My Guide Dog Retirement Plan + My Next Dog… *very emotional*
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I'm Molly, a typical sushi, makeup, and fashion loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind! I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just 4 years old and began public speaking at age 5. I started just doing motivational speaking, but now I make videos and even model! Even though I can’t see, I know that there are bright spots in everything we face. Let’s find them together. 💕
I have a rescue beagle. He is the dog of my life, we're together 24/7 - and he's getting older. I totally get watching the depression he goes through, not understanding what a pandemic is or why he's being punished by /not being allowed near people (my neighbors are idiots and don't wear masks). Because of my neighbors it excludes walks as well and as I'm disabled I can't really change our route. I don't need my dog to navigate my world as a guide. I have every intention of seeing him through to the end. After watching your video I feel so blessed that I don't have to make the decision that you do. I'm so sorry the two of you have to go through that. This video is my first introduction to the life of guide dogs; I don't know what happens to them after retirement but I know how this world tends to work. I can't allow myself to think of what happens to Gallop afterwards. My heart goes out to you both. Truly, there are no words. *edit: Oh holy hell he's going to your parents?? I'm so relieved. This is much better news than I'm used to getting considering the welfare dogs normally get in this world. And I'm glad he'll be in loving hands, and you'll still be able to see him. This is why I should wait til the end of the video to post!!
Would you not be able to keep him in your apartment please try to keep him in your apartment
Awww ur making me cry 😭😭😭😭😭
Don’t worry molly he will learn again ,he probably just think that he doesn’t think you need him for a while so when this all gets back to normal he should learn again .he might be stealing because his mind is normally occuapied and now it’s not so I think you will be able to retrain him BUT even if he does retire you will keep him won’t you.
Ah my birthday is on the 23rd of may 😭
This breaks my heart
I never realized how hard it is o get a new guide dog and reitre them and such, how much work it is. It makes sense, but it didn´t cross my mind tho. I think Gallop feels the change as well & that you made the decision to get a new uide dog and he got depressed and now is kinda on rebell mode as stealing food. he´s bored (ß2) and sad, that´s SO HEARTBREAKING! For BOTH of you, i cried watching this T___T & it sucks that no one can train this important dogs now and get them to ppl in need, as you. What a crazy world we live in. Much love to you and Gallop
i thought he died omg .
I’m crying with you😭. We are all here for you girl
Wow, I never would have imagined a guide dog would be affected by this. Bye gallop, we'll miss you
I don't understand. Are all the malls etc closed in North America? In Northern Europe everything is working pretty much normally. Shopping, cafes, librarys, movie theatres etc. I see guide dogs everywhere. So what is different with the USA?
We love u both
I am so sorry ur dog is amazing. I recently just got my first guide dog and I am so worried about keeping her training. It’s really hard and scary. I just hope I can do my best.
I was hoping you would mention how the pandemic affects our dogs, my lead dog has a very sharp mind but he is falling behind, we didn’t go out a whole lot without the pandemic but we had a routine when going out, so that was enough to keep him stable and sharp while working, but he is slipping back, and not gonna lie I am scared, we do train at home.. but it’s not the same as genuinely going out and working because he knows the difference from training at home and actually working. I really thank you for touching on that with the platform you have, I wish you and Gallop the best of vibes, we love you ❤️
bruhhhhhhhhh just noooooooooo
Summer of 2022?? 😭 I hope you can get a dog sooner than that
A dog really takes over our hearts so easily.
I think you did what was best for him. You know him & have him a beautiful life in exchange for a some help from him. This feels like "happy tears " to me. But it takes me a lot to feel them lol you did the best you could & him going with your parents is awesome. I know its hard. He's an awesome dog. I'm sorry you're going thru this. I hope it gets better molly. 💙
This was really informative, I didn’t realise how much of an effect the pandemic would have on a working dog, as well as how it’s affecting training new guide dogs :( I’m so sorry you have to retire him, as well as waiting longer on another dog, but I’m so glad that he will get to retire with your parents! Even though he won’t be working it’s so nice that you’ll be able to have contact with him and know that he can eat all the cheese he wants in his senior years :) ❤️
I'm so emotional! Good luck to him. Hope he has a lot of fun being a pet and following a career of a cute crime doggo.
Molly, I'm sending accepting, loving vibes your way. It will be a difficult transition for you & Gallop both when you totally retire him. I think slowly retiring him will make the transition easier for him in the long run. I think you were the best handler a dog could hope for, if a dog could hope. Take care of yourself and thank you for sharing... Hugs, Rebecca
I'm so sorry Molly! I never thought about this so thank you for sharing
I never would have thought about the guide dog industry being affected if I didn’t see this video. Wow. 2022 is crazy
I'm so sorry about Gallop I hope things get better for you. Sending hugs and love to you ❤
Bawling my face off now 😭
All support to you, at least hes going to your parents and you can still be around him and enjoy him even as just a dog. Supporters are here
Goodbye gallop
Goodbye gallop
We are here for you gallop lived an amazing life with you we ate all here for you and we will get through this together ❤️
Are other countries able to train guide dogs throughout the pandemic?, if so, maybe you could look if you could get a guide dog from them earlyer
Really pandemics are so dang mean 😭
This is really smart. I have been trying to look for DEhave video like yours that really educates everything in this vid! 🧑⚕️ The part at 1:23 is my favorite. Your lesson really is like the vids from Dr Ethan. Dr's tips are helpful and he really helped me a lot on my exams! He is an awesome med student in the UK. I suggest you check out his DEhave out and give Dr Ethan a subscribe! ➡️ #DrEthanEducational
I think gallop made the decision that he was finished with work and ready to be a normal dog. It wasn’t your choice
I noticed a change in my dog too. She’s not a guide dog but we used to get out a lot more than we do now, it seems her age is really catching up on her all of a sudden and she’s always sleepy
I'm so sad for Gallop, but hearing about how this pandemic is affecting you and your mobility and freedom... My heart aches for you.. You're such a strong person❤ thank you for sharing, this is something I never even considered about the pandemic. Best wishes❤
I can’t stop crying at the idea of having to rehome a dog, especially a guide dog who is such an important part of your life. I am glad that he is going to be with your parents, so it isn’t going to be frightening for him. God so heartbreaking. I’m sorry molly girl.💙
I’m officially crying 😭 I love Gallop
Can you provide a link to donate to the Mira Foundation? I found a website but it says they're based in the US and I thought yours was in Quebec.
He will love being a happy pet dog with your parents ♥️♥️♥️
This might be a stupid question, but it’s there any possible way to get a guide dog from a school in a different state or country??? I hope so!
My heart is broken for you, this was such an incredible tribute. I am in tears with you
Guide dog training should be considered essential. Wtf.
this made me cry so much I love gallop he is so cute and showed that he loves his job. its so sad how this stupid pandemic has affected all our lives and its so sad. I feel so bad for gallop and Molly that lost this issue. it sucks who the pandemic had to put that onto gallop and Molly.
August 8th 2020 was my 18th birthday ❤️❤️
So sad, this pandemic is a nightmare. I never realised that this could affect a working dog. I’m glad your mum is taking him as a pet and I do hope you get another working dog soon. It must be so hard to lose the independence you have with her. X
This is so sad, I’m so sorry, Molly. 💜
Thank you for shedding light on a topic that so many of us may never thought of, you will get through this stay strong molly
You’re a strong beautiful woman!✨🌸🌼🌻🌷
Knowing sweet Gallop will be retiring makes me even more happy I got this sweatshirt when they came out. They're truly amazing quality, comfy & adorable. I actually had it with me when I was hospitalized for two weeks with covid. I'm someone who must have soft blankets to sleep and I didn't have mine with me & we of course couldn't have things brought to us. I didn't have my phone or internet and "my" Gallop was my companion keeping me warm & comforted me at a very scary time in my life. Thank you for sharing your sweet boy with us. My heart goes out to you both for all the changes you're going through. ❤
I've had to retire my psychiatric service dog because of the pandemic. I've been going out especially less because of anxiety reasons surrounding the pandemic and while she will still act the part with her vest on, I can tell she's less focused. It's hard, and I understand. A service animal becomes like an arm or a leg. Good luck with your next dog!
I'm not crying ur crying
OmG gallop 😭 poor baby - I feel for you
WE LOVE YOU GALLOP! We all wish you both the best, and I know it’s hard but try to keep positive, he can now live the rest of his life happy and loved just in a different way to before.
I am so sorry Molly. I completely understand that many feel that lockdowns have been necessary but we have absolutely no idea the kind of damage we are doing to people. I hope that when this all passes, it's worth it. The amount if industries closing and that may remain closed/limited. fewer jobs. 2020 and likely most of this year are terrible.
I can't imagine what you are going through, i feel like it is almost the same as when you went blind in the first place. I'm so sorry.
When Ur crying harder then molly
Aww molly my heart is breaking for you. I can feel your sadness in this video. Sending lots of love your way! And lots of hugs for gallop !
I just don’t understand why this is not considered an essential service! They should be allowed to continue to train and match as long as they can follow the guidelines :( so sad
I can relate :( I had to wash my assistance dog in training because the pandemic affected us badly. You will get through this and i'm sure Gallop will love his new life
I never knew how troubling all this was, praying for you.
Awwww Molly❤️
How can we donate to Mira?
You’ve got me in tears Molly. I never would’ve thought of stuff like this!
Could he at least live with you as a pet until you get a new guide dog?
Wow, I would have thought that guide dog trainers and guide dog schools would be considered essential businesses. That is scary.
I’m so sorry Molly. We don’t know each other but I am so sorry for what you’re going through. Gallup has been such a great friend to you and his retirement is well deserved, but that doesn’t make it any less painful.
Oh my goodness! I thought he passed away! My 9 year old son and I lost our black lab, Biscuit, this past November after almost 11 years and I’m still recovering, though my son and I are still DEVASTATED, but he and Gallop were TWINS!
WHEN YOU SAID HE WILL LIVE WITH YOUR MOM AND DAD🥰🥰
The sound starts skipping Audio wise and then isn’t matched up with the video at around 10:00
I’m so sorry Molly 💔
Knew I would cry so I had to wait nearly a month to brace myself. (hugs)
At the same Time I'm happy galloup got to be just a dog and retire, maybe not right now but glass half full.
I just don’t like how you speak of him, as if he died.
I am so sorry, Molly. I can't even imagine the pain and fear this brings you.
Your so brave! Molly ! A True inspired for me ! Your are So amazing! And gallop is a hero!! And will always be a Hero !! No matter what!! He is the Best dog ! He is such a Good Dog!! All the Love from Denmark 🇩🇰!! Your are Such a Inspirational person!!! ❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘👸🏼🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I’m going through the application process for an assistance dog as my health is worse now and I’m so lucky that the charity I am working with have approved all the steps so far and that means it is more likely I will get a dog I am never looking forward to this but. I’m so sorry 😔. Doctor Zeus said don’t cry because it’s over smile because it happened and it sometimes makes me feel better.
Sending you and Gallop all the best wishes
There is nothing more intense than the love for an animal. 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Love and good vibes to Gallop and Molly!
I hate to say this, but I didn’t even realize this was happening in the blind community. Thank you for sharing. This is definitely a learning moment for me.... also, I couldn’t imagine growing a bond with a dog that you all depended on each other, and then having to just kind of go where the blows you due to this pandemic....Stay strong beautiful!
Don't worry, many of us blind people didn't know this either because most of us don't use any mobility aid so it's not something even I thought about 😩
Gallop will be in a loving home that you can trust and know he will be treated well. My thoughts are with you. I hope you can get another dog soon.
Why not go through a different guide dog training program? Surely there are others?
This is so heartbreaking molly. I’m so sorry, this pandemic is affecting people in so many ways we don’t even understand. This is something as a sighted person I didn’t even think of and my heart hurts for you and this awful situation.
This breaks my heart... I could never have understood this, and I think it's so brave of you to share this with us ❤️ I'm sending you a big hug Molly!!
Even with the pandemic you should have worked your dog by butting a mask on and going all places he is turning into a Dog because of you so there is No excuse you are the one to blame again but you so now you are going to get another on what has Changed we are now in the second faze of it and this may never end. So what are you going to do with the new dog and how long will you keep it before you have another excuse
I’m so sorry that you have to go through this and I hope you’re both feeling better emotionally! I really hope that Gallop will be happy again and that you guys get through this! I love how honest you are about what is happening in your life and again I’m really sorry you have to go through this and I hope Gallop will be happy! I’m praying for you and I hope he will be okay not being able to guide you anymore! With strength you can persevere and overcome the hardest obstacles. I love you, Molly!
i am not crying your crying
Praying for you Molly hope 2021 is better
how is providing freedom for the blind not considered an essential service, and allowed to stay open to their clientele? everyone wear a mask, get tested before arriving, keep people in a bubble on the premises...the dogs still have to be cared for, so people still have to be on site, and the dogs aren't getting any younger, isn't this limiting the working lives of the dogs there & ready to be trained & matched, when they were forced to shut down?
Please keep Gallop in your videos as much as possible!!! I love him so much!!! I'm so sorry, I know this has got to be really hard. But he's still there to love you.
Aww
I’m so sorry sweetheart 💔 Just remember, he’s not going to live with you anymore, but he IS still alive and you will be able to visit him 💗. He gets to be a dog now while he’s still young enough to enjoy it! No stress or responsibility, just love, walks with plenty of sniffing, and cheese!
So sorry Molly, we are all here for you and Gallop and when the time comes for him to fully retire we will miss him so much! We love you Gallop and im sure grandma and grandpa will give you many cheese treats❤️
I just want to hug you right now !!
Wait those Microsoft apps ARE SO GOOD I’ve never heard of it, but wow that’s actually really awesome!
I totally get what you are saying. My son has a guide dog and they have been stuck at home during this pandemic. My son works from home for Rutgers University. He is an accessibility expert. Your boyfriend may know of him as they were both scholars of The Chicago Lighthouse. He is very concerned about consistency with Burton [guide dog]. He takes him on daily walks to practice his guide dog skills...whether by walking in the neighborhood, going to the park, going to the supermarket and on rare occasions going to the mall. Guide dogs need consistency. They are staying with us in IL right now for the holidays and Preston [my son] still practices with his guide dog daily. Even when it's snowing or extremely cold! Preston also put in an application for a new guide dog because the pandemic has delayed training for guide dogs at The Seeing Eye. They suggested it to him to prepare for the future. Burton has been with Preston for 5 years. I hope it all works out for you, Molly.
Will u still be able to see the dog
You will get to see him at your parents ❤️ You will learn to love him as a food stealing pet. He isn't leaving you, just going to enjoy his retirement. I hope you get a new guide dog as soon as possible. I know you're used to the freedom they bring you. Sending love ❤️🥺
Is the gallop hoodie out of stock already? I looked on fanjoy and didn't see it
When you said it would be like your mobility being taken away, my heart broke for you. I imagined it would be like not having my wheelchair all of a sudden - I’d be totally stuck. Sending lots of love to you and Gallop, Molly ❤️
I'm so sorry. I'm getting ready to retire my competitive obedience dog which feels hard, I can't even imagine retiring a guide dog. My heart hurts for you. ❤️