Brandy & Pebbles came into my life back
in 1989 as littermates off of Woo's
Scooter and Cinnamon Spice's line. Had
they not come into my life I wouldn't be
here today. They both have saved my life
many times over warning me of danger of
a stranger in my house, to attacking a
rattle snake, warding off a gila
monster, and awaking me from a sound
sleep from my apartment complex being on
fire. Over the course of time I owned
Pebbles and Brandywine, I had a serious
auto accident caused by a drunk driver.
My spinal cord was injured and
compressed flat at two and possibly
three levels in my neck spine, rendering
me an incomplete quadriplegic. My gait
was unsteady and arms were weak after
the accident. My gait continued to have
problems even after surgery due to
further compressions in my spine from
the accident that surgeons didn't fix or
were reluctant to fix. My Dalmatians
took over as my service dogs without any
formal training. Brandywine started to
guide me up in bed after major spinal
surgery on my neck and being in a rigid
brace and an infected hip bone graft
incision site, to assisting me to walk
short distances around the house with
bracing on them with no equipment at
that time, my auto insurance company
refused payment for a wheelchair power
or manual which I really needed, service
dogs, walkers, attendant care, house
modifications & medical care I needed to
name a few. But, I wasn't going to let
the insurance company get the better end
of me, while we continue to this day in
court battles over my issues of payment
for things my insurance company has an
obligation to pay for. I continued to
struggle every day to walk here or there
with the assistance of my two Dalmatians
one on one side and the other on the
other. Nicked name 'Right' and 'Left'
always glued to me to make sure I got
where I was walking safely. The times I
wasn't assisted by my trusty friends
Pebbles and Brandywine I injured my
ankle and required a cast during one
summer. Over time they would alert
others at home if I got sick in another
part of the house or help get items for
me I couldn't get. I realized once they
had passed over the bridge how much I
truly missed their assistance in my
everyday life. My first one to pass over
the bridge was Brandywine. Brandywine
would take care of me even when he was
blinded by diabetes helping me out of
bed daily. Pebbles would whimper which
way to go to guide me up. They truly
worked as a pair. Eventually, Brandywine
had surgery to restore his vision only
to have a twisted stomach for 13 hours
and two vets later getting to the bottom
of his acute pain he was in one evening.
He survived that while the whole time
caring for my needs. He never would take
a day off no matter how sick he must
have felt. Pebbles soon picked up after
her brother died while she battled
chronic renal failure. She lived almost
to the exact date a year later from her
brother's death date, before passing on
to the bridge. Both of these terrific
dogs had such an impact on my life and
gave me the idea to train a Dalmatian
for service work.
**************************************************************************
Pictured at the top of page:
My very first Dalmatian; a liver and
white patched girl. Her name was Lady
Oddessey of Pebbles Sundell--Pebbles 1.
1987-1999 She was the original Dalmatian
that turned me onto the breed and
especially the liver and white
Dalmatians.
********************************************************
Brandy & Pebbles came into my life back
in 1989 as littermates off of Woo's
Scooter and Cinnamon Spice's line. Had
they not come into my life I wouldn't be
here today. They both have saved my life
many times over warning me of danger of
a stranger in my house, to attacking a
rattle snake, warding off a gila
monster, and awaking me from a sound
sleep from my apartment complex being on
fire. Over the course of time I owned
Pebbles and Brandywine, I had a serious
auto accident caused by a drunk driver.
My spinal cord was injured and
compressed flat at two and possibly
three levels in my neck spine, rendering
me an incomplete quadriplegic. My gait
was unsteady and arms were weak after
the accident. My gait continued to have
problems even after surgery due to
further compressions in my spine from
the accident that surgeons didn't fix or
were reluctant to fix. My Dalmatians
took over as my service dogs without any
formal training. Brandywine started to
guide me up in bed after major spinal
surgery on my neck and being in a rigid
brace and an infected hip bone graft
incision site, to assisting me to walk
short distances around the house with
bracing on them with no equipment at
that time, my auto insurance company
refused payment for a wheelchair power
or manual which I really needed, service
dogs, walkers, attendant care, house
modifications & medical care I needed to
name a few. But, I wasn't going to let
the insurance company get the better end
of me, while we continue to this day in
court battles over my issues of payment
for things my insurance company has an
obligation to pay for. I continued to
struggle every day to walk here or there
with the assistance of my two Dalmatians
one on one side and the other on the
other. Nicked name 'Right' and 'Left'
always glued to me to make sure I got
where I was walking safely. The times I
wasn't assisted by my trusty friends
Pebbles and Brandywine I injured my
ankle and required a cast during one
summer. Over time they would alert
others at home if I got sick in another
part of the house or help get items for
me I couldn't get. I realized once they
had passed over the bridge how much I
truly missed their assistance in my
everyday life. My first one to pass over
the bridge was Brandywine. Brandywine
would take care of me even when he was
blinded by diabetes helping me out of
bed daily. Pebbles would whimper which
way to go to guide me up. They truly
worked as a pair. Eventually, Brandywine
had surgery to restore his vision only
to have a twisted stomach for 13 hours
and two vets later getting to the bottom
of his acute pain he was in one evening.
He survived that while the whole time
caring for my needs. He never would take
a day off no matter how sick he must
have felt. Pebbles soon picked up after
her brother died while she battled
chronic renal failure. She lived almost
to the exact date a year later from her
brother's death date, before passing on
to the bridge. Both of these terrific
dogs had such an impact on my life and
gave me the idea to train a Dalmatian
for service work.