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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla)

@servicerotties.bsky.social
3.1K followers 214 following 223 posts

Canada's gigantic, big hearted wheelchair assistance dog and his handler/trainer. Working hard to make the world a more inclusive place and occasionally kicking butt in the canine sports world.

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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
It is. I hate that I can't get into my mom's house. She's older and can't drive to the city. Going out is expensive so many people do birthday dinners or gatherings in their home. I miss those.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
I love that you've done that. It's difficult for people to always come to the disabled persons house. Someone hosts a dinner party, we can't go. Someone has a game night, we can't go. In winter it can be hard to get to public places to meet. There's no popping by for coffee.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
It ends up making it incredibly socially isolating for people. You can never visit people in their homes. Of course people can come to you or you can meet in public spaces, but it changes the dynamics of relationships drastically. Especially for single people.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
New buildings here are typically quite accessible. At least businesses and services. But often the older ones do little to upgrade. Housing, however, is a different story. There's no requirement on houses to have any type of accessible entrance. Very few places in the world do.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Honestly, never given that much thought. We don't go to the hardware store often. It probably depends on who has what we need at a lower cost
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
It's pretty common across north America. How many houses do you see with accessible entrances? Almost none. Usually you can visit folks in apartments with elevators but then have to leave if you need the bathroom because the interior doors are too narrow.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
It makes me sad that for so many years they've never been to someone's home for dinner or a movie night or just to hang out. It's been a long time for us...but 17 years. I don't think most people understand how isolating disability is and how easily people get left out because they can get in.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Human is super stressed. Once the move is over, it'll be fine. But packing and purging is not easy from a wheelchair. Turns out there's food in the cupboard that got pushed out of reach that's over 4 years old!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
In a few weeks we're moving! To a wheelchair accessible house with a fenced yard! It will still need some tweaking, especially the kitchen. We're gonna invite our friend who's also a wheelchair user for dinner once we're settled. He said he hasn't been able to go to anyone else's home in 17 years!
Chesnyy the Servicerottie in a tan vest on a grocery store floor
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
I find most people simply train the dog to go in and out and settle in the crate. There's often no need to close it when it's in the house, but dogs simply like going in because they like the enclosed space. Then the crate goes in the vehicle when driving as it's the safest way to transport.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
an abusive manner. There's also people who use leashes, collars, and harnesses abusively. These people shouldn't own animals. Animals should be confined as little as possible, but there are times when it's needed for their safety. Proper conditioning will make that as stress free as possible. 5/5
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
normalize the crate experience. Many dogs, especially those in multi pet homes or homes with children will start to choose an open crate as the place they'll go just to get away from everyone. For them it's a space others are kept out of. Unfortunately there will be some people who use crates in 4/
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
heartbreaking. The dogs that were used to crates were significantly less anxious. Even if someone never keeps a dog in a crate, they really should take the time to do proper exposure training to a crate. If that's done well, simply leaving an open with bedding they can go in and out of will 3/
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
stress, normalizing going in and out of crates, and relaxing in them is really important. I once volunteered with dogs evacuated after wildfires that needed to be held until they could be reunited with family or fostered, and the panic some dogs went through even being crated for transport was 3/
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
prevent this, and if done using r+ training methods, the positive association with the crate can also make the entire ordeal less stressful. Crates shouldn't be used punitively or as a "jail", and animals should only be secured in them when absolutely necessary, but to make those times low 2/
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
There's situations where dogs require confinement. After a medical procedure they often need to be confined to a crate in a vet hospital. Dogs who have never had positive associations with crates end up unnecessarily stressed, even panicking, trying to chew their way out. Crate training can 1/
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
I didn't like that book because the cheese was not hidden appropriately for searching.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
It's still wise to train confinement. Injured or sick dogs require crating at vet hospitals, pets that get lost often get crated by animal services. Training them to be comfortable in enclosures will drastically reduce their stress in these situations. It's worth the time just for their well being.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
There's lots of these little free libraries in our community. I had to look closely cuz I thought I saw a copy of "Finding the Cheese". Turns out it was just a book of crochet patterns. That won't help me find cheese.
Chesnyy sticks her head inside a cupboard of books mounted on a fence post.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
My human kinda looks stressed. This is good change, but it's still kinda scary. And there's so much work to do!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Fancy cheese is often stinky. ❤️ I had some at an event once. It was divine.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
All. The. Cheese.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Hey you! In case nobody told you today, you're amazing. Also, do you have cheese?
Chesnyy the Servicerottie wearing a purple bandana and purple service dog vest sitting on a sidewalk pointing a paw at the camera
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
So much is happening that it's hard to keep up. We're going to be moving in a month and need to start packing. I have concerns. What if the delivery truck that brings my food can't find us? What if the dogs in the new neighborhood don't like me? How will I get to the butcher shop??
Chesnyy in a tan colored service dog vest waving a paw
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
It is!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
When people are genuinely happy to see good things happen to others, it's a beautiful thing. So many people are excited and thrilled to see us finally get a wheelchair accessible house with a yard. So many folks pitched in to help us get there. It's the house that love bought ❤️
Chesnyy holding her soft blue and orange ball as she lays on the couch.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Thank you!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
I already told Chesnyy we can't have baby goats and probably can't get a freeze drying machine to make infinite sheets. But we could use some new towels and a lightweight leaf blower for snow
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
I had a moment where I felt so sad that we couldn't pull this off sooner so he could have laid in his yard and power rolled in the grass. I'm going to plant a raspberry bush for him. He always loved when we found ones we could pick. Random alley snacks. ❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
😊 oh my ❤️. I forgot about that video!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Last week in July 😊😁😁😊
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
I finally have a yard so Chesnyy can play. I went in on it with my best human friend, who also owns Chesnyy's best 4 pawed buddy. Finally, no more late night pottywalks on snow covered sidewalks. And a yard for zoomies. I'm still in shock. The universe decided and so many folks helped. ❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Admin post: This time last summer I was incredibly sick, in the hospital with a rogue infection, and the dogs were with their emergency backup caregivers. Since then I lost the bestest big hearted big pawed boy ever. Things sucked for a long time. But this week we bought an accessible home! ❤️🐾❤️
A collage with Kuno in a living room, an IV pole with multiple bags, and Chesnyy in an office lobbyThe front entrance of a wheelchair accessible houseThis back yard and accessible deck of a house.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
I'm sure I'll never stop missing him.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
This year has been tough. Between losing Kuno and a open wound that just won't heal, I've lost a bit of motivation, but didn't give up searching for a permanent place. We're close. But not quite close enough. But just maybe the universe will give me this break ❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
❤️
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
We finally found it! A rare wheelchair-accessible home with ramps, a yard, and an accessible bathroom—move-in ready for me & my service dog. We just need a bit more to cover the down payment & moving costs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. 💙 www.gofundme.com/f/s5jcw-a-wh...
gofundme.com
Donate to A Wheelchair Accessible Home!, organized by Marla SMITH
Help Us Secure the Accessible Home of a Lifetime Hi, my name is Marla, and I’m raisi… Marla SMITH needs your support for A Wheelchair Accessible Home!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Maybe I should lick your eyeball instead
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
It's been a busy few weeks with a lot of traveling to rally obedience trials, helping be the demo dog at school, and planning presentations about disabilities at a local university. So today was a play day for me and a catch up on rest day for my human. Unlike me, she needs more than a quick nap!
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Just visiting. He had surgery recently. They had to take out part of his intestine. So he needs extra potty walks and midday pills so we are in charge of daytime love.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Quite well except for the explosive butt squirtles
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
It's been REALLY hard to keep up with social media lately! Between helping my human give some training classes, dog show season starting, and helping look after my best friend who recently had surgery, my paws are full! But I wanted to pop in and say thank you for being you.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
I love this. I've been doing a bit of research into accessibility on the island and have to say, Parksville is leading the way. I couldn't find a single beach in Victoria that would rent a beach wheelchair and the often the tourist info reps seemed uneducated about disability.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
A lot of hard work and maintenance goes into being a working dog.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
It's a lazy Sunday heading into a busy week. Monday we Train and get the human fixed up by the doctor, Tuesday we get the van tuned up and I help human teach a class. Wednesday we pack and teach another class. Thursday we head to a Dog Show! Come home Sunday night.
Chesnyy the Servicerottie sprawled on the bed on her back.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Honestly, if I could afford it, we'd rent a warehouse bay to live in.I could just drive the van in to park, make the warehouse a dog play/ train area, and the reception and office area would become a bedroom, living room/kitchen, and we'd make a big accessible wetroom/bathroom.
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Team Servicerottie (Chesnyy & Marla) @servicerotties.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
We're leaving here Thursday for a dog show in Red Deer on Friday Saturday and Sunday. We go the day before because no way can we up, groomed,e exercised, and drive an hour and a half to be the first dog in at 9 a.m. We have a date night in the works with Bernoulli!
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