Sadie's leaving today...

[Ritz459]

Today is the day we are making the six hour treck up to Michigan...and tomorrow...no more Sadie. It is going to be so weird without having a dog in the house. I'm really going to miss her. My friend is coming on the trip with us too (to get her out of her house...long story), so that part will be fun, but I'm going to cry like a baby when we leave her there. So just keep me, my mom, and my friend in your thoughts and prayers for a safe trip and comfort in leaving our little pupper behind.

So here are some pics of her, through the year:

[TribalRats]

She is just beautiful!

[Doglover1988]

I'm sorry you have to part with her. If she doesn't make it through the training (I heard alot don't) are you going to get her back?

[gaddylovesdogs]

She is a beautiful lab. Just think; if she makes it through training, she'll really be helping somebody out.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

Oh Ritz..thinking of you! Let yourself grieve if you need to. No matter how noble the task, it doesn't take away the pain (just gives you an end in sight). Prayers for a safe drive and much comfort for you guys today. Be sure to give Sadie girl a hug and a kiss from me, as well. You sure did an awesome job with her. She's stunning, and obviously a happy pup.

[Swiftwind]

Good luck with everything! I can only imagine just how hard it will be to part with Sadie.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I'm so sorry to hear you have to part with her, but just think of the difference she may make in someone else's life. Remember all of the good times you guys have shared, and what a great experience it was for you to do something like this. I know it's hard, and nothing can really make it easier, but I wish her the best.

She was lucky to have someone like you raise her. I bet she'll do great in the future.

[Rivsky]

Giver Sadie another hug from us - she is beautiful and a very happy dog. I'm sure she'll do great in her training and I know it's hard but try to remember the huge difference she'll be making to someone

[Persy Rules!]

This may sund werd but i am really crying,just seeing those pictures.....

[SpringerLover]

You did such a wonderful thing! I realize that it's hard but keep your chin up and remember you're giving someone a new lease on life because you raised this puppy! I wish her luck on her journey!

Maybe I'm just not up on stuff but... why can't your other two dogs be in the house?

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

How ya doin' Ritz? Just thinking about you!

[Radar_Love]

Aw, she's gorgeous! I know it's so hard to let one go, but keep in mind how much help she'll be to someone after her training.

[Ritz459]

Hey, just got back home about thirty minutes ago and I came straight on here after letting my puppers out to run. I clicked on this thread and there was Sadie, staring at me when we first got her. God, now I'm crying. I miss this dog so much.
I was kinda in denial as we were taking her up there, just kinda putting it off in my mind. Even when we walked in the building I was refusing to let myself think about it. And a vollenteer that welcomed us into the building doesn't know it, but she is an angel in disguise. She was able to keep me distracted long enough that I didn't break down until I walked out of the building. I was holding it together as we were saying goodbye, but then my mom started to cry and then that got me going. I gave Sadie a kiss and handed her over to the kennel worker, and then he took her back to the kennels. Even watching her walk back, tail hesitantly wagging not to sure about all of this, I didn't cry. Then as soon as I walked out of that building, it finally hit me that she was gone. I just started crying and I fell off of the curb. lol It just didn't seem right leaving there without her.
After a while I was able to regain my composure, and my friend was doing a good job distracting me, but I tell you, the stupidist stuff sets me off. I almost lost it again as we were nearing home because we had more snow on the ground, and I know that I'm never going to see Sadie play in it again. No more black fuzzy pogo stick greating you at the door, running to get a toy, no more barking at the stupid cows, no more yelling, "Sadie, thank you!" as she takes off with a piece of trash. Ok, enough of my crying...I hate to cry. It makes me feel like an idiot. I try to only cry on my own time, not out in public.

Our trip went well. Sadie was supposed to sit in the front seat on the way up there, but somehow she ended up in the backseat with my friend (Sara) and I, asleep on our laps. She was very good and just slept the whole way. When we got to the hotel she was a crazy dog for being cooped up that long and was tearing around the room like a mad dog. Then she started barking because she wanted to play, and that took a while to calm her down. We went to sleep and she was pretty good, but she would make a soft bark when she heard people walking the the hallway or something loud outside. We had pizza delievered and she scared the delivery man half to death. He knocked on our door and Sadie started barking like she was going to kill him and went running toward the door. Needless to say, I dont' think he was expecting a 65lb Lab that sounded like a 200lb Mastiff meeting him at a hotel door. lol
Sadie was good at the Leader Dog office place. When the kennel dude (I dont' know his name) came out for her, she was happy to meet him. He put a new training collar on her and she was a bit hesitant about that, but she warmed up to him after a minute. He took her outside on a walk to evaluate her and it made me feel loads better seeing how he was with her. He probably won't be the main one caring for her, but he was very good with her. He walked her up next to a statue of a GSD outside, and she was scared at first, but then he coaxed her up next to it and she was sniffing it and her tail was wagging in the "is this thing going to eat me?" kinda way.
When he came back in he said that she as a very good dog who was very sweet and he gave us her evaluation sheet. He had marked her "great" on every test that he did with her. It made me feel so proud.
We said that if she doesn't qualify for their program, we wanted to be contacted for the option of taking her back. After that we took a picture of her in a sit/stay against a wall, we said our goodbyes, and then we left.

When we got home, I showed my dad her evaluation sheet, and seeing the sheet set me off again, so I went upstairs to our bathroom and cried. And here I am again, crying. I'm going to keep her chewed up collar with her chewed up tags on it, as well as her puppy-in-training bandana (that is semi-chewed up ) and one of her favorite toys (a tennisball retriever stick that now just looks like a rubber stick lol). We have an email address so we can ask about her progress, and when she graduates, we will be notified and sent a picture of her and her new owner. But it really hurts not going to be able to ever see her again if she does indeed pass. And I can't even think about how she is doing now, because I just see her sitting in a kennel, confused out of her mind wondering where we are. My little baby girl, I love you and I just wish you the best of luck, where ever this new life may take you. *blows kisses and pets the whole 400 miles between us*

Maybe I'm just not up on stuff but... why can't your other two dogs be in the house?

Parents' rules. They have both been raised outside, and while Rose would love to be an inside dog (and is very well behaved while inside), Blackie only likes coming in for attention, and then he wants back out. They can't stand to be apart and since Blackie doesn't like it inside, they both stay out. They also (Blackie for the most part) can't get along with all of the critters in the house (the cat and the bird, mainly) so that is another reason they haven't moved in. My mom said she sees it as that the cat was inside before we even got our dogs, so it isn't fair for the cat to have to deal with them when they are perfectly happy outside.

But I think that this next week or two, they are both going to get a bath and come inside. I need the extra comfort right now, as well as a dog in my lap. I already told my mom since she is refusing to let Wes and I get another dog, that our two outside dogs were coming in. She gave me a look, but I know that she won't stop me.
I almost broke down again when I got home and walked around back to let them out of their kennel, because I just see how much they were excited to see me and how hurt they would be if I just dumped them off somewhere and I couldn't help but think of Sadie.

[Ritz459]

Oh, and thanks all for your thoughts and prayers. It really means a lot to me. (lol and sorry for the novel. )

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

It sounds like she'll be just fine, Ritz. You raised and socialized her well, so she'll be able to adjust. Let yourself cry, though, if you feel like to. It helps. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Give your doggies some extra snuggles tonight and take care of yourself!