MUSCLESYou know, don't you, that I have muscular dystrophy - I've been super fortunate as I was never really expected to live a long and "normal" life. I've been strong enough to do almost every thing I've wanted with no complaints. Well, over the past two years, the disease seems to be progressing. Assuming you know the history and what is muscular dystrophy involves, I'm moving on to my news.
In October, while photographing a service dog, I had some trouble getting up. The labrador retriever moved next to me and, without thinking, I used him to get up - putting my hand on his back and pushing. As I bent to get a lens cap, he picked it up.
Nothing occurred to me until several hours later in the quiet of my car... Gee, that dog actually was working for me. Someday, I have a bad feeling that I'll need one of those.
My boss and another trainer immediately got excited and volunteered to help me find and train a service dog for myself.
Well, on January 10th, we went to see a dog which was big enough and, after testing him, he met all the critera for the service dog!! Plus, he absolutely adored me - literally would not take his eyes off of me.
I've named him Muscles for two reasons - first that he will be my muscles as my own peter out... and, second, when I was a kid and had to go to the hospital for a muscle biopsy, Mom gave me a stuffed dog named "Muscles." I still have Muscles #1... and now I have an incredibly devoted, beautiful Muscles #2!
Enjoy the photos -- and watch for more news on Muscles and his training!
Lesliehttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/Finding-Muscles-1-my-first/125644426_ovDpp-Ti.jpghttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2397853_DftkL/2007-01-26T10:52:43ZCopyright 2010, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugThis was the first time I laid eyes on Muscles and he laid eyes on me. Since then, he has rarely taken his eyes off of me.<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />This was the first time I laid eyes on Muscles and he laid eyes on me. Since then, he has rarely taken his eyes off of me.</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644426_ovDpp" title="This was the first time I laid eyes on Muscles and he laid eyes on me. Since then, he has rarely taken his eyes off of me."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/Finding-Muscles-1-my-first/125644426_ovDpp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="This was the first time I laid eyes on Muscles and he laid eyes on me. Since then, he has rarely taken his eyes off of me." title="This was the first time I laid eyes on Muscles and he laid eyes on me. Since then, he has rarely taken his eyes off of me." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-14T15:34:55ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/Finding-Muscles-1-my-first/125644426_ovDpp-Th.jpg2007-01-10 12:55:18The first night at home.<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />The first night at home.</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644001_s9e2F" title="The first night at home."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0082/125644001_s9e2F-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="The first night at home." title="The first night at home." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-13T02:40:50ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0082/125644001_s9e2F-Th.jpg2007-01-21 11:40:51Muscles is the POLAR OPPOSITE of "Marley" - if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really, really, REALLY need to read the book "MY DOG MARLEY" --
Muscles is THE most laid back, cal ...<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Muscles is the POLAR OPPOSITE of "Marley" - if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really, really, REALLY need to read the book "MY DOG MARLEY" --
Muscles is THE most laid back, cal ...</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644123_eptXY" title="Muscles is the POLAR OPPOSITE of "Marley" - if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really, really, REALLY need to read the book "MY DOG MARLEY" --
Muscles is THE most laid back, cal ..."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/Muscles-night-one/125644123_eptXY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Muscles is the POLAR OPPOSITE of "Marley" - if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really, really, REALLY need to read the book "MY DOG MARLEY" --
Muscles is THE most laid back, cal ..." title="Muscles is the POLAR OPPOSITE of "Marley" - if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really, really, REALLY need to read the book "MY DOG MARLEY" --
Muscles is THE most laid back, cal ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T16:40:34ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/Muscles-night-one/125644123_eptXY-Th.jpg2007-01-13 20:17:02... this is my life now. I always have these eyes fixed upon me waiting for, gosh, who knows what!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />... this is my life now. I always have these eyes fixed upon me waiting for, gosh, who knows what!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644270_79gFH" title="... this is my life now. I always have these eyes fixed upon me waiting for, gosh, who knows what!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0045/125644270_79gFH-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="... this is my life now. I always have these eyes fixed upon me waiting for, gosh, who knows what!" title="... this is my life now. I always have these eyes fixed upon me waiting for, gosh, who knows what!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T16:42:51ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0045/125644270_79gFH-Th.jpg2007-01-13 22:37:40Icy, icy day in Texas meant play, play, play for dogs!!!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Icy, icy day in Texas meant play, play, play for dogs!!!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644957_H6sQ6" title="Icy, icy day in Texas meant play, play, play for dogs!!!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0016/125644957_H6sQ6-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Icy, icy day in Texas meant play, play, play for dogs!!!" title="Icy, icy day in Texas meant play, play, play for dogs!!!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-14T15:36:14ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0016/125644957_H6sQ6-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:20:51Guess who got ice up his nose?<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Guess who got ice up his nose?</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645061_yqzMX" title="Guess who got ice up his nose?"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0017/125645061_yqzMX-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Guess who got ice up his nose?" title="Guess who got ice up his nose?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-14T15:35:30ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0017/125645061_yqzMX-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:20:54Shakin' it off!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Shakin' it off!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645189_dXwet" title="Shakin' it off!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0018/125645189_dXwet-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Shakin' it off!" title="Shakin' it off!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-14T15:34:53ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0018/125645189_dXwet-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:20:54Daisy and Muscles - as "snow dogs".<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Daisy and Muscles - as "snow dogs".</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645302_duQ9G" title="Daisy and Muscles - as "snow dogs"."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0020/125645302_duQ9G-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Daisy and Muscles - as "snow dogs"." title="Daisy and Muscles - as "snow dogs"." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T16:07:25ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0020/125645302_duQ9G-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:21:04Since his arrival, and after the first bit of pouting and testing, Daisy has been after Muscles to play. She runs up and pokes him in the face with her nose... she barks... she gets into ev ...<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />Since his arrival, and after the first bit of pouting and testing, Daisy has been after Muscles to play. She runs up and pokes him in the face with her nose... she barks... she gets into ev ...</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645377_at9TM" title="Since his arrival, and after the first bit of pouting and testing, Daisy has been after Muscles to play. She runs up and pokes him in the face with her nose... she barks... she gets into ev ..."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0021/125645377_at9TM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Since his arrival, and after the first bit of pouting and testing, Daisy has been after Muscles to play. She runs up and pokes him in the face with her nose... she barks... she gets into ev ..." title="Since his arrival, and after the first bit of pouting and testing, Daisy has been after Muscles to play. She runs up and pokes him in the face with her nose... she barks... she gets into ev ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-12T12:16:56ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0021/125645377_at9TM-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:21:09CapturePhotography's photo<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a> </p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645483_3tbrj" title="CapturePhotography's photo"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0023/125645483_3tbrj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="CapturePhotography's photo" title="CapturePhotography's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-12T12:32:22ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0023/125645483_3tbrj-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:21:16... and Daisy learned what she lacked in size and brawn...<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />... and Daisy learned what she lacked in size and brawn...</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645606_cntfb" title="... and Daisy learned what she lacked in size and brawn..."><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0025/125645606_cntfb-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="... and Daisy learned what she lacked in size and brawn..." title="... and Daisy learned what she lacked in size and brawn..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-13T02:35:20ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0025/125645606_cntfb-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:21:21... she made up for with speed, agility and manueverability!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />... she made up for with speed, agility and manueverability!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645701_sweA5" title="... she made up for with speed, agility and manueverability!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0026/125645701_sweA5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="... she made up for with speed, agility and manueverability!" title="... she made up for with speed, agility and manueverability!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T17:58:46ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0026/125645701_sweA5-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:21:21FUN!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />FUN!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644811_j9N2w" title="FUN!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0013/125644811_j9N2w-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="FUN!" title="FUN!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T16:37:09ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0013/125644811_j9N2w-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:20:49There is nothin' wallowing in the snow!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />There is nothin' wallowing in the snow!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645890_6fJcd" title="There is nothin' wallowing in the snow!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0032/125645890_6fJcd-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="There is nothin' wallowing in the snow!" title="There is nothin' wallowing in the snow!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-13T02:35:34ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0032/125645890_6fJcd-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:22:19New buddies!<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a><br />New buddies!</p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125645977_GGmct" title="New buddies!"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0034/125645977_GGmct-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="New buddies!" title="New buddies!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-13T01:46:33ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0034/125645977_GGmct-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:23:15CapturePhotography's photo<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a> </p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125646195_hYEwu" title="CapturePhotography's photo"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0036/125646195_hYEwu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="CapturePhotography's photo" title="CapturePhotography's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-13T02:02:13ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0036/125646195_hYEwu-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:24:53CapturePhotography's photo<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a> </p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125646066_gm7md" title="CapturePhotography's photo"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0035/125646066_gm7md-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="CapturePhotography's photo" title="CapturePhotography's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T17:25:25ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0035/125646066_gm7md-Th.jpg2007-01-16 14:24:12CapturePhotography's photo<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a> </p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644555_66rpy" title="CapturePhotography's photo"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0002/125644555_66rpy-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="CapturePhotography's photo" title="CapturePhotography's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-07T16:48:47ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0002/125644555_66rpy-Th.jpg2007-01-15 21:40:10CapturePhotography's photo<p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com">CapturePhotography</a> </p><p><a href="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/2397853_DftkL#125644673_TrCYc" title="CapturePhotography's photo"><img src="http://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0003/125644673_TrCYc-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="CapturePhotography's photo" title="CapturePhotography's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-12T12:16:01ZCapturePhotographyhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.comhttp://capturephotography.smugmug.com/Dogs-are-not-our-whole-life/MUSCLES/DSC0003/125644673_TrCYc-Th.jpg2007-01-15 21:40:22