FaithfulElite

14 hours 19 minutes ago

WINTER EVENINGS
Do not ask me why Faye decided to bring the window wiper out of the ‘belongs to a car box’
I don’t know either 🤷‍♀️

#assistancedog #hulphond #Evi #Faye #eds #ptss #chronicpain #shepherds #duitseherder #herder #shepherd #doglovers #dogs_of_instagram #gsdstagram #gsd #gsdlife #gsdlovee #instagsd #fluffy #fluffyearsarethebest #fluffydog

FaithfulElite

1 week 1 day ago

WINTER SUNSHINE

FaithfulElite

1 week 3 days ago

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
I’ve had a long few months waiting for my case to be heard by het ‘college voor rechten van de mens’ and lets start with the anti-climax: eventually I withdrew my complaint - voluntary to be sure.

I had a lot of issues with the @msccruisesofficial customer service (Dutch edition) trying to verify what was needed for me to cruise with them, that eventually turned into an email thread spanning over several months of me becoming so frustrated I said to hell with it: go and explain yourself to a higher up because this is unacceptable (sentences like “if you had a real service dog you know which documents we need” & “only guide dogs for the blind are welcome on board and no dogs in any other case”). Yep, and then there’s me going: fine, I’ll fight this. For me and all future assistance dog teams.

But what happend? Well before the hearing started it was made clear by one of the ‘jurors’ the option for a conversation was on the table from the side of MSC if I was also up for it. And hey why not: it’s not like 3 people scare me, and let’s be honest, if it wasn’t to my liking I could continue the hearing.

Long story short: they said ánd did the right things. Including revamping the texts on the website and making sure everything (including customer service) is up to date. They honestly made an effort to fix things (yes albeit a bit late, but customer service had their hands in that last year) and admitted some crucial things went wrong on their end which fuelled my frustration.

And in the end that was my wish; make things accessible, acceptable and doable for service dog teams that want to travel the world.

So, I formally withdrew my complaint and gave compliments that they did own up and not only that, they made changes. So there is the end of the saga, most companies always have to thread a thin line between doable for them and legal, and MSC is doing that fine in my eyes.

I hope to try them with Evi for a cruise in the near future.

FaithfulElite

1 week 3 days ago

TRAIN - NO TRAIN - TRAIN
So booked the train ride back home (need assistance on intercity’s to get in and out of the train). And lo and behold: the elevator was broken! And Utrecht, the massive transport hub it is, of course only has one freaking elevator per platform 🤔

So customer service called and tried rerouting via Utrecht overstegen, hmm no, elevator broken there as well… so I suggested Deventer in stead of Den Bosch (because Utrecht <-> Arnhem is down for maintenance). Hmm no you guessed it: elevator broken!

So three routes, three stations, three broken elevators and one route on maintenance … rerouting me through the west was a simple no go. So; taxi to Den Bosch - well sir thats nice and all but Den Bosch is 53km and Arnhem 55, if we’re going to this can you just reroute me to Arnhem and save me the hassle of Bossche Bol City?

Luckily the customer service employee of NS was willing to help me in that regard and now we’re finally on our way to Arnhem, a few hours late but luckily we had our appointment.

I’m hurting like hell but it was worth it, I’ll tell you about that later 😎 Evi is sleeping it off, NH Hotels Utrecht was nice enough to let me go to the toilet and let Evi warm up inside. One short train ride when we’re in Arnhem and after that back home sleeping it off…

#assistancedog #hulphond #Evi #Faye #eds #ptss #chronicpain #shepherds #duitseherder #herder #shepherd #doglovers #dogs_of_instagram #gsdstagram #gsd #gsdlife #gsdlovee #instagsd #fluffy #fluffyearsarethebest #fluffydog

FaithfulElite

1 week 3 days ago

TRAIN, AGAIN….
Today is the ‘court hearing’ of my case against MSC. And Evi is putting her best paw forward. Sadly the direct line from Arnhem to Utrecht is down zo we have a long journey ahead, which does suck balls. Trains are a lot of work…

But if this hearing means MSC will be ‘forced’ to change their ways for future visitors with service dogs that contact them I’m happy.
A slap on the hand saying what they did wasn’t right would even be better. Fingers crossed.

#assistancedog #hulphond #Evi #Faye #eds #ptss #chronicpain #shepherds #duitseherder #herder #shepherd #doglovers #dogs_of_instagram #gsdstagram #gsd #gsdlife #gsdlovee #instagsd #fluffy #fluffyearsarethebest #fluffydog

FaithfulElite

1 week 6 days ago

GIMME DAT SASS

#assistancedog #hulphond #Evi #Faye #eds #ptss #chronicpain #shepherds #duitseherder #herder #shepherd #doglovers #dogs_of_instagram #gsdstagram #gsd #gsdlife #gsdlovee #instagsd #fluffy #fluffyearsarethebest #fluffydog

FaithfulElite

2 weeks 3 days ago

BUTT TO NOSE
Yin to yang

FaithfulElite

3 weeks 5 days ago

NIGHTYNIGHT!

FaithfulElite

3 weeks 5 days ago

ALL IS WELL
When Evi is well. And yes I feel pain, have incisions, just had surgery and feel groggy from the anaesthesia - yes I’m in a hospital and things are different. But when Evi says it’s okay? It’s okay…

My EDS brings me (many) side effects and exception after exception. But I know I can deal with them when this little light is near. She’s not a big bright light - like you could compare Faye with a flood light 😂 but she’s the steady little flicker of a candle thats always there. Warm and gentle, soft and in the background but definitely unmistakeable.

She’s there to help and she does. The moment I was wheeled back to my room she did a full sniff around, like a bomb dog checking for issues and after a thorough inspection said to my mom (who was stand-in handler for me) she’s okay. Flopped down on the floor and wen to sleep.

When I finally fully woke up a few hours later things changed though. I had to get up, pee, sit in my chair for a bit, nurses walking in and out…and the floor no longer feit safe. The hospital bed is up high with big plastic barriers that make her first steps signalling (which are soft prods, pokes and noses) too hard. So in full on Evi style she told me, and I was prepared - even brought along her @sheddefender - luckily the staff was a-okay with just her fleecie on the bed. She keeps to it only to get off when telling me something is shifting or wrong to immediately return to it when I get the message and am safe. Hygienic dog 101 😂

She is in no way phased with what is going on and I could go to sleep with the door open now, sleep away the day and nothing would happen. There’s a reason training assistance dogs takes 2 years or more 🫣

We agreed on her not wearing her vest in the room, it’s bulky and we can’t imagine it’s nice to have to wear it for 24/7 (tomorrow is the soonest I can go home). She’ll wear it when someone is taking her potty though.

The staff here at Rijnstate has made this journey possible for me, because without Evi it would have been a no. I’m seriously grateful ❤️

FaithfulElite

3 weeks 6 days ago

UNTERWEGS!
And when the suitcase is on my lap, Evi can join in right? Time for a quick ‘sleepover’ in one of the hospitals guest rooms - saves a lot of hassle when I have to report at 07:00 for my surgery. Here’s hoping all goes well - whatever happens Evi’s there with me ❤️

Ps; yes my loved ones are there as well of course, but seeing as my wheelchair van has reached the end of an era and all the other options are a lot of f*cking hassle trying to get in the hospital in time this was the easiest option. Here’s hoping I’ll be back home this time Wednesday 😎

FaithfulElite

4 weeks 1 day ago

PARTY TIME - WEAR THE BLING
Because there’s no reason to not do it 😇

FaithfulElite

4 weeks 1 day ago

PAPER FUN IS BEST!
And I never have to be scared my paper bin is too full because everything is torn into little pieces. And Faye is mentally and physically tired and challenged with something she likes.
Win - win

FaithfulElite

1 month 1 day ago

WHEN YOU WAKE UP EARLY
You just sleep it off in the taxi right?
Alarm clock went off at 5:45 this morning, which is a bit early even for Evi & Faye 🫣
We’re having a ‘media training’ in Amsterdam today to prepare for interviews and local and national media outlets that might want to help spread this years message from Kruidvat & armoedefonds in their campaign about ‘verzorgingsarmoede’ (hygiëne/personal product poverty).
All new and exiting, but for now Evi is still sleeping off the early morning

FaithfulElite

1 month 4 days ago

EVI: BWLAAARSRAWRRRRLARGH
Faye: WTF?

#assistancedog #hulphond #Evi #Faye #eds #ptss #chronicpain #shepherds #duitseherder #herder #shepherd #doglovers #dogs_of_instagram #gsdstagram #gsd #gsdlife #gsdlovee #instagsd #fluffy #fluffyearsarethebest #fluffydog

FaithfulElite

1 month 6 days ago

BRAINCELLS: NONE AVAILABLE

FaithfulElite

1 month 1 week ago

THOUGHT I’D MAKE NICE PICTURE
But that won’t happen when Evi woke up on the wrong side of the bed…
So the artwork is here, Evi is here - the combination of the two is less here 😂

Still looking for the right frame though, that might give a better picture with an unwilling Evi 😬

FaithfulElite

1 month 1 week ago

SNEAK PREVIEW
Yep this isn’t the original, but I’ll be receiving that as well (and hopefully the credentials of some people, photographer is ok with me posting - I asked but credit due etc.).
Last Tuesday we had a photoshoot for a campaign that is yet to launch. However this photo of me and Evi is awesome 🤭

Small detail: all was going well, we were in the flow, shooting, makeup, hairstyling etc etc when Evi suddenly broke command and walked onto the ‘set’ (she was sleeping outside camera reach before that). I told everyone what Evi’s main jobs are before hand because of curiosity and that cardiac alert is one of the lesser frequent but most major job.

And there she was ignoring all and everyone and telling me m’am - you’ve got issues… she gave notice just in time and when I checked I felt what she meant was coming on. No fainting or feeling sick when Evi is on hand. But when that happend the place she’s sitting in on the picture is the spot she chose, my hand the place it rested when the ‘attack’ was over. And when I finally relaxed and Evi joined me where she’s ’supposed’ to be my expression on my face changed, someone made a funny noise and there it was… me & Evi.

And I love it A LOT - so even though it’s a photo of a photo: I’m sharing it anyhows 🫣

More details will come on the 17th of October when the actual campaign will be released.

FaithfulElite

1 month 2 weeks ago

YUMMY YUMMY GET IN MY TUMMY
Those three weeks at my brothers helped a lot in finding out what does ánd doesn’t give her stomach/gut problems. So Evi will be finishing the apples while Faye murders a lettuce 😂
Poes pretends to be interested just to join the club and I’m eating breakfast outside.

FaithfulElite

1 month 2 weeks ago

LOOK WHO’S BACK
Back again ❤️

Loaded into the taxi and on our way home. About 1,5 hours to go and all three girls are united again (third being Poes offcourse 🤫)

FaithfulElite

1 month 2 weeks ago

ANOTHER DAY
Another train, another terror 😂 she’s lashing out at other dogs, being a bit annoying but otherwise she’s doing fine luckily 🫣

First an appointment to see my new silversplints, then a coffee wit a bestie I haven’t seen for way way waaaay to long and then the main attraction: bringing home Faye.

But she’ll definitely go back to do more sleepovers. Because if we’re honest; our/my household just gives her way to many triggers. People coming over daily for many different reasons, parents, SO, Evi running around, noisy stuff and I lead a busy life. At my brothers it’s just her & him and maybe 2 visitors a week (in stead of at least 3 a day) and a strict schedule.

But she had a full month to decompress, which we all hope gives her the space mentally to relax a bit more at home. Because of course I can’t miss her yet ❤️

FaithfulElite

1 month 2 weeks ago

WORTKIME OVER
Even little bombs of energy like Evi eventually tire out. And we’re on our way back home from a photoshoot (which I’ll share later). And she fully fizzled out when we ‘landed’ in the intercity from Amsterdam to Arnhem. We left this morning at 09:00 so that was kind of expected. And she turns into a little bundle of tired mush when she hits that point. A little bundle that needs a safe haven herself. So up go the leg rests, down go the planks (yay for dad who made them), scarf in between and that way she can lie down sort of on my lap and feel the safety she needs while I myself feel safe because she can’t be any closer. We’re close to Arnhem by now so I’m slowly waking her up. One more train (which she knows by heart by know), 5 more minutes of walkies and we’ll be home. Where I’ll be staring at a photo of me and her that was made today that is ultra f*cking awesome. And Evi will be receiving a lot of fresh water, cuddles & a big treat.

One more night of peace and quiet before the harbinger of mayhem returns and the trifecta of bitches (Poes, Evi & Faye) is completed once again 😇 - or maybe a quartet, I do fit the description myself 😂

FaithfulElite

1 month 2 weeks ago

HOOMANS FAVOURITE HOBBY
Travelling by train…
I detest it, hate it and it’s a living nightmare to be honest. But luckily there’s Evi, who loves to stare out the window, eyes halfway closed in some sort of induced trance.

Assistance dogs can help in many, many ways. But going full zen to counter my full stress is best in this case. If she’d started stressing too I’d easily panic. And she doesn’t care about trains, moving, bridges, people, stress etc etc and therefore is a continuous trigger, reminder and anchor to try and relax as well.

And as long as she’s acting like she’s in a spa, I know I’m fine and there’s nothing to worry about. Because if there are triggers (stress, heart issues, breathing, pain, to many people brushing up against me) I know she will step in to help me. She’s my gauge, and way better at it than any machine or human trying to do the same.

FaithfulElite

1 month 3 weeks ago

WHEN YOU’RE TIRED
But refuse to give up 😂