The first stop was Lowes as I needed to get a mallet and a few other little things. Typically I have very few problems in Lowes, if I do it is normally from the pets that are walking with their owners. But today was a little different, in a very refreshing way. As we were walking up and down isles I heard the all too familiar voice of a toddler squealing about seeing Dougal. This always puts me on edge as I have learned so many times that squeal is followed by a crotch goblin running at an inhuman speed toward the dog and me. This always turns into me being the bad guy as I have to get between the well-behaved dog and the rabid child. Well, this time turned out to be so very different. We heard the squeal and saw the mother lunge toward the young one grabbing the kid to stop him/her. The mom kneeled by her kid and started to explain to him/her why they could not run over to the dog and went on to try to explain why that dog was special and that they should not distract it. The mother did all this explaining in the most motherly voice I think I have ever heard.
I was so moved by all of this I walked over to them and thanked the mother telling her that it was so nice hearing that conversation. I asked her if it would be OK for her kid to pet Dougal. The kid's eyes just lit up as mine teared up. We probably spent 5-10 minutes with that family helping the little one understand what Dougal does for me. Truly it was an awesome experience.
Our second stop was at the Walmart. Truly I don't know if I am addicted to that place or if there is actually something I always need to pick up there while I am in the area. Better safe than sorry? Well, the Walmart is always a toss-up on whether it is going to be a good trip or not so good trip. With so many people there, so many pets walking about, and now all the snowbirds we can never be sure. It turned out to be a good trip. I heard several people talking about us, many of them parents talking to their kids about service dogs. There were, of course, calls and whistles to get Dougal's attention but I have pretty much normalized those, and Dougal doesn't pay them any attention.
It was just so nice to hear that people are starting to understand.
