I imagined that someday this three-month-old puppy—the one howling in her crate like a deranged chimp; conquering toys and toes with a mouthful of machetes; my little ringleader who disrupted all the other puppies in puppy class—someday maybe this tiny firecracker could really become a service dog.
And if that was fate's chosen path for Ruby, this puppy who burrowed deep in my heart, I wanted her future partner to have all of her. Every moment of her fantastic, challenging, hilarious, beautiful puppyhood. So I started writing, and we followed her path, and those hundreds of blog posts led to this one.
Our puppy has found her partner. Ruby is David's service dog.
It seems serendipitous that the news of her partnership should come at this time of year. Knowing that Ruby will live each moment beside the person she loves most in the whole world is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.
Congratulations, David! And thank you for allowing all of us to share in these photographs of you and your partner. You and Ruby are an awesome team.
Raising Ruby, my first service puppy, was a remarkable journey for me and I'm so grateful for all the friends, old and new, who traveled the path with us. Thank you for joining me in a thousand smiles, a few tears, and then a thousand more smiles.
32 comments:
My son and I have followed Ruby since she was little. We smiled a lot with you! Congratulations to David and Ruby!
Congratulations to Ruby! And her new partner! And to you for doing such a fantabulous job with Roo to get her to where she was ready to train to be a real working dog! We are all so thrilled!
-Dr. Liz and Family
Congratulations, Ruby and David! A few happy tears shed today. :) David will most certainly enjoy reading back over Ruby's raising adventures. We sure have!
Congratulation! Don't you love it when you have a happy ending to a story? You and Ruby had a great story together, now Ruby and David will have a wonderful life. Thanks to all the service dog workers that made it possible. If you don't mind, we will link you to our blog and we hope someone else will be inspired to train service dogs.
Mogley G. Retriever
No matter how many times I see that photo of Roo and David, I bust out crying.
You've done an incredible service, and you are an inspiration to all potential service-dog raisers.
So happy I found your blog (seems like such a long time ago!), and I'm even happier I now have you as a friend. I look forward to sharing more of life's adventures with you.
Happy tears are khoming from my mom's eyes right now -
They SO help with all the sad ones shed in recent days for our furiends in Houston -
Go Ruby!
Go David!!
Go RUBY AND DAVID!!!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: And GO GO GO Ruby's Raiser ;-) Woo ROKHK!!!
I just got teary eyed... Congrats to everyone!
This is our first visit and what a wonderful one!
Congratulations!!!
Wags!
Mr. Nubbin'
The look on David's face, and the way Ruby responds to David, says more than I can say. It's a match that was meant to be! I'm so proud of you for helping to make this happen for them both :) You rock!
Congratulations on all of your dedication and love to Ruby during those Puppy Raising days ~ It truly made a difference!!! Best Wishes for a life of happiness to David and Ruby.
Congratulations Ruby and David! This is great news, and Ruby and David are a great team! Thank you for updating us on this news. It has been so interesting to learn about the course of a service dog, from puppyhood (and exuberant youth!) to responsible partner. You must be so proud of Ruby.
You did a fantastic job. I'm sure David is grateful every day!
Maybe it has to be those troublesome pups who can make it all the way...they have the intelligence.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
You have such a way with words. We have loved following along on Ruby's journey and we are filled with happiness and joy for you and David! What an amazing gift! Congrats to you and Ruby!
I read this with a huge lump in my throat for an array of reasons. Most of all, I saw Ruby growing up, and I saw how much work you did to help her get to this point. Then, I saw that smile on David's face with Ruby looking at him adoringly. That's when tears sprung to my eyes.
Go David and Ruby! You have so many wonderful years ahead of you!
Just wonderful! You should be very proud!
What a great ending ... and new beginning ... to Ruby's story. You guys got her started on the right paw and now she's off and running. Congratulations. I hope your holidays are especially enjoyable this year knowing that Ruby is living her destiny.
Congratulations to you and Ruby!
We have giant love for all of you. So happy for plans gone right, good friends and happy endings.
Just like KB, Mom had tears in her eyes - what an awesome accomplishment for you and Ruby!!! You goet her started and then she just took off. It is so easy to see what a difference she is already making in David's life - look at that smile on his face. Congrats to all, and we hope we can see more of Ruby in the future.
Happy Holidays to you from all of us.
Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning and Mom
Oh this made me tear up! Congratulations to Ruby and David! I have loved following in her journey!
Wow, how fantastic! You must be bursting with pride and happiness for Ruby and her new best friend David. You helped this to happen. Good job.
Congratulation Ruby! You really made it! Happy holidays :D
--------------------------------
It's all About Pet Fences | Dog Fence
Congratulation to David and Ruby! :)
Hi Y'all,
It took a few days before I got back to check on news of Ruby...and what wonderful news it was too!
Congratulations on the wonderful Christmas gift. No one could ask for more.
Hawk aka BrownDog and his Human
Yay!!! For you, Ruby and David!! Thank you for allowing us to "see" Ruby during her training. I hope that she and David have many, many happy years together!!
Congratualations Ruby & David. What a great job you did raising her. May their lives be blessed together.
Nadine & golden Neeli
An incredible journey. Thank you for raising a perfect pup to help others. I hope to hear more about Rubys new chapter!
Happy New Year to you! Wishing Ruby and David happy beginnings! You must be very proud.
Congratulations Ruby and congratulations you. What a good feeling to see the dog you worked with getting to do "the job". Our new puppy Rochester is on day 2 of that journey! Early signs are good!!!!
Oh wow! You must be so proud. And concats to Ruby! I hope she and her partner will have a wonderful exciting life together.
BTW, Target is much better. Thanks for the purrs!
What a moving post. It's an amazing journey that you have been on & I'm sure letting Ruby go isn't easy, but your selflessness is an inspiration.
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
Congratulations Ruby!! What a great story to read. It's incredible how dogs can be trained to be such amazing service dogs. I love how you documented the experience of raising Ruby. Now her new companion can always be able to look back on those moments! Thanks for sharing!
~ Sarah
Post a Comment