[NAGDU] With a sad and heavy heart...

[Charlene Ota]

Well, Wayne, having just been going through the process of gradually retiring my boy Irish, too, I know where you're at and my heart goes out to you!  My boy didn't want to retire, in him mind, he wanted so badly to go to work, but his old body just doesn't cooperate any more, the arthritis is just too bad.  Just wanted you to know I'll be thinking of you and understand where you're at! It's such a sad hard place to be, the real bummer end of having a guide dog! But we have all the good years to remember, too!

Charlene

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Wayne & Harley via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2018 3:06 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Wayne & Harley <k9dad at k9di.org>
Subject: [NAGDU] With a sad and heavy heart...

*     Hello Everyone,*

*This ties in with a thread I saw regarding when to retire a Guide Dog. 
Well, here's my take on it. The dog will tell you when it's time. Just as I describe below...
*

*It is with a sad and heavy heart that I sit down to write this.*

*Harley D is in the process of retiring from "Active Duty". There, I said it...*

*On 17 August, 2018, He "quit" mid-route. He was signaling, but was not stepping out confidently as is his norm.*

*This has continued. While not refusing the harness he is no longer excitedly thrusting his head into the harness when asked to "Harness up".
*

*Originally, I had planned on locating his successor next year when Harley turned nine years old.
*

*Well, plans have been adjusted.
*

*We will be visiting a breeder in late September to evaluate pups.
*

*Once one is adopted in, we will be journeying down that road again. 
Harley will be an invaluable training resource for Puppy X.  Just as LD Patriot was an invaluable resource in training Harley.*

*To reiterate, Harley is still guiding, not with the dash and verve that he previously displayed.*

*He is still safely guiding me, but after five years of traveling in and out of the Chicago Metropolitan area five days a week, he has had enough.*

*I have to respect that.*

*I assure you all, that I will hang up his harness if he stops guiding
completely..*

*
*

*
*

*Buckle up folks, it's going to be a memorable ride...*

*
*

*Wayne And Harley D*



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