TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

I have owned many dogs in my life; some of them grew very old and although they had been able to do such work as; help me round up our cows early each morning, or one dog named Laddie would sit at the feet of our one policeman directly traffic at lunch time in Moravia New York, generally speaking old dogs have difficulty learning new tricks, or the ability to help others.

Most of us have seen or heard about those dogs which are trained to lead around people who are blind, and then there are dogs that are trained to guard large homes and if someone tries to enter that home who doesn't belong there, they will attack that person.  Other dogs are used to search our dead bodies which are buried beneath any number of objects...and there are dogs that are trained to help hunters locate fowls or other wild animals so the hunter doesn't have to push his/her way through dense stands of weeds or marsh land.  Then also their are dogs which police use to help control crowds and some dogs have been know to track criminals down when other means fail.

But this article is about people like me.  I'm getting up in years and I would like to think that even as an older person, that I can learn to learn some new tricks, but that I mean that I want to try to do things that many older people will not try to do.

I have recently been accepted as a volunteer to the Carson Fire and Rescue Squad.  To help me become stronger in my body I have also joined a fitness club where I go in and run on tread mills and then go to several machines which are used to strengthen all the muscels in my body. When I'm finished there I sometimes go to a golf course and play either nine or eighteen holes of golf.

I have just completed a four hour training course and am now a certified CRP person and know how to follow the right steps to start a person's heart and clear their airway.

These are some of the new tricks I am learning as I want to continue to be a help to those around me.

As a volunteer for the Carson Fire and Rescue Squad I will be required to report to any accident or fire and assist in any way I can...it will be an all day and night affair and I will have a special phone so I can be reached.

I often hear sirens as different vehicles speed off to help someone in need.  As a Christian the first thing I do is to pray.  I have no idea what is happening, but that does not stop me from praying...usually praying silently, know that God hears us even though we don't utter a sound.

I know I have pushed myself into these new adventures, and I don't know how wise I've been; but one thing I do know, is that I'm trying...and someday I'll be thankful that at least I tried to teach this dog some new tricks.