Kuno was an amazing service dog. I'm Marla. His human. I'm a non-ambulatory bilateral amputee wheelchair user with some significant chronic health issues. Kuno taught me how to live life despite all that. We learned all about wheelchair life together. Everything from figuring out how to get to the store for bread, to going on adventures I never imagined doing without the help of another human. 

Because of him I learned to drive with hand controls, became involved in Service Dog training, and compete in upper level canine performance events. Kuno and I became well known disability advocates fighting for not just us, but for anyone struggling with accessibility due to disabilities.

Tragically, Kuno unexpectedly died in January of 2025. That almost crushed me. Thankfully his protégé, Chesnyy, who was training to take over for him, needed me to keep going. She's doing well in that role but also misses him fiercely.

I always wanted to take Kuno to the ocean. I was going to rent a water wheelchair and play with him in the waves. He loved splashing and I haven't been in water outside of a shower since losing my legs. Last summer I was sick and hospitalized and we couldn't go. 

This summer I'll be competing in a number of Rally Obedience events at dog shows with Chesnyy. I'd like to make it into the top 10 dogs nationally to demonstrate that even though I'm significantly disabled, I can be successful, and that when we make activities inclusive, people with disabilities can and do excel.

Typically I only compete in the prairies, however this summer there is a competition in Cranbrook BC. If we could afford to get there, when it's over, I could drive us to the lower mainland and take a Ferry to Vancouver Island. There, Chesnyy could frolic on the beach the way he couldn't, and I could spread his ashes in the Ocean. I can't help but picture him, a huge dog, sitting beside my wheelchair watching the sun set into the water. 

The following weekend there's another dog show in Summerland BC we would attend, then return home to Edmonton. To be honest, this wouldn't be an easy trip. It's hard to travel alone with a major disability. Even finding accessible bathrooms at the highway gas stations can be a challenge. We never know what barriers we will run into. We've even experienced scrambling to find a place to stay because the hotel mixed up our reservation and gave away the accessible room. 

Life is short, and in an instant things can change dramatically. I honestly don't know if I'll be healthy enough to do this trip in future years. I'd love the chance to do it now. Along the way we'd document the challenges, the fears, the people who help out, and hopefully some successes. 

The biggest cost will be accomodations for about 2 weeks which run high as it is tourist season. Unfortunately I can't get into people's homes or I'd happily crash on couches. Entry fees for dog trials at 2 shows will run several hundred dollars as well. Gas, ferry costs, it all adds up. Any funds raised over what we need will end up going towards things like mobility equipment maintenance, medications or the "maybe one day we can find an accessible house with a yard" so I can chase my dream of training service dogs to provide at low cost to others who need that partner to get them out in the world. 

Any support in helping Chesnyy and I make this amazing journey is appreciated.