A
Anonymous
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Deb and I have been planning for this day for many months. We will be turning our puppy in training (Ansel) back in to Canine Companions for advanced training in 1 month. The plan was to caravan with the other VPR's (volunteer puppy raisers) to Delaware, Ohio, attend the graduation of new graduate teams, turn Ansel in at the kennels, bid our fond farewell to the ole' boy and head to Indianapolis to see Deb's family and cry over a few beers. Return home and enjoy the next few months of quiet, rest and general house cleaning before getting another 8 week old puppy to start the training all over again.
A simple phone call last night to work out the driving plan turned into an entirely new plan emerging.
Another VPR in Kansas City who has a year old black Lab (Lassiter)and just got her next pup (12 weeks old, Clark) just found out that her 40 yr old son that lives in Utah was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and has been placed into Hospice care. She has already left for Utah this am, but will return next week to tie up loose ends for a more semi permanent move to be with her son. She had found another VPR to take on the 12 week old puppy, but was fretting over what to do with Lassiter.
Deb and I immediately decided to take on Lassiter and finish up his training. We'll pick him up next Saturday and will keep him until A: it's turn in time in Feb 2012, B: She returns and wants him back.
So much for our best laid plans! It's the only way we could think of to help and frankly, having 2 semi-equal pups at the same time (for only a few weeks) might just help Ansel with his dog excitability before he heads off to "college". We are still planning on getting a new puppy sometime after March 2012, so finishing up with Lassiter will not affect that part of the plan. The biggest difference is that we will lose our "recoup" time and then the black Lab hair will just make for a cleaning nightmare. We've only had blonde Labs. The carpet and all the funiture is color coordinated with the blonde fur (so I'm told). Even Deb's work wardrobe is Khaki so the blonde fur doesn't show!
We are excited to put the bow on Lassiter and happy to give him a new home while helping ease the stress of a fellow VPR. Maybe Lassiter will even help ease the sadness once Ansel is gone...it could happen!
Here's the little guy working hard!
A simple phone call last night to work out the driving plan turned into an entirely new plan emerging.
Another VPR in Kansas City who has a year old black Lab (Lassiter)and just got her next pup (12 weeks old, Clark) just found out that her 40 yr old son that lives in Utah was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and has been placed into Hospice care. She has already left for Utah this am, but will return next week to tie up loose ends for a more semi permanent move to be with her son. She had found another VPR to take on the 12 week old puppy, but was fretting over what to do with Lassiter.
Deb and I immediately decided to take on Lassiter and finish up his training. We'll pick him up next Saturday and will keep him until A: it's turn in time in Feb 2012, B: She returns and wants him back.
So much for our best laid plans! It's the only way we could think of to help and frankly, having 2 semi-equal pups at the same time (for only a few weeks) might just help Ansel with his dog excitability before he heads off to "college". We are still planning on getting a new puppy sometime after March 2012, so finishing up with Lassiter will not affect that part of the plan. The biggest difference is that we will lose our "recoup" time and then the black Lab hair will just make for a cleaning nightmare. We've only had blonde Labs. The carpet and all the funiture is color coordinated with the blonde fur (so I'm told). Even Deb's work wardrobe is Khaki so the blonde fur doesn't show!
We are excited to put the bow on Lassiter and happy to give him a new home while helping ease the stress of a fellow VPR. Maybe Lassiter will even help ease the sadness once Ansel is gone...it could happen!
Here's the little guy working hard!
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