April Blog

~A dog's purpose~
​Miss YaYa 

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In order to understand how Miss YaYa entered our lives, I feel it's important to for you to know how she came to be and how we became involved with Canine Companions for Independence.  

It all started about 45 years ago. ​

Throughout the years we adopted many dogs. Each one had a personality all their own. Our first dog, Muffin, was perfect for our young growing family. She was sponky and active. I think she was part Jack Russell and part hound. We used to say that she jumped so high and ran so fast that our kids couldn't keep up with her. Then there was Melvin.  We adopted Melvin when our kids were both in college and we were empty nesters. Melvin was a grown man in a puppy suit. He was such a gentle, sweet boy. He was perfect for Denis and I at that point in our lives. Right after that came Jimmy "D" Beagle. Jimmy gave us a run for our money!! He was your typical beagle. Hard to train and stubborn. But, as time went by, Jimmy grew out of his puppy antics and he became just like Melvin...reserved and gentle. By this time we were ready to rescue again. That's when Maggie entered our lives. Maggie was a sweet loving little beagle. She groomed all of the dogs. I think Maggie was about two or three years old when the Riverhead Shelter found her roaming the streets. By this point we had two beagles having just lost Melvin. Our Veterinarian knew that we were always looking to find a third dog, so...one day we got a call from them. They had a beagle in their care whose owners were having a hard time caring for him. His name was Jake. They thought we'd be interested in adopting Jake. I told my vet that the only way I would consider taking Jake was if Jimmy and Maggie met him in person.  They agreed and we promptly went over and met Jake. As soon as Jake saw the other two dogs, he ran between my legs and hid. Maggie and Jimmy sniffed and sniffed Jake. Slowly Jake started to begin sniffing them.  I knew that they would get along just splendidly. So, we immediately took Jake home and renamed him Tommy, because our next door neighbors dog's name was Jake and we didn't want any confusion.  For years after that it was just my three beagles.  I even took training classes with them.  They all got their certificates of completion and life went on. Tommy was a real character...he marked, barked and caused trouble all of the time. He became know by my granddaughter, Maddie, as Tommy Trouble and then Tommy TuTu because due to his marking incessantly, he wore a diaper...which we called his "TuTu." Thus...the name stuck...He was always going to be our "Tommy TuTu." 

As time went on I became more concentrated on my art work and spent many hours creating paintings, entering shows and having shows of my own. I was represented by galleries all across the Northeast of the USA and was doing quite well. After loosing Melvin, to help with my grief, I decided to paint his portrait. That was the beginning of my love of Pet Portraiture and painting shelter dogs. I always felt so blessed in life and giving back was my way of saying thank you for my many blessings. I wanted very much to find a cause to donate my work to. That's when a friend told me about Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) and introduced me to Marc Wortsman, an NER Board Member. Marc took me on a tour of their then new state of the art facility in Medford, LI, NY and from there he took me to a graduation. I was immediately hooked!! To see how remarkable these service dogs were for people with disabilities, encouraged me to do more for them. So, I painted a large work of art...which remains on their wall at the Training Center to this day. But, before donating the painting, the Miller Family NER Campus staff decided to auction the painting off at their Gala event later in 2009. After the event, the winner of the auction would then donate it back to the center. It was a splendid idea. A circle of giving. The winner would receive a geclee print that I enhanced. The piece brought in thousands of dollars for CCI. During the event, my husband, Denis, and I decided to Puppy Raise for CCI. We let them know and in January we picked up our first puppy from the NER training center. Her name was YaYa...

YaYa was a gentle loving soul that was like a soft ball of beautiful fur. To us she was perfect. Our Puppy Raising days with YaYa were filled with Puppy Classes and Puppy Playdates, outings to mass every Sunday, demonstrations at various events, traveling all over to get the word out about CCI. She was a great little four legged ambassador for them. What fun we had. YaYa got along with people, other animals and anything that came into her world of total love. After 18 months of having her with us as a Puppy in Training, she then "matriculated" back to the NER Training Center and began her Advanced Training for CCI. She was on her way to becoming a highly trained assistance dog for them knowing over 50 commands.  However, we soon found out that being a Service dog was not what YaYa wanted.  She spent 2 months in Advanced Training when we got the word that YaYa was going to be released. You see, they told us, "YaYa had "low emotional control."  Although I had never heard of that term before, I was happy to adopt her as our new pet dog.  Our little sweet, wiggly, happy girl was home with us again! It was where she wanted to be.❤️

YaYa never stopped being a good will ambassador for CCI.  She welcomed many CCI fosters into our home treating them as a mommy would her babies. She received her AKC CGC Canine Good Citizens Award and later did her therapy work for Therapy Dogs Inc. and continued on with her therapy work for many years with TDI (Therapy Dogs International). 

She loved doing her therapy work. She went to Sunrise Senior Living and played “Horse #2” in their Horse Race Games with her pals Maggie Lou, Tye, Princess Penny and Barney. She went to MacArthur Airport where she greeted in coming travelers and brought happiness and calm to the passengers who were waiting for their flights. She was involved in the “Read to Me” Program at libraries. She was on News 12 numerous times as their model dog for their Pet Segment. Posing with Lea Tyrrell was a highlight of her appearances on the show. She went to Long Island University-CWPost to help the students during finals week. She sang the BEST Happy Birthday Song ever!!! We will miss that so much!!!  And most importantly, she was “Mommy Muse” to Dagger. Sitting by his side as he painted, she encouraged him and supported him in all of his work. As a Puppy in Training, YaYa got to meet Betty White. Betty kissed YaYa  leaving a bright red lipstick mark right smack on the top of her head...we left that lipstick mark there for days after that!! YaYa loved life. She wiggled and wagged through life always thinking the best and trusting in all good things. Her 11 1/2 years here on earth was full and complete. She fought the good fight and on March 4th we said our goodbyes to Miss  YaYa. She was a happy, wiggly sweetheart who will be missed by many people and doggie friends especially us; her family. 

Someone once said that the only flaw about dogs is that their lives are too short. I couldn't agree more. YaYa gave unconditional love to everyone. Her passing hit us hard. With each of our pets, I am saddened by their passing beyond belief. Each is tremendously hard and devastating. However, YaYa was a person clothed in fur. She spoke with her eyes and wined and wiggled telling us how to do things. She will always be in our hearts. So...As part of my grieving...just as with my other pets... I painted her portrait. Crying as I saw her appear on the canvas. 

🌸 Miss YaYa ~ 11/10/2009-3/4/2021 🌸
Original Painting by Yvonne Dagger

It's really another "New Beginning" for Miss YaYa as she frolics
and plays over the rainbow bridge with all of her friends
​who have gone before her.
​I'm comforted knowing that she's with my sister and mom now.
🌸🦋🌸
Miss YaYa lived her life's purpose to the fullest.
For that I am forever grateful.
💞🐾💞

With love,
XOXO ​Yvonne