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EL POMAR
April 12, 1994 -- January 3, 2008
A tribute and, a farewell
Well it seems like I have been putting this off forever, but it has now become the time to try my best to put on paper
what my feelings are. I don't know where to begin, and I don't know what all I will say, all I know is what the last word
of this story will be, and that is "Good-Bye." This is because I'm going to try and express my feelings concerning the
end of a journey, the loss of a large piece of my heart, and a farewell to a most noble being, my pal, my companion,
my confidence my arms and my legs, my confidant, my Service Dog, my El Pomar.
Throughout the years I have said many things from my heart concerning what this most special gift has given me.
However, as the time draws close in having to say goodbye, it becomes most apparent that I did not serve him well
with my words. It is true El Pomar gave me confidence that I lacked, smiles when I didn't deserve them, my arms, my
legs for they no longer worked, and opened doors to a world I had not seen for more than 25 years. It seems like
this would be plenty to talk about but there is even more. You see, El Pomar gave me the life that I know today. This
sounds dramatic -- but it is no exaggeration. Were it not for this most special being, I would not live where I am living,
I would not have the life partner I have, I would not have the relationship I have with my children and grandchildren, I
would not have the new found knowledge in the training of potential service dogs for others, and so much more. So
you see, El Pomar has given me the life I now find myself living.
Having this wonderful new life is great but, what is important to note in is that El Pomar gave me reason to even try
and achieve it. So many days when I did not want to get up he was there to give that most magical El Pomar
"nudge." So many times when there was nothing left to smile about yet, he gave me reason. There were so many
other simple things that he offered, things that came from being a Service Dog. El Pomar and I "re-invented" the art
of "pulling" as performed by a Service Dog. Because of my disability, it just did not work the way he had been trained
so, we “found a way" to make it work for us. Because of this, I found out that strolling in parks was so much more fun
than brooding in bars.
This is a sad time for me and, for anyone whose life El Pomar has touched. However, it is not hard to remember the
fun times and, the many accomplishments we achieved together. El Pomar was matched with me in March of 1996,
and I have been trying to repay him for this ever sense. Yep, I feel like I need to repay him for this "match." To the
public it looked like I chose him as my partner but, I truly believe that he chose me. To properly thank him for this
choice he made is a feat I now realize is impossible to do but, I will continue to attempt to do so long after he has
gone.
I must admit there are times when I now get angry at the people who talked me into even trying to get a service dog
in my life, but then I want to give them another hug. There are times I get angry at the puppy raiser who did such a
magnificent job with her charge, by helping to produce a most capable dog from a fluffy puppy, a dog that was ready
to go on through advanced training, and become a Full Service Dog, and my partner. Then, another feeling of
anger toward this wonderful puppy raiser; for taking the time and effort to travel from Colorado to California and
watch her most special puppy now graduate as a mature Service Dog. Anger once again will surface when I realize
that because she took this time to come to our graduation, she now became a part of our life. Although El Pomar
and I returned to Texas, we kept in touch with this most special person. Then, a year and a half later she came into
our life in a permanent fashion as my wife. And then, the anger turns to smiles, the anger turns to gratitude, the
anger turns to humility in trying to imagine the goodness from all of these people who have made my life so much
better. How do you thank someone or something for all of this, because this is what is before me in trying to address
all I owe to El Pomar? It is a dilemma, and one I will try to find a solution to for the rest of my life.
El Pomar will leave behind quite a legacy and, it is well deserved. He certainly was not a run-of-the-mill Service Dog,
having achieved goals no one expected. In 2001 El Pomar was named Service Dog of the Year for the State of
Colorado by the Colorado Veterinarian Medical Association (CVMA). The same year he was named the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Wonder Dog of the Year. This last honor resulted in a free trip to New York where he
received his reward, and we attended a three-day seminar. El Pomar and I were the keynote speakers for the
Combined Federal Campaign held at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.
There has been numerous television appearances made by the two of us, and more stories in the newspaper as well
as several magazines. To this list of accomplishments it should be noted that El Pomar has appeared in his share of
calendars over the years. Even after he retired as a Full Service Dog he was featured in the Novartis calendar of
2005 along with our story. Over Christmas I visited with my daughter and prior to our arriving at their home she had
Googled El Pomar over the Internet. How ironic that she came up with a very long newspaper article, which was
written at Christmas time in 2001 honoring this wonderful boy.
However, the days of El Pomar pulling me up Pike's Peak exploring new trails and, so much more are now gone. It
is wonderful knowing I have movies of him doing flips in the backyard while catching his tennis ball. So much more
has been documented and for this I am so grateful. Things like him helping me with the laundry, turning on or, off a
light switch and, his getting a coke from the refrigerator. El Pomar could do so much with his muzzle that my hands
were no longer able to do for me. He could pick up a dime, or a 10-a pound weight it made no difference, as long as
I needed it. Whenever I would fall he could find a phone, no matter where it was.
These days are gone, but not his caring. Just two weeks ago I took another fall and, there was no way to get up. El
Pomar could not retrieve the telephone this time, but he could make sure I was okay. I have another Service Dog;
Hero got the telephone for me. But, Pomar was there too just to make sure I was okay. He came in beside me and
then lay down next to my head, and would not move until the fire department was here. This is a picture of El Pomar
that will always be with me one of a caring buddy who still had to make sure I was okay. (Just another thing to add to
that "thank you list.")
Letting go is something that I never thought I would have to do, because I simply felt El Pomar would be around
longer than me. So many people have had to say goodbye to their pets over the years, so I know I'm not alone in my
thoughts. And, I consider every one's pet a service animal in one way or, another. However, I cannot help but put
my dog on a pedestal amongst these others and feel justified in doing so. El Pomar and I were only home two days
from our graduation in California when he repaid the $10,000 they said he was worth. I had fallen from my
wheelchair, and he was there to get the phone so I could call for help. There are so many stories like this, which
have taken place over these many years, but it would be redundant to repeat them. Suffice to say, he did what he
was trained to do, and in a style that any Service Dog would be proud to emulate.
As this journey for the two of us draws to a close, saying goodbye becomes harder, and harder; El Pomar will be
taking with him a large piece of my heart, and I hope he takes good care of it. This is because I plan to see my
buddy again, and I want that part of me back. I have to believe he is going to a place where once again he will be
able to run, jump, and bring smiles to others. I know he will be confused at first, because he will be looking for
someone to help, and where he will be, will be populated by only healthy souls who will not need his assistance.
However, they will enjoy his company, and be proud he is now one of them.
I realize that there are many others who have felt the pain I am now going through and it is significant. It truly is a
feeling of something being torn from my insides whenever I realize that my "partner" no longer will be by my side.
Recently my brother had the opportunity to say goodbye to El Pomar, as he knew the time was near. I don't believe it
was intended for my ears, but I overheard him mumble it was like losing a brother. I only hope that losing a brother
never hurts anyone this much, for this a pain I would wish on no one.
These words I wanted to share with others but, there are some I just want to share with my buddy. So, El Pomar it is
time for our journey together to come to an end. Oh, there will be a time it will continue but, not as you helping me
but, as my partner in a healthy eternity. I have said so many times, I can never repay you for all you have done for
me, but I can make sure you do not lose your "worldly" dignity. You are the most dignified being I have ever had in
my life, never showing pain, never being too tired to help, never saying no when a request was made, and always
able to put a smile on my face. I will thank you for all of my life and look forward to the time I can be with you.
So, my trusted partner you have done your job well, and now it is time for you to rest. Sleep well my good buddy,
without pain, without heartache, and with knowing you have done everything that was asked of you and, even more.
Sleep well knowing that you are loved by so many and so sorely missed by all whom have met you. Sleep well
knowing you have repaid the financial burden for the cost of your breeding and training over, over, and over again.
Sleep well, knowing you have repaid your puppy raiser the one who still loves you with all of her heart so many
times and, in so many ways. Sleep well, knowing you have repaid all the people you have educated about Service
Dogs, and what they do. Sleep well, knowing that you will continue to bring smiles to the faces of others as I recall
your life here on our earth.
And most of all sleep well knowing you have given me a wonderful life for all the years you have shared in it, and,
know you have left me with a desire to continue this life of happiness you made possible, with the memories I will
cherish forever. Sleep well my friend and know I will always love you.
So, as I said at the beginning of this lyrical journey it is time to say goodbye to my good friend, my confidant, my
confidence, my security and, my dog.
From my heart to, El Pomar,
Jim Pearson
April 12, 1994 -- January 3, 2008
A tribute and, a farewell
Well it seems like I have been putting this off forever, but it has now become the time to try my best to put on paper
what my feelings are. I don't know where to begin, and I don't know what all I will say, all I know is what the last word
of this story will be, and that is "Good-Bye." This is because I'm going to try and express my feelings concerning the
end of a journey, the loss of a large piece of my heart, and a farewell to a most noble being, my pal, my companion,
my confidence my arms and my legs, my confidant, my Service Dog, my El Pomar.
Throughout the years I have said many things from my heart concerning what this most special gift has given me.
However, as the time draws close in having to say goodbye, it becomes most apparent that I did not serve him well
with my words. It is true El Pomar gave me confidence that I lacked, smiles when I didn't deserve them, my arms, my
legs for they no longer worked, and opened doors to a world I had not seen for more than 25 years. It seems like
this would be plenty to talk about but there is even more. You see, El Pomar gave me the life that I know today. This
sounds dramatic -- but it is no exaggeration. Were it not for this most special being, I would not live where I am living,
I would not have the life partner I have, I would not have the relationship I have with my children and grandchildren, I
would not have the new found knowledge in the training of potential service dogs for others, and so much more. So
you see, El Pomar has given me the life I now find myself living.
Having this wonderful new life is great but, what is important to note in is that El Pomar gave me reason to even try
and achieve it. So many days when I did not want to get up he was there to give that most magical El Pomar
"nudge." So many times when there was nothing left to smile about yet, he gave me reason. There were so many
other simple things that he offered, things that came from being a Service Dog. El Pomar and I "re-invented" the art
of "pulling" as performed by a Service Dog. Because of my disability, it just did not work the way he had been trained
so, we “found a way" to make it work for us. Because of this, I found out that strolling in parks was so much more fun
than brooding in bars.
This is a sad time for me and, for anyone whose life El Pomar has touched. However, it is not hard to remember the
fun times and, the many accomplishments we achieved together. El Pomar was matched with me in March of 1996,
and I have been trying to repay him for this ever sense. Yep, I feel like I need to repay him for this "match." To the
public it looked like I chose him as my partner but, I truly believe that he chose me. To properly thank him for this
choice he made is a feat I now realize is impossible to do but, I will continue to attempt to do so long after he has
gone.
I must admit there are times when I now get angry at the people who talked me into even trying to get a service dog
in my life, but then I want to give them another hug. There are times I get angry at the puppy raiser who did such a
magnificent job with her charge, by helping to produce a most capable dog from a fluffy puppy, a dog that was ready
to go on through advanced training, and become a Full Service Dog, and my partner. Then, another feeling of
anger toward this wonderful puppy raiser; for taking the time and effort to travel from Colorado to California and
watch her most special puppy now graduate as a mature Service Dog. Anger once again will surface when I realize
that because she took this time to come to our graduation, she now became a part of our life. Although El Pomar
and I returned to Texas, we kept in touch with this most special person. Then, a year and a half later she came into
our life in a permanent fashion as my wife. And then, the anger turns to smiles, the anger turns to gratitude, the
anger turns to humility in trying to imagine the goodness from all of these people who have made my life so much
better. How do you thank someone or something for all of this, because this is what is before me in trying to address
all I owe to El Pomar? It is a dilemma, and one I will try to find a solution to for the rest of my life.
El Pomar will leave behind quite a legacy and, it is well deserved. He certainly was not a run-of-the-mill Service Dog,
having achieved goals no one expected. In 2001 El Pomar was named Service Dog of the Year for the State of
Colorado by the Colorado Veterinarian Medical Association (CVMA). The same year he was named the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Wonder Dog of the Year. This last honor resulted in a free trip to New York where he
received his reward, and we attended a three-day seminar. El Pomar and I were the keynote speakers for the
Combined Federal Campaign held at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.
There has been numerous television appearances made by the two of us, and more stories in the newspaper as well
as several magazines. To this list of accomplishments it should be noted that El Pomar has appeared in his share of
calendars over the years. Even after he retired as a Full Service Dog he was featured in the Novartis calendar of
2005 along with our story. Over Christmas I visited with my daughter and prior to our arriving at their home she had
Googled El Pomar over the Internet. How ironic that she came up with a very long newspaper article, which was
written at Christmas time in 2001 honoring this wonderful boy.
However, the days of El Pomar pulling me up Pike's Peak exploring new trails and, so much more are now gone. It
is wonderful knowing I have movies of him doing flips in the backyard while catching his tennis ball. So much more
has been documented and for this I am so grateful. Things like him helping me with the laundry, turning on or, off a
light switch and, his getting a coke from the refrigerator. El Pomar could do so much with his muzzle that my hands
were no longer able to do for me. He could pick up a dime, or a 10-a pound weight it made no difference, as long as
I needed it. Whenever I would fall he could find a phone, no matter where it was.
These days are gone, but not his caring. Just two weeks ago I took another fall and, there was no way to get up. El
Pomar could not retrieve the telephone this time, but he could make sure I was okay. I have another Service Dog;
Hero got the telephone for me. But, Pomar was there too just to make sure I was okay. He came in beside me and
then lay down next to my head, and would not move until the fire department was here. This is a picture of El Pomar
that will always be with me one of a caring buddy who still had to make sure I was okay. (Just another thing to add to
that "thank you list.")
Letting go is something that I never thought I would have to do, because I simply felt El Pomar would be around
longer than me. So many people have had to say goodbye to their pets over the years, so I know I'm not alone in my
thoughts. And, I consider every one's pet a service animal in one way or, another. However, I cannot help but put
my dog on a pedestal amongst these others and feel justified in doing so. El Pomar and I were only home two days
from our graduation in California when he repaid the $10,000 they said he was worth. I had fallen from my
wheelchair, and he was there to get the phone so I could call for help. There are so many stories like this, which
have taken place over these many years, but it would be redundant to repeat them. Suffice to say, he did what he
was trained to do, and in a style that any Service Dog would be proud to emulate.
As this journey for the two of us draws to a close, saying goodbye becomes harder, and harder; El Pomar will be
taking with him a large piece of my heart, and I hope he takes good care of it. This is because I plan to see my
buddy again, and I want that part of me back. I have to believe he is going to a place where once again he will be
able to run, jump, and bring smiles to others. I know he will be confused at first, because he will be looking for
someone to help, and where he will be, will be populated by only healthy souls who will not need his assistance.
However, they will enjoy his company, and be proud he is now one of them.
I realize that there are many others who have felt the pain I am now going through and it is significant. It truly is a
feeling of something being torn from my insides whenever I realize that my "partner" no longer will be by my side.
Recently my brother had the opportunity to say goodbye to El Pomar, as he knew the time was near. I don't believe it
was intended for my ears, but I overheard him mumble it was like losing a brother. I only hope that losing a brother
never hurts anyone this much, for this a pain I would wish on no one.
These words I wanted to share with others but, there are some I just want to share with my buddy. So, El Pomar it is
time for our journey together to come to an end. Oh, there will be a time it will continue but, not as you helping me
but, as my partner in a healthy eternity. I have said so many times, I can never repay you for all you have done for
me, but I can make sure you do not lose your "worldly" dignity. You are the most dignified being I have ever had in
my life, never showing pain, never being too tired to help, never saying no when a request was made, and always
able to put a smile on my face. I will thank you for all of my life and look forward to the time I can be with you.
So, my trusted partner you have done your job well, and now it is time for you to rest. Sleep well my good buddy,
without pain, without heartache, and with knowing you have done everything that was asked of you and, even more.
Sleep well knowing that you are loved by so many and so sorely missed by all whom have met you. Sleep well
knowing you have repaid the financial burden for the cost of your breeding and training over, over, and over again.
Sleep well, knowing you have repaid your puppy raiser the one who still loves you with all of her heart so many
times and, in so many ways. Sleep well, knowing you have repaid all the people you have educated about Service
Dogs, and what they do. Sleep well, knowing that you will continue to bring smiles to the faces of others as I recall
your life here on our earth.
And most of all sleep well knowing you have given me a wonderful life for all the years you have shared in it, and,
know you have left me with a desire to continue this life of happiness you made possible, with the memories I will
cherish forever. Sleep well my friend and know I will always love you.
So, as I said at the beginning of this lyrical journey it is time to say goodbye to my good friend, my confidant, my
confidence, my security and, my dog.
From my heart to, El Pomar,
Jim Pearson
