
By Patty L. Fletcher
November 7, 2021
Everyone knows a Dog Guide can assist someone who is blind in public places such as stores, malls, and even walking through a busy intersection during rush hour traffic. But have you considered how a Dog Guide can enhance our everyday lives?
Not long ago, I was walking to the dumpster with a big bag of trash, with Chief Blue Seeing Eye® Dog happily wagging his tail leading the way when suddenly, my neighbor called, “I’d have been glad to take that for you.”
Turning with a smile I said, “No worries, Blue enjoys the work. He loves to take out the trash.”
Later, as Blue and I made our way up the hill toward the mailbox, another neighbor Chided, “You ought to let your helper do that.”
Once again, I turned giving a friendly smile saying, “I’d rather let my helper do something I’ve trouble doing. You know? Like reading the mail once it’s back at the house. Blue and I need the exercise and he gets a kick out of helping me do my daily chores.”
That evening, as I enjoyed a glass of wine and reflected on the day’s events, I thought of how much Blue really helps me each day. Though I don’t always need to go to the store, to the doctor or to pay bills, hardly a day goes by that he doesn’t slip happily into his harness to assist with some portion of my life.
Sometimes, we go to the dumpster several times in one day. I mean it’s quite amazing how much trash a person creates in a day’s time and since my apartment is so small, I hate cluttering it up with boxes, bags and other detritus made by the living of my life.
Sometimes, I simply want to get out and take a brisk walk to stretch out the kinks after spending hours at the computer answering email, scheduling blog posts or attending a Zoom call. Blue is always at the ready with energy to burn and he loves nothing better than to hear me say, “OK Blue, come, let’s harness up!” No matter where he is or what he happens to be doing he comes bounding to my side, his head up ready to receive the harness and obey my every command.
I’m sure to others things like taking out the trash, checking the mail or going for a walk through one’s community on a beautiful fall afternoon seems quite trivial but I can assure you, if you ever found yourself unable to do it without assistance, you’d sing a different tune.
Blue and I never mind when people hale us as we go along our way but please keep in mind we’re happily working so when Chief Blue Seeing Eye® Dog has his harness on, hands off.
For now, I believe we’re due a walk in the sun.
May Harmony find You and Blessid Be.
Updated – October 2021
Patty Fletcher is a single mother with a beautiful daughter, of whom she is enormously proud. She has a great son-in-law and six beautiful grandchildren. From April 2011 through September 2020, she owned and handled a black Labrador from The Seeing Eye® named King Campbell Lee Fletcher A.K.A. Bubba. Sadly, after a long battle with illness on September 24, 2020, King Campbell went to the Rainbow Bridge where all is peace and love. In July 2021, she returned to The Seeing Eye® and was paired with a Black Labrador Golden Retriever cross named Blue.
PATTY’S BLINDNESS…
Patty was born one and a half months premature. Her blindness was caused by her being given too much oxygen in the incubator. She was partially sighted until 1991, at which time she lost her sight due to an infection after cataract surgery and high eye pressure. She used a cane for 31 years before making the change to a guide dog.
WHERE SHE LIVES AND WORKS…
Currently, Patty lives and works in Kingsport, Tenn.
She’s the creator and owner of Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing (Author, Blogger, Business Assist), The Writer’s Grapevine Online Magazine and the creator and host of the Talk to Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing Podcast.
WRITING GOAL…
Patty writes with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disabled from the non-disabled.
HOBBIES…
Patty’s hobbies include reading, music, and attending book clubs via Zoom.
FAVORITE TUNES…
Some of her favorite types of tunes are classic rock, rhythm and blues, and classic country.
FAVORITE READS…
Patty enjoys fantasy, science fiction, and books about the supernatural. She loves books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Norah Roberts, and many more. Some favorite books include Norah Roberts’ Hide Away, Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.
SPIRITUAL FAITH…
Patty describes herself as a spiritual Walker. She says she knows both Mother Goddess and Father God and embraces all they have to offer.
CONTACT…
Email: patty.volunteer1@gmail.com
AUTHOR PAGES AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS…
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/PattyFletcher
https://www.facebook.com/tellittotheworld/
https://www.facebook.com/Bubba-Tails-196761360863975/
Campbells Rambles
https://www.facebook.com/0404Campbell/
Campbells Corner
https://www.facebook.com/groups/787037261329458/
Patty & Pals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/128710790840540/
Bob Cat & Friends
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092566100770913/
TWITTER…
A most excellent interview
My Anthology Links
December Awethology Light https://www.books2read.com/u/3yPZvB
A Treasure Chest of Children’s Tales https://www.books2read.com/u/bzaAML
Legal Notes THE SEEING EYE® and SEEING EYE® are registered trademarks of The
Seeing Eye, Inc: www.SeeingEye.org
Christy McMakin
November 8, 2021It’s exciting to see you and Blue working and bonding together. As a sighted person, I can’t imagine how many little things I take for granted ! I so enjoy you sharing these stories with us to give us some insight on the ‘seeing eye’ world! Much love my sweet friend ! ❤️
Patty Fletcher
November 8, 2021Hi Christy and all. Yes, there are lots of little things he helps me with everyday. Today, it was a simple matter of taking out the trash and then he asked to go on up the hill. Before I knew what was happening, we were out visiting with neighbors and Blue was digging the day.
My only worry is that he gets a bit tired of doing the same things and needs a bit of challenge more than I am able to give.
I so need to work on this.
pujakins
November 8, 2021Love those blue shoes!
abbiejohnsontaylor
November 8, 2021The nice thing about having a dog, whether it’s a service animal or not, is that you’re forced to go outdoors, no matter the weather. Now that the days have turned colder in Wyoming, if I don’t need to go anywhere, it’s easier and less time consuming for me to walk on my treadmill instead of taking my exercise outside, enjoying the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.