[nagdu] How to say goodbye

[rhonda cruz]

 hi i am sending you positive hugs.
 i hope your new dog is wonderful.

On Mar 27, 2013, at 4:00 PM, Hannah Chadwick wrote:

> Meghan,
> I am so so very sorry to hear this devasting news! Your post brought tears to my eyes, and I can only say that I understand what you are going through.  It is never easy to retire a guide, especially at such a young age, when there is so much life left for you both to experience.  I hope that your next dog will be just as amazing!
> All the best, Hannah
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Meghan Whalen <mewhalen at gmail.com
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:06:06 -0500
> Subject: [nagdu] How to say goodbye
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sparklylicious
> %40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rhondaprincess%40gmail.com