The Van Pelt Family andTarzan
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Rudy, Cheri and Allison Van Pelt of Fremont learned about CCI by accident.
Their little dog Digit was 12 years old and their daughter was 8 years old and so it
seemed like a good time to bring another dog into their home. One of Cheri's co-workers is
blind and has a Guide Dog. The idea of raising a puppy to eventually help someone else was
appealing plus it was the only way Cheri could think of to bring a dog to work with her
everyday! After contacting Guide Dogs for the Blind and surfing the Internet, Cheri
stumbled onto CCI's web page. After considering both programs, Cheri decided to raise a
puppy for CCI. |
| The Van Pelts with Parsons &
Tarzan |
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| In a few months, little Tarzan came into their life. He was born in May,
1999 in Faith's second litter. Rudy was in charge of the potty training and Cheri did the
obedience training and socializing. When Tarzan was 12 weeks old, he started to go to work
with Cheri. He impressed everyone with his good behavior and outgoing personality. Tarzan
was always a social butterfly; before a meeting he'd work the room to get his ears
scratched by anyone willing and then when the meeting began, he would lie down and sleep
through the meeting. Sometimes Tarzan would roll on his back and snore which would usually
get a few chuckles. Allison enjoyed dressing Tarzan like a baby or a girl and playing
games with him. Tarzan played "Pretty, Pretty Princess" many times and he never
lost the game once! Tarzan did his share of advertising for CCI. He attended health and
pet fairs and participated in the Los Gatos Children's parade. He has even recruited a few
new puppy raisers for the South Bay. |
| Tarzan at 5 months for Halloween |
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When the time came to turn Tarzan in, the Van Pelts did it with a heavy
heart. However, they knew Tarzan was a special dog. He had touched their lives, showed
them how to never take life too seriously and to always smile. (Tarzan really does smile!)
After turn-in, they all had a good cry; but when Allison went to bed that night, she said,
"I really do hope that Tarzan graduates and helps someone who needs him more than we
do." Tarzan did graduate in May 2001 as a Facility Dog! He works with Lee Mayer at
the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. Lee is a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
and Tarzan works with her Alzheimer's and frail elderly patients in nursing homes. They
also visit the Veterans Hospital and do hospice work together. Tarzan serves as a bridge
to communicating with patients who are lonely, depressed and often in their own world, out
of touch with the present. His tolerance of wearing hats, shirts, etc. now comes in handy
in cheering up his patients. Tarzan is the first South Bay dog to be born, raised and
graduate in the South Bay. |
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| In January 2001, CCI puppy #2 joined the Van Pelt household. Parsons was a
joy to raise--very confident and smart--but his future as a CCI working dog was not meant
to be. Parson's recent x-rays showed that he has hip dysplasia. He will be released from
CCI and will retire with Cheri's parents where he will live out his life as a well loved
pet and companion. CCI puppy #3, Jagger, joined the Van Pelt household on January 29th,
2002 and he is a half brother to Tarzan from Faith's last litter. So the cycle begins
again; however, Tarzan and Parsons will always have a place in the hearts of the Van
Pelts. Fortunately, they can still get maintain contact with both of them. |
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Puppy #3 - Jagger |
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