A Hike for Guide Dogs!

Yesterday about twelve of us went in a hike especially for people with guide dogs. I had no idea we were supposed to have such a special day until we got to Tel Aviv and there were Petel, Tango, Yvonna, Hope, Ringo, (with a fancy haircut), Macy, Sean, Hugo, Elsa, Holly, and me! We made quite a procession as we walked through the forest, and even ran around the rocks and trees. Every person had a student guiding them, so there was lots of help for people to get along on the forest paths and over rocks and steps. We also spent a lot of time sleeping and socializing on the bus, and finally ended up in Jerusalem where we went through the crowded market. Bracha knew that I would do my job well and let the woman who was helping her see just how I could make my way through the crowded market with strollers, wheelschairs, and other obstacles. Then we all settled down at a restaurant where the owner welcomed all twelve dogs! I hope we have more hikes like this! Even though we got home late and by the time we walked in the door all I could think about was my bown of food and bed, I'd love to go again!
Here we all are at the top of the ridge in the forest.

The Surprise

Last night before I went to sleep Bracha promised me a surprise. I could hardly settle down. At 06:15 I got up and attempted to nudge Bracha, who promptly told me to go back to sleep. "IT's Saturday!" So I went into the living room and chewed my bone for a while, wondering what was in store. Finally at about 10:30 Bracha took me out into the yard, and a car pulled up. I could hardly believe it! Nurit and Nir! My foster parents! And their two dogs TInka and Kroovi whom I grew up with!!!
I was so excited I didn't know what to do first: run with the dogs or jump up on Nurit. I did the later, and was quietly calmed down by Bracha. But soon I was racing around the yard with Tinka and Kroovi, and Tinka did the usual thing she used to do: she attempted to jump on top of me. This is what I grew up with, and Bracha was about to find out a few things she never knew about my childhood.
Soon we set out for the river, and I showed Tinka and Kroovi the swimming hold and how to get nice and muddy on the way. Nir and Nurit laughed when I came out of the mud half brown, and then got all clean again in the river. What a great time we had!
Now, there are a few months that I barely remember when I was a puppy and Nurit told Bracha all about it. The first foster family I went to did not work out. They sort of shuttled me about from one house to another and didn't do their important job of raising a guide dog puppy properly. By the time I was a few months old and was moved to Nurit who would care for me, I still didn't know, er, how to do busy outside, and once I did it on the stairs and it all ran down like a little waterfall! But soon Tinka and Kroovi showed me what to do, and I soon learned "busy" was only outside. They also had another name for me at the beginning, but after that I became Suki. I got used to Tinka's climbing on top of me and roughhousing a bit, and to sweet little Kroovi as well, and there I remained until I went back to Beit Oved.
Bracha asked Nurit if it was hard for her to see me again, and she said no, that it made her happy to see that I was well looked after and help Bracha and have a good home. And they invited us to come to Kfar Saba and see horses! I hope we can go!