[nagdu] How to say goodbye

[Shannon Dyer]

Meghan,

My heart breaks for you. I'm so very sorry you have to make this decision. It can't be easy. You know where to find me, should you wish to talk.

Shannon and Ace
Shannon Dyer
Alumni Council Member,
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
®  and
America's VetDogs®,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc ®
Providing "Second Sight" ® since 1946
371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
solsticesinger at gmail.com
To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
www.guidedog.org 
or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
www.vetdogs.org
Visit us on facebook at: 
www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs

On Mar 27, 2013, at 6:06 PM, Meghan Whalen <mewhalen at gmail.com> wrote:

> As I get ready to leave for class at TSE on Monday, I am cherishing every moment with my Dayton boy. From 12 weeks, I have been his constant, and he has been
> mine. I am the one who curled up with him on the floor so he could fall asleep listening to my heartbeat when he was missing his litter mates and his mom.
> I am the one who taught him sit, come, stay, lay nicely under the table, don't pick things up off the ground and I am always here.
> 
> Soon, though, both of our worlds will change, forever. He has become dog aggressive. I thought it was only while he was working, but yesterday, he started
> to act aggressively towards the other dogs in my home. I have come to the realization that for the safety of my other dogs and my guide who I will meet
> sometime next week, I need to find him a home where he can still be the center of someone's world. It is true that he has always shared me with others,
> but as my guide, for hours of every day, he was the only dog. He came to work while everyone else stayed home etc etc. You all know what I mean, I think.
> I don't think he can cope well with the downgrade to pet. I don't think he can adjust to having to share me most of the time.
> 
> We just finished a 35 minute session of fetch out in my driveway, and I kept thinking, "This may be the last time I ever throw a ball for him."...so I
> kept throwing it one more time. I don't know when the last hug, the last gentle lick or the last snuggle will happen, because I don't know when that perfect
> home will be found. I do know that there is a good chance I will never see him again after this Sunday when he leaves to stay with a trusted friend and
> colleague. No one can love my boy like I do, but I hope they can do just as well, in their own way. He just turned three on the eleventh of this month,
> so he has a lot of life and joy ahead of him.
> 
> He has been attacked four different times since I got him. The last time was the only one that left physical damage. The build up of time and time again
> has taught him not to trust other dogs, and who could blame a guy? I am so very proud of all he learned with me. From traffic training to platform refusal,
> he has aced everything I have thrown at him. He is a superhero, but he has just been scared and hurt one too many times to keep us both safe anymore. I
> am devastated, and I hope he finds happiness and fulfillment wherever he ends up calling home.
> 
> Thank you for reading, it helps to know I am not alone in my pain.
> Meghan
> 
> 
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