Rosie, retired Guide Dog.

Rosie was a black Labrador Retriever I adopted from the Guide Dog Foundation. She retired from he work as a guide dog when she developed a medical condition. When she came to the Foundation she was very sick with sores on the pads of her feet and severe skin allergies. She was retired and surrendered to the Guide Dog Foundation.

Rosie and I became connected because she spent most of her time in my office. She was older and well-behaved and was a perfect companion. Unfortunately I was living in a small apartment at the time and had just recently adopted Berry. I was not able to take her in right away.

Rosie lived at the Guide Dog Foundation for a year. She did get to go home and visit with other people but nothing long-term. She was a sweet dog but we could not find a home for her. Maybe because she was a bit older with some medical issues.

It was around this timeframe that we began our search for a house. We looked for what felt like forever and finally found the perfect house. When we closed on our house we made the decision to bring Rosie home. Rosie fit in great with our little family. She was already familiar with Berry from her visits to the Foundation. My doxie, Xena, accepted her very quickly as long as the understanding was that Xena was in charge.  Rosie became a very special part of our household. Her and Berry would run around the yard and enjoyed each others company. Xena would lay in the sun and be the dog in charge. They all got along great. Even the cats got along wonderfully with Rosie.

Rosie was only with us for a couple of years but she was a great dog. She had a sweet, loving soul. Playing ball was her greatest love, soccer,football, softball, tennis ball, basketball. If you could throw it she loved chasing them. Her favorite season was fall when the leaves were falling. She would sit outside in the yard all day in the fall. Rosie loved Halloween. Greeting the kids at the door was so much fun for her.

I remember Rosie never had an interest in people food until her condition worsened and then all she would eat is people food. We cooked for her and let her have what she wanted. She went through phases, fora few weeks she would only eat chicken, then hamburger, then homemade pizza. She even went through a phase where the only thing she ould eat was rib tips from the chinese place. I remember her turning her nose up at anything else. I believe she just decided that she was going to have everything she couldn’t have before. I also believe she enjoyed it and appreciated it in her last days.

Rosie’s lesson to learn was patience. she was a very patient dog. she was the patient to wait for the right furever home to spend the last of her days in. She was patient and relaxed when she would sit in the middle of the yard watching people, other dogs, and squirrels run around.

We hope we gave her a good couple of years in our home. We loved her very much. She will always have a special place in our hearts. Love you Rosie.

My Berry

Berry was a retired Guide Dog I adopted when I worked at The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. She was an 8 year old black Labrador retriever with skin issues when she entered my life.

Berry taught me that you have to adapt to what life brings you. She worked as a Guide dog(and she was a good one) and was with her Guide Dog user through some rough times. I was working in the kennel when she came in for medical reasons(skin/allergies). I sat with her because she was frightened. She had become very cautious about meeting new people. I sat with her and we just connected. We connected immediately. It was like she just knew she could trust me. I kept her in my office because it was a quiet place for her. Berry would get very anxious in a kennel run and knock over her water bucket and make a mess in her kennel. She did not like the tight confined space.

When she was retired due to allergies I jumped at the chance to adopt her. after all we had this immediate connection that only another dog person can truly understand. So on July 4th 2002 i brought her home to my apartment. She loved living with Xena(my dachshund) and quickly settled in. We didnt always have use of the yard so Berry and I would go for lots of walks. Berry adapted to apartment life and to living with cats. She was a sweet soul who enjoyed going to the local park and running around. We did not play fetch as she hated it. Berry also hated the water. Odd I know, for a Lab. But that was Berry. Berry was great company though and we could just sit quietly together.

I took Berry on vacation to New Hampshire multiple times and she loved it. We would go hiking in the mountains on the trails. She also enjoyed going camping on Long Island with me. We would take many walks down close to the beach.

Berry would come to work with me at the Guide Dog Foundation on Sundays. She always had a great time. Riding in the car was one of her favorite activities. . She would enjoy playtime in the exercise yard and walks during lunchtime as well as hanging out with me in my office.

We moved into our house in 2004 and once again Berry adapted very quickly. The yard was perfect for her and Xena to run around in. WE added another retired guide dog to our family after moving into the house and Berry and Rosie became best buddies.

With every change Berry adapted quickly and enjoyed the change. This is what I learned from her. Berry and I were connected to each other, we really bonded.

Sadly I had to help Berry cross over the rainbow bridge in 2007.I still miss her deeply.