[CT-NFB] Guide dog story #4

Sat Apr 29 18:54:22 UTC 2023

Isobel & Kristen,
I agree with Nathanael.  I  also  found your essay about Emma moving.
Thank you for sharing it.
Mary

On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 2:43 PM Nathanael T. Wales via CT-NFB <
ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Isabel,
>
>
>
> Yes, thank you! This was the most moving of all of the excellent stories
> you shared this week.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Nathanael
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] *On Behalf Of *Esther
> Levegnale via CT-NFB
> *Sent:* Friday, April 28, 2023 8:14 AM
> *To:* NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
> *Cc:* Esther Levegnale
> *Subject:* Re: [CT-NFB] Guide dog story #4
>
>
>
> Wow, Isabel!  Thanks so much for sharing Kristen's moving words.  The
> letter was absolutely beautiful!
>
>
>
> Thanks again and have a great day!
>
>
>
> Esther
>
> Sent From Esther's Amazing and Awesome iPhone 13 Pro Max!
>
>
>
> On Apr 27, 2023, at 1:32 PM, Isabel Rosario via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Good afternoon!
>
> I hope you all have been enjoying the stories shared thus far! Today we
> will be hearing about Kristen dockendorff’s experience with the hard
> decision to retire her guide, written in the form of a beautiful letter -
>
> Dear Emma ,
>
> It is so hard to write this but that’s exactly why I need to. you are the
> most outwardly enthusiastic dog that I have  ever met.  your  bubbly and
> engaging  personality are the definition of who you are . One of the
> trainers called you extremely solicitous. Yes,That wonderful smile I’m told
> you have when you engage people,  leaves no doubt that you are a happy
> girl. I wish we could have had a different kind of relationship. I just
> realized I think I’m jealous of my friends who got to only experience your
> pet dog side and not have to rely on you as a working dog. I hated having
> to constantly ask you to do things that you were showing me by your actions
> that you really didn’t want to do. You are an absolute expert at making
> yourself happy but unfortunately that trait also lead to making our working
> relationship very different than just enjoying the fact that You are a very
> smart, engaging, happy, impulse driven, enthusiastic, physically strong,
> loving,  dog.
>
>      From the moment I met you , you came wiggling into my room at
> School  with the instructor atta claiming “she’s very excited” and you went
> running directly into the crate where somebody fed their previous dog, and
> went running around the room with the mud mat shaking it all over the
> place. The instructor says to me “I would discourage that behavior“you
> showed me how unbelievable your sense of smell is. Throughout the time at
> School !, your impulsive  sense of smell and desire for food got you into
> many high collar situation‘s. I often feel  that if I were a more
> experienced guide dog handler I would have recognized those signs as
> something that was not indicative of a dog that could ignore such impulses.
> you spent the next four years proving to me just how much you did not want
> The responsibility of making me a priority. It’s too bad that you couldn’t
> have been a cadaver dog or some other kind of scent dog because then  you
> would get rewarded for your behavior instead of constantly being corrected
> for it. I am truly sorry that I am the one who had to put those
> restrictions on you. It literally took a phone pole to the head to knock
> some sense into me and say “hey, this girl really needs to have her time to
> shine.” So my dear Emma, you beautiful black beauty, it is with a very open
> heart,  that I give you the freedom to be who you are with no restrictions
> or expectations. I will miss our adventures and all the exciting friends
> and places we’ve shared together but I know you will now be truly happy.
> You will continue to bring your infectious joy to everyone you meet. With
> all my sincerest thanks and love,  your mama, Kristen
>
> --
>
> Best regards,
> Isabel Rosario
> Co-chair|NABS Membership Committee
> President| Connecticut Association of Blind Students
> President| Connecticut Association of Guide Dog Users
> A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut
> www.nfbct.org
> Check out my podcast:https://anchor.fm/brizzys-perspective
> 203-993-3045
> insertion point between Committee and President|, at the 81st position
>
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