Sunday, January 20, 2008

Voight

We appreciate the patience some readers have had for our somewhat cryptic post a few weeks ago. We feel that we can explain a bit more now, especially with the events of this past week.
Our first dog, Voight, was matched in 2005 with a wonderful person who lived not to far from us. We saw them often, and he and his partners were even in our wedding in 2006 as our ringbearers (Voight did the driving, his partner held the pillow with our rings).
Voight's partner passed away early this year. It was completely unexpected, and we were devastated. We were asked to take Voight back by his partner's spouse, in order that Voight be kept active and in a working mindset, as well as to have the attention that he needs. So we've had Voight and Tai at home for a few weeks, and fortunately they got along swimmingly. Voight also got to see friends of his puppyhood in Mika, Jetta (his first crush), Luke, and Tallee and make new friends in Dusty, as well as see his favorite people, his aunties and unkies from when he was small. (He practically knocked his Auntie Tina off the bench she was sitting on and DID tackle his Auntie Cindi)
The decision was made by Voight's partner's spouse that Voight would return to GDA to be reassessed to see if he can be regraduated. So yesterday, we took Voight to the school. To give him back. Again. No one should have to do this twice, even when we firmly believe it is the right thing to do. But if you're keeping score, that's 3 dogs we've turned in (or re-turned in) in two and a half years.

Fortunately, we were able to turn him in as is proper, because we were the ones to take him back to the kennel , not the kennel techs. We were the ones to put him in the kennel. We were afraid that we would not be able to do those things because it wasn't a formal turn-in. And so much for Voight acting like he didn't want to be there - the big green Jollyball in his run made sure of that. He was happily pushing it all over the run, grunting with joy, when we left.

So our Little Man (his nickname from the time he was very small) is back at the school right now. We'll keep you posted as to how his assessment goes. Please continue to keep Voight and his partner's family in your thoughts.

Voight, who belongs to the "Big Tongue Happy Family"

Sunday, January 6, 2008

The Post Behind The Post

The following is a one-line post that I had meant to put up a while ago, when we had not blogged for awhile:

The posting will resume when the morning sickness passes.

Yep, you read it right.

This was the official-until-New Year reason why there was no posting for almost a month (and yes, we are very excited). Between my morning sickness, the loss of our friend, and having a puppy houseguest for awhile, things may be a bit more spotty than usual, but we hope that everyone is having a safe and wonderful New Year.

Friday, January 4, 2008

We are Overcome

Out of respect for another's privacy, we cannot blog specifically about the guide dog related loss we have suffered in the past few days. Voight, Liam, Paige, and Tai are all fine, but we are without words for the loss of our friend.

Within our community, we meet people that otherwise we would have no way of knowing, and we are devastated at the loss of future time spent with our friend. We would ask for your thoughts, prayers, and meditations for our dear friend and the friends and family that are now grieving.