Sunday, April 12, 2015

spring graduation

Oh this little face!!!! I miss her so much and still to this day, in a mean sort of way... wish she had failed as a service dog!!! Because she would have been mine...... but Debbie is destined for bigger things than me... and today is her graduation. 
I had huge mixed emotions at the thought of seeing her again and meeting her new Mom.... I could hardly wait to get to see her, and then was already embarrassed knowing full well that I would have a hard time keep it all in check. And when we saw each other once again....



Well, I think the look on her face says it all.....

I was pleased with myself, that I remembered "good service dog manners" and asked Samantha for permission to pet her dog.....
I think Samantha was nervous too at meeting me ... no doubt she knew from the people at NEADS how much I loved this dog. And I always did know that Debbie wouldn't fail... and being a hearing dog for this wonderful young woman is going to give her an amazing life....
Debbie and Samantha will be heading to college in the fall.... Debbie will  love living on the campus and I can already see the love and bond she has for her new Mom. No one ever said being a puppy raiser was "easy"... but it certainly is rewarding....
Debbie got to meet Bella....
And Joey... and seems as though she was giving advise to them both.....
Three of "my" puppies....... 


And here's the graduating class........
It wasn't long ago, when I told Debbie that one day it will be her turn  on the stage.... and look at this... she's an old pro already......
I don't remember "who" this dog is.. but what a ham he was up on the stage... he laid like this for nearly the whole program.....
There were four hearing dogs at this graduation, but I didn't realize that this class had all trained together. And these four young women had made very close friendships. Each one of them spoke of it in their speech and how already their dogs had brought new and exciting things to them....
Debbie never took her eye of Samantha.... (she used to do that with me....) but that's "my" girl... she always did her job 1000%.... and she will continue to do that....
Joey found  it all very boring.... though one day with love and luck.. he will have his turn on the stage......
It was a nice graduation ceremony... though I have to say, this one was rather long.. and between Abi and Joey, it was hard to keep the youngsters patient.....
The new client house is being named after Kathy... this is really nice thing and she had no idea.... so an already emotional day just had fuel added to the fire....  

Even during his center time on stage... this boy knows how to play the crowd... good things he's going to be a ministry dog.. with this sense of humor....


When they show "this" photo at the end.. this is my "closing marker"... the work is done... for me and for Deb.. and now they step out into the world together....
But there are other puppies to train... other adventures to take.... and with my buds.. we're going to take them on and have a good time.....
And of course, my number one puppy raiser partner!!!!!


(Abi and Joey.......)