[NAGDU] They don't quit

[Sherry Gomes]

I had a sweet highly bonded golden retriever from 1990 to 1999. When she retired, since I lived in an apartment where I couldn't have pets, I gave her to my sister. We lived in different states. A couple years later, I went home for a visit and one night went to my sister's. I had a yellow lab male by then. My golden was old. She had terrible arthritis and was blind and partly deaf. But when I went to put my current guide's harness on, that old sweet dog tried to put her head in the harness. She never forgot, even not seeing me for two or three years. It broke my heart and I wanted to scoop her up and take her home with me. 

Sherry
Sherry.gomes at outlook.com



-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 2:29 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
Subject: [NAGDU] They don't quit

When I am with Fisher, I am amazed. I think I have mentioned that I retired him almost four years ago because of his dog distraction. He would lunge at other dogs, and now and then he pulled me down. Well, that hurt, and people, well meaning ones, were trying to tell me how to handle him. It just wasn't working out for me. I probably had a temper tantrum the day I retired him. I am sorry I did it; he was too young, but we have to move on and perhaps even learn from our mistakes.

About 19 months ago I had hip replacement surgery, and last December I had shoulder surgery, so often I couldn't take him out. It was a long time before I could do so regularly. Often he would come to me as if to say, "Are you sure you aren't taking me out?"

Last night and today he was very assertive about what it was he wanted. I've been taking him out quite regularly now, but Bob does from time to time.
Last night after his dinner, Bob put Fisher's leash on him. They were by the stairs and I was in my chair in the living room. Fisher lead Bob to me, so I took him out. This morning after his breakfast, Fisher walked up to me on the left side and licked my hand. Bob was in front of me and called him. He went to Bob, but then he reached back out to me. I have been touched by that kind of loyalty even though I haven't always been able to take him out. I think more and more that I will replace him, because I surely do misusing a dog.

Cindy Lou Ray

cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com> 

 

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