PicksPooches

It’s been just about a month since I stepped away from PicksPooches and all my content planning. I didn’t know how this break would go, but it really has helped in realizing how much has shifted in just a few quiet weeks.

I started The Artist’s Way. I’m in my second week now, a bit behind on homework thanks to a migraine, but even with that setback, something in me feels better. I joined my art groups again, and I’ve been spending more time with things I like, not just things I’m trying to make into content. And I’ve had more time for rest and advocacy (call your reps)

I’ve been living on my small private Instagram, still tracking memories, in an easy and fun space that gets no traction, but brings me way more peace. I’m posting the way I used to. No pressure. Just random photo pile ups.

The further I’ve gotten from my main account, the more unsure I am if it’ll ever really come back, and if it did, it would be very different. I still respect the work I’ve done. I love that it holds so many memories, especially of Peak. Some of the posts from the last year were finally heading in the direction I wanted. But it also holds a lot of uncomfortable memories, a lot of pressure, and a version of myself I’m not sure I want to keep performing.

I’m not sure I want to keep PicksPooches in its current form. Maybe the YouTube channel stays, maybe I evolve how I use it. But I’m no longer only a service dog handler. I’m no longer just trying to prove myself in that space.

I want to talk. I want to create. I want to explore disability, creativity, criticism, and commentary. I want to share what it means to exist at the intersection of chronic illness, media, and identity. I want to make longform videos that ask questions and run on. And maybe I do that under a new name. Maybe I create something separate from PicksPooches altogether, i don’t know yet

Remember safety, sustainability, and accessibility are resistance.

This is for anyone trying to find ways to advocate during this time, especially if you use a service dog, or if you physically or mentally can’t be on the front lines.

You’re not less of an activist because you need accommodations.
You’re not less of an ally because your advocacy looks different.
We need all kinds of voices, and all kinds of care.

Have an account or resource that you would like to share or that has additional information feel free to comment
And please be safe
All text available

Just your rainbow to start your pride… and a reminder that it’s also way more than rainbows. Pride is always important. ALWAYS. But this year it’s impossible to ignore what’s happening. Celebration means nothing without action. We can’t have Pride without fighting genocide, inaccessibility, and the pursuit of further change. Throughout the month I will be linking resources, stories , charities and non profits and ways you can make your voice heard!
On a way less powerful statement
they really need to clean these stairs up for pride sake 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

🌈

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the direction of advocacy within the service dog community. I see a lot of passionate handlers speaking out, about fake service dogs, about untrained pets in public, and more recently, about stores like Walmart or Target being unsafe to go to with a service dog or trying to the make the point that they are not pet-friendly. And yet staff seems to not care…well there’s a reason they don’t

I understand the frustration. These situations do impact us. But if our advocacy stops at “this makes my life harder,” we’re missing the bigger picture.

When we criticize companies like Walmart for not educating employees on the ADA, we’re not just talking about dogs anymore. We’re talking about systemic inaccessibility. Walmart, Target, and other corporate giants weren’t built to be inclusive…not for disabled folks, not for their own workers. As we have seen especially recently and roll backs in their own internal accessibility and diversity. They’re built for profit.

ADA education and enforcement don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re shaped by:
• Corporate priorities (hint: it’s not us),
• Political and social cuts to D. e. I and disability programs,
• The labor conditions of the very workers we expect to advocate for us.

When a place is unsafe or unwelcoming, it’s not always just because someone brought a pet in. It’s because access and accommodation were never built into the foundation. That’s what we need to be talking about.

Call out real harm, of course. Speak up when someone’s putting others in danger. But also zoom out.

Why are so many people uneducated about service dogs?
Why do workers not intervene or escalate when something goes wrong?
Why is access still treated like a luxury instead of a right?

If we’re going to advocate, we have to be willing to ask harder questions. Not just about individuals, but about the systems that shape them.

All I did was blink 🧡
Happy 2nd birthday Pochita. Know I have endless stories and adventures to share- we are doing a full birthday week for this man’s, I can’t think of a more deserving pup to be celebrated.
Truly the definition of best friend, endless love, purest of hearts, and a fantastic service dog
Happy birthday big mans

Pochita turns two in just a few days now!
And so the question has come up…
“So he’s all done with training?”
And while all his foundations are down and he has a solid few tasks, the reality is—no, he’s not fully done.
Pochita has a list of about 17 more tasks to work on, give or take.
In addition to that, while he may look fully grown, he’s not. Mentally and physically, he still has a ways to go. And that is okay.
The idea of a service dog being “done by two” or that “your dog should be finishing around age two” is a pretty wild, and yet heavily normalized, standard. And it’s one that often sets many handlers up for failure.
Even if you only need one or two tasks, being an owner trainer means you’re likely taking on a lot. Maybe it’s your first dog. Maybe it’s a breed you’ve never worked with. Maybe your dog is just quirky. Maybe you’re trying to figure it all out for the first time
or even the fourth.
And you’re doing all of this not as a full-time service dog trainer, and possibly with no formal dog training background at all.
You’re taking on a full-time project as a disabled person, someone who may be working, healing, managing spoons, going to school, or just starting to understand what disability means for yourself. And yet, you’re also taking on the monumental responsibility of training a service dog.
That is not an easy thing to do. It is time-consuming, emotionally demanding, physically exhausting, and financially draining.
On top of that—you’re working with a living creature. One who is learning about the world, about their job, about you. A creature who is maturing, evolving, and trying, just like you are.
When you take all that in… the two-year timeline starts to feel a little silly. If not completely unattainable for many. It can pressure you to rush, to overload your dog, to push yourself too hard, to suppress instead of rest, or to feel like your dog has failed before they’ve even had the chance to begin.
Your dog not being “fully done” by two?
That’s not just okay—it’s completely normal.

I needed a girls day earlier this week and Pallis and delivered -
Paints 🎨 , plants 🪴 , and pizza 🍕 the three ps of a successful girly reset - oh and also a Pallis 🐩 so I guess 4 ps.
I appreciate all the check ins (anonymously or not) but I have been surrounded by a lot of love and joy during the down times so thank you 🩵☀️🍀
Just girl dog things, retired service dog love, and some girl yap

“It’s only fortitude if you decide to try even when the doubt is there” - wiff waffles
A creator I have followed since I was probably in high school posted a video after not posting for years - it’s a wonderful video and it was one of those videos that truly felt like it was meant for me to hear it, right then, after my 5th cry of the day -
The last few weeks were really heavy , there was a lot of grief a lot of loss a lot of fear, a lot of sickness a lot of resurfaced trauma… I’ve felt a lot recently. I think I always do.
I think I’ve gotten better as I’ve learned and worked on trying to heal since Peaks passing, about how to get back up again faster then before- but loss when it does hit, always hits hard.
But I found a lot of love too, support, care, laughter- I got to live it, capture some of it- it didn’t cancel out the hard but it coexisted.
I’m still working on fully finding my footing, and figuring out what next strides to take - but today sharing just a moment that made me really happy, a moment where I was proud and excited and felt so much love - feels like enough for today.
A moment of love and joy with my service dog

What do you feed your pet 🦙?
Mine is pretty demanding - but I think our girl night snack trays have really been hitting the spot 🤔 🧑‍🍳
Seriously even on her pickiest of nights I at least know she will love some pat’e from
Though I think she will always crave butter
Does your dog have an unhinged craving?
Dog food , girls night, girl dog

Want to try open farm we have a code! CARMEN15 big thanks if you use it!