[CT-NFB] Guide dog story #4

Sat Apr 29 19:22:37 UTC 2023

Thanks everyone for your positive responses. It was a very difficult letter
to write and choice to make. It still makes me cry. Anyone who’s had to
make those kind of decisions knows exactly what that’s all about and I hope
I could convey some of that experience. I appreciate all the positive
remarks and it was quite cathartic to be able to share with everyone

On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 2:57 PM Mary Silverberg via CT-NFB <
ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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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