Oh save my soul.....we have welcomed a canine into our family. Vince, the invincible is in the house. Vince is not your average dog, he is a dog we have been waiting 8 years to adopt. Waiting that is, longer than he has been alive.
When I was pregnant with my older son I heard about the Released Dog Program at Guiding Eyes For the Blind. Dogs are released from the seeing eye dog program for a host of reasons (fears, behavior, medical etc) and clearly the released dogs need homes. Guiding Eyes breeds their owns dogs, raises them from puppies (actually puppy raising families do that job) they attend guide dog school, graduate and go on for a life of service. Many, for obvious reasons don't make the cut.
The average wait time to be matched with a dog is 5 years, but when 5 years found me with a 5 year old and 3 year old I declined my match (Sheldon - can't believe I remember that). This past February we decided the time was finally right, as right as right can be. We reactivated our status on the waiting list. A week ago Sunday we drove to New York to claim the Invincible.....
Vinny my boy is remarkably handsome, very well trained and has house manners that are simply mind blowing. Vince did work as a seeing eye dog for 6 months, but it seems he has decided that a life of service is not the life for him. Vince wants to be free. Actually he really, really wants to be free. His reason for being released is that he "bolts" whenever he sees the chance. He assess the situation, sees an opportunity and goes for it. It's odd really that a dog that can practically use the phone and drive a car will take off and not come when called 'cause he really really really wants to go on an unsanctioned adventure. We have our work cut out for us, but as far as I see it, the real dirty work is done.
We are all settling in, and I think it's safe to say .... More to come.....
wow, big step! I had no idea you were hunkering for a canine, perhaps now the feral fellows in your back yard will break camp and move along. Will you be taking Vinny on your summer excursions?
Posted by: Growing Muses | 08/14/2011 at 02:27 PM
I miss my babes when I read your blogs. He is almost 3 years of age before he died because of disease.
Posted by: online writing | 08/26/2011 at 06:21 PM