The Life Of Sam And Molly

23/12/2023

22/12/2023

If your pet was on a dating website… what would their profile photo be? Post their photo in the comments! 😂

I think that would be Molly’s profile photo!
// Sam

18/12/2023

Assistance dogs are working dogs 🦮

Do NOT distract them while working.
This involves talking to, touching, feeding, staring, etc. Anything that will take them away from focusing on their handler and their job is considered distracting them.

If you have questions about a service dog, talk to the HANDLER not the dog!

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Did you know under THE SERVICE ANIMALS PROTECTION ACT (Bill 238) you can be fined for interfering with a service dog?

(We are talking about Manitoba in the information below, but in other provinces as well!)

Offence — person interfering with service animal
2(1)

No person shall touch, feed, impede or interfere with a service animal, without lawful excuse or authority.

Offence — person allowing animal to interfere with service animal
2(2)

No person who owns an animal or has possession or control of an animal shall allow that animal to touch, impede or interfere with a service animal, without lawful excuse or authority.

Penalty
3

A person who contravenes section 2 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction

(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $5,000; and

(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000

https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/39-3/b238e.php

15/12/2023

Remys getting so big! He’s over 70 pounds at 8 months old 🤍🫣
A Service Dog For Sam

15/12/2023

15/12/2023

No words needed for this 🤍🥺

13/10/2023

We’re going to get sappy here for a second but im a bit emotional.

Bonding with a dog after loss can be hard, when I first got Remy I loved him, but I’ve gone through a bit of loss over the years with some dogs not working out, passing away and needing to career change that my heart held onto that fear of losing another.

Lately we’ve really clicked, I see little things in him that remind me of molly. (And molly is teaching him too!!) He is like velcro to my side. His eyes are always on me. I see so much potential in him and he continues to surprise us all every day.

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for him. He is such an incredible dog and we already hold a bond that I really was hoping for and was scared I wouldn’t have again.

20/09/2023

After holding our breath for a week waiting for results with a cancer scare for molly.. we got the results today finding out she does NOT have cancer! 😭 we cried, we celebrated and ice cream was of course needed!

oh my molly moo 😭💜

26/04/2023

Cuddles 💜

26/04/2023

☀️💙 some days are harder than others, and today challenged me a bit mentally. It is hard to constantly have to fight for your health. It just gets exhausting sometimes.

But it sure felt nice out today as it was +10c! With very minimal wind, a walk with my fiancé, Navy, Molly and my dad and a chill evening is helpful.

// Sam & Navy

21/04/2023

😭😭😭😭😭

19/04/2023

my heart.

18/04/2023

Once a service dog, always a service dog 💜

11/04/2023

The happiest birthday to my heart dog Molly 💜 (my retired service dog for those of you who are new here!)

Molly turned 8 years old yesterday but we celebrated today! We spent the day with lots of yummy treats, sitting outside on the deck (it was a beautiful +12c today and a drive for a pup cup 🥰

// Sam

11/04/2023

Happy 8th Birthday to my heart dog 💜🥳
How does time go by so fast? 😭

07/04/2023

Thank god it’s Friday 😅

We all are slow moving here today, but I think the weather is starting to look like it’s warming up! 🤞🏻 If I could live somewhere where winter didn’t last more than half the year, that would be nice 😂

Today is supposed to be -1c and I think if the weather stays the way it’s forecasted.. it should be our last below negatives as the high!🤞🏻

What are your weekend plans?

// Sam & Navy

Dogs in the photo from left to right -
Navy, Molly & Groot.

25/03/2023

😭

25/03/2023

A throwback morning for you.
Baby Sam and molly 💜😭
My heart dog forever.

20/03/2023

Guide Dogs 🦮 vs a guide task? 🐕‍🦺

What is the difference between a guide dog vs someone using a guide task that is not visually impaired that has another disability?

This is a great topic that is currently being talked about in the service dog community.

Some handlers are labeling their dogs as a guide dog when they are not visually impaired. This can cause confusion with the general public. And is very frustrating and annoying to the visually impaired guide dog users!!!

But these service dogs are doing a task that is similar to guiding like a guide dog, but the dog does something that could be more
labeled as “leading” or “navigating” the handler. The handler may have a neurological disability, they may have mobility problems, or a psychiatric disability. This can be known as a sighted guide task, a mobility task, a navigation task.. there are many names for it!

These dogs can get someone out of a public situation, take someone to a seat when they are dizzy, help them get to a car when they are disoriented or help them find a family member, there are many other uses for “guiding” other than for the visually impaired. But this is NOT traditional guide and the dog should NOT be called a guide dog in my opinion.

We as visually impaired handlers already struggle with being called “fake” as the public can be very judging already. When someone who can clearly “see” and has no visual impairments labels their dog as a guide dog, it makes it very difficult for us as visually impaired to be taken seriously who actually need our dogs to be labeled as guide dogs. We are often accused as being fake (Molly Burke has this happen to her all the time which is shattering) and I feel her as I my eye tracks and looks “normal”.

All together, mislabeling a service dog really does matter ESPECIALLY in this scenario. Even if it doesn’t seem like it.

// Sam & Navy



Photo credit - myself! I’m very happy to start getting back into photography. 🥰

I would like to thank @ myanimalplanets on Instagram for making her post. I added some of her points to this post so I am going to credit her here. Please go check out her post. Especially if you are a service dog user.

https://instagram.com/myanimalplanets

19/03/2023

This is how Navy feels about being home!
He’s been getting some good naps in! He worked quite hard in the hospital even when it may of looked like he wasn’t! 😴💤

Something you may not know! 🤨

Navy is a medical alert dog 🩺
and is fully trained in scent detection! This means he is constantly using his nose 👃

This makes hospitals exhausting for a dog like him! He is constantly using that nose. Even when things may seem to be alright for me, someone may not be okay in the next room and he smells that as he is trained for scent! He cannot just turn off his nose!

He did sleep quite hard when things were quiet. We were lucky to be on a day surgery ward in a private room (this isn’t usual! The GI floor just happened to be full) so he was able to get more rest then he did while being in the ER.

Emergency rooms are very chaotic and hectic for anyone nevermind a service dog!

It’s going to be a bit of a recovery as I take a bit longer than normal to recover. But I’m grateful for my surgeons and doctors and nurses for all they did for me during my admission!

Big shoutout to again, thank you so much for taking care of the both of us and continuing to educate your staff in service dogs!😊

04/03/2023

Nap time while being groomed? Why not!

Woofs 'n Wags

04/03/2023

Service Dog Etiquette 🦮
(It’s a long one! Grab some tea!)

What should you do when you encounter a service dog team? (In training or fully trained!)

Many understand that you should “do not pet or distract a service dog” but never understand the meaning behind the “rule”or that there are other things not to do when you encounter a service dog!

What does this mean?

Here are some reasons that we politely ask you please do not do.

* Please do not pet without asking
* do not talk to the service dog (talk to the handler instead!)
* do not call the dog by his name
* Please no eye contact!
* do not in any way try to get the dogs attention away from the handler. (Kissy noises, whistle, etc)
* do not feed the service dog.

Many simply want to know why we ask of these things, well I am here to give some answers!

Please do not pet/touch a guide dog or service dog wearing a harness or jacket. You may ask the owner if you can. Sometimes they may let you; other times they may ask you not to. Every handler is different, but in harness many service or guide dog handlers do not allow petting until the harness is off. In many service dog programs, the dogs learn that they are working when the harness is “on”. And when the harness is off they are still “off duty”. (Though many service dogs are still working even with the harness off, like medical alert dogs for an example!)

Distracting a service dog while working. (Talking, staring, trying to get their attention) is all a little unfair for them! these dogs have a very important job to do. They don’t need the added distraction of someone trying to distract them from their job.

Service Dogs are trained to ignore these types of distractions, but they are still dogs. No amount of training can make a dog completely unaffected by any and all possible distractions! They are not robots.

Giving treats to a service dog without permission. Many service dogs are on special diets or are on a potty schedule. I know that sounds weird. But some service and guide dogs are on a feeding schedule so their handlers can predict their potty times. It makes it easier to go about their days! Some dogs have allergies too! Feeding them a treat they may be allergic to, can cause them to become sick and need time off from doing their important job!

If you are going to ask questions or want to talk to the team. Talk to the handler! Not the dog. If the team cannot talk at that time, please respect that. Sometimes when owning a service dog we can be stopped quite often! I myself do my best to answer and at least acknowledge everyone that talks to me but sometimes I’m having a rough health day and I am just trying to survive my day. I make sure to kindly inform that I can’t talk at the time. (Or whoever I am with helps me out if I’m not alone)

Something to consider.

No one likes to be stared at or pointed at by strangers. Or to hear judging comments! Health is a private matter. making comments to others about the handler and their dog may be harmful for the handler to hear. Be aware of your choices and actions and the effects they may have on others.

The best way to help the handler and the service dog is to respect their space and privacy.

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But what do you do in an emergency? 🚨

This can look different for everyone.
If you see someone down and unconscious. Don’t immediately call 911, but you can approach and some dogs have bags on them. Usually with medical information! Not all do, some people have medical bracelets. Access the situation. Sit with them for awhile to see if the come too.

But I always say use common sense here or what you feel is best.

If the person appears injured call 911.

What happens if a service dog approaches you? Is it barking, nudging you, doing something odd? A service dog approaching you without their handler is a rare occurrence. Please follow the dog! The handler may be down and needs help. Follow the dog and see where they take you. Read patches on the dogs vest, check the dogs pockets if they have any, or look for a tag on the collar.

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A couple things I am going to add as a visually impaired guide dog/multipurpose service dog user.

If you are walking your dog and see a guide dog user. (Or even a service dog!)

Please allow them to pass first. (You can have your dog sit to the side) Or choose another path. Just for the safety of the team. Or if passing, simply call out! (I’m passing on your left, or I’m passing on your right with a dog!)

It’s the little things I appreciate so so much!

I hope I covered everything here, if you are a service dog handler. Feel free to add something in the comments!

// Sam & Navy



Just adding something!

Service dogs come in ALL sizes.
From little to big! Small dogs can still task just like little dogs, they just do their tasks in a different way!

There are your main types of breeds you see.
Poodles, labs and goldens (and mix of those)
But there is not a rule that says you cannot use another breed! So please do not discriminate if you see an unusual breed working. 😊 Treat them like all the rest!

26/02/2023

🥺💙

24/02/2023

💙💙

31/01/2023

this photo is everything 🥹 I cherish it so much now she's retired. This was one of her last days working before Navy came.

thank you so much Tiffany Marie Photography. 🥰

28/01/2023

My fiancé posted this cover today.

There is still so much hate in the LGBTQ community and one of her followers took their life a couple of days ago.

How can a parent make their child feel so unwanted and unloved that they take their own life?

I’m hoping you have realized at this point that I am engaged to a girl and if you are homophobic you have hit the unfollow button at this point.

We do not tolerate any kind of homophobia, transphobia, any of that sort on this page.

This was a hard one to film. We lost a loved member of our community this past week. I know there is nothing I can do or say to make this hurt any less, but ...

27/01/2023

Molly always making my life easier as a photographer.



Sam Dubas Photography

26/01/2023

Grab some popcorn for this novel.

Medical gaslighting.

Having a chronic illness, especially one that might seem invisible to others, can make you vulnerable to gaslighting.

Because often our disabilities are “invisible” we are quick to be dismissed or made to feel like it’s all in our head.

What are the signs of gaslighting? 🤔

- Your doctor/medical provider interrupts you, doesn’t allow you to explain yourself and doesn’t appear to be an engaged listener, they may also lack empathy when you struggle to explain yourself.

- Your doctor minimizes or downplays your symptoms. (Ex - questioning if you actually have pain)

- Your doctor interrupts you and refuses to discuss your symptoms further.

- You feel that your doctor is being rude, condescending or belittling.

- Your symptoms are being blamed on mental illness or you are told it is “all in your head.”

I could continue to give many more examples. But those are just a couple that myself or others I know have experienced.

I am very lucky to have a team of doctors who try their best for me, but it hasn’t been that easy to go to where I am.

I once again was gaslit at an appointment the other day with a new specialist which made me feel heartbroken. We aren’t seeing doctors for “fun” we are looking for help so we can get back to baseline to be able to live our lives again. Over the past years I have been through hell with gaslighting in the medical system. But I am blessed with my small team of doctors who do their best and fight for me and do what they can within their specialties.

For those with chronic illness, or just going through the medical system, some advice I’ll give to you is don’t give up.

Unfortunately, medical gaslighting is still very present in our medical system. Stick up for yourself when you are told your testing came back ‘normal.’ If one doctor won’t listen, find another one who will, but never give up. You know your body best.

Hugs 💙
// Sam & Navy

25/01/2023

Where are your dogs when you shower or are in the bathroom?
This is where molly and Navy (A Service Dog For Sam) always are 💙

14/01/2023

I have pants on for the first time in 10 days even though they barely did up from inflammation 😅

I showed yesterday
and I curled my hair and put makeup on.

here’s to 26 🫣 😂

pain meds are getting me through today
I ain’t letting chronic illness/health problems ruin another birthday for me.

04/01/2023

Does anyone else in Manitoba love the weather and trees the last couple of days?

01/01/2023

Let’s do this 2023. 🤞🏻👊🏻

2023.
I have some big goals.

Get back into photography and start up cinematography again? Let’s see if I can make all this happen!

I’m going to show everyone that even with disabilities, you can make your dreams happen.

I’m not letting chronic illness win.

& yes, you can still be a photographer and cinematographer while being visually impaired. 💙

2022 had many tough moments, but I am so thankful for this guy walking into my life. So thankful for Healing Hounds for placing this guy with me in September!

We have been a team for almost 100 days now! & it’s crazy how much he has changed my life already.

Very excited to see where he guides me next, he is really going to help me accomplish my dreams in 2023.

Let’s hope I can make all of this happen!

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#2023

31/12/2022

the best model.

28/12/2022

Molly helping me get ready for 2023!
Getting back into dog/equine photography and booking photoshoots! If you are interested, head over to Sam Dubas Photography! Book now before rates are raised in 2023!

28/12/2022

🚨🚨A couple things on service dog etiquette that I thought of these holidays. 🚨🚨

💙Please don’t interact with him without consent. Do not speak, feed, pet etc. he is doing a very important job!
You may of seen some videos on here of him, he is an alert dog and needs to be very focused at all times. He doesn’t get distracted too easily, but the chance he misses that very important alert can be very important to my well being/life.

💙 Service dogs are NOT robots! They make mistakes! But they are held to high expectations. Sometimes we’re having an off day, and that’s okay. Everyone messes up sometimes even the best trained ones! So don’t assume one is fake if they’re doing something wrong. They could be in training, trying to tell their handler something is very wrong, or just really struggling that day.

💙Please don’t follow a service dog around a store 😅

I know he’s cute and you may want to look at him, but please do it from a far!

Following us is a little creepy and can even be triggering for people with PTSD!

💙 please please don’t take photos of us, would you want someone taking photos of you in public? If you really want a photo of him, please just ask. But I really don’t want to be in hundreds of random peoples photos on their phone. 😭

💙 Please understand if I am uncomfortable with an interaction, we love making people smile, but we aren’t here to entertain your kids. I don’t want that to come off rude, please educate them nicely and don’t send them after my dog.

💙 this is a big one!! Navy is trained on a bark alert! This does not mean he is misbehaving! Many people assume this, but if he barks, something bad is going to happen! Either I am going to have a seizure, or anaphylaxis. If I am down he will lay beside me or stand over me and give some barks to let people know around me that I am in danger. He is trained to not leave me unless in extreme situations as he can help best by staying with me! 🚨

💙 NEVER separate dog and handler. There is a number to call on a tag on his collar if something were to happen to me. Or he is separated from me, but he is never to leave my side. Where I go he goes, and he is allowed to!

💙And last, talk to ME! not my dog. You can tell me he’s cute all you want! But please do not talk to him and distract him from working, he knows he’s cute because I tell him that all day!

You want to ask us a question? Ask me! He can’t answer for us 😊