Farewell, Sweet Victory

March 16 - 17, 2012

Victory has been limping on her right foreleg since late November. We thought it might be a strain, then she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in mid-December. She was treated for that for a month, with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, and her condition improved.. but she was still limping. When she underwent spay surgery on January 25th, x-rays were taken. The final diagnosis is elbow displaysia, so she is being released from the guide program. We already have two full time dogs, and we want to continue raising puppies, so we returned her to Freedom on Saturday, March 17th. While we were there, we got to cuddle with some 8 day old black lab puppies, one of which we will be fostering.. and so the cycle continues.

Last day with her mentors Inga and Hannah

Yes, we let her sleep on the bed at the hotel

We went for a stroll with my cousin and her terrier mix,

Simon, in E. Greenbush, NY, our halfway point to Freedom.

Playing with Simon at Becker's Farm

They had a blast!! Look at that goofy labby grin!

Hebron Maple Fest

March 10-11, 2012

I hosted a Freedom booth at the Hebron Maple Fest, thanks to Dr. Angela Mawson, who allowed us to use her parking space next to her chiropractic office. On Saturday, I was joined by Bob & Karen Bass with Valley, along with Marge Minor with VaLinda. Norine and Ed Stepule were there for a few hours, also. It was a very cold, windy day, but there were hundreds of people who stopped by our booth to see the cute little blonde labby sisters. We gave away over 250 pencils to children and literature to their parents. Sunday was a bit milder- much less wind and more sun. Marge and VaLinda came back for more. We raised almost $100 for Freeom over the course of the two days, but much more importantly, we got the word out to hundreds and hundreds of people.

Victory and VaLinda

Valley makes a new friend

The Three V Sisters

Victory gets ready for a belly rub

Victory takes a break

She sure is loving all the attention!

Getting in some play time with sister VaLinda

It was an exhausting weekend.. but oh, so much fun!

Colchester Lions Breakfast Buffet

February 26, 2012-

I hosted another Freedom table at our annual Lions Breakfast Buffet. Victory's sisters Valley and Valinda came, as well as her half-brother Toby. Except for a couple of excited barks when they saw each other, the pups behaved beautifully. They certainly worked their magic on the crowd.

Colchester Leo Marissa Currie

with Victory

Norine and Bob

with Valinda and Valley

Suzanne and Karen

with Toby and Valley

Lions Mid-Winter Conference

February 4, 2012--

We hosted a Freedom Guide Dogs booth at the Conn. Lions Mid-Winter Conference. This was the first time many of these Lions had heard of Freedom.  Most of the clubs around our state are familiar with and provide financial support for other guide dog and assistance dog programs. We hope to add Freedom to the list.

Victory - almost 7 months old

Bob and Paul with

Valley & Victory

The Girls meet two Conn. Lions

Victory and Valley were wonderful ambassadors!

Sleeping Beauty

Victory has been coming in to work with me almost every day. However, the days are long and that walk at lunch isn't enough for her (average is 30 minutes.) By 3:30, she feels she has slept long enough and quietly tells me that it is time to go home, but we still have an hour to go. Luckily, Paul got temporarily laid off at the beginning of January, so sometimes she stays home with him. 

The most activity she gets in the office is with the changes of her sleeping position.

 Initially, I kept her in her crate most of the day.

Really, Mom- do I have to stay in here?

Even with the door left open, she enjoys sleeping in the crate.

Back feet in the crate, the rest of her body out of it.

Letting it all hang out.. shameless girl.

This guy is for the days that Vicci stays home.

My co-workers aren't fooled, but they are quite amused.

I love having her in the office, being able to see her all day. She is on a tie-out attached to the crate, that allows her to come over to me at my desk, and going the other way,  it stops her about 2-3 ft. from the doorway. Sometimes the FedEx guy has to come into my small office to have me sign for something. 

If she's awake, she'll get up and stroll over to him, but is very calm and doesn't try to get his attention.

He politely ignores her, which is great. That is pretty much how she greets anyone

that comes into my office space. She really fits in well to the office environment.

Snow at Last!

January 21, 2012-

My dogs just LOVE the snow, and Victory is no exception! She got a taste of it back at the end of October, but she is 6 months old and a lot bigger and more active now. To watch her gallop and pounce on things half buried in the snow is sheer joy.

 Love the flying ears!

 She found her juice bottle.

 She's so proud of herself!

 Look at her go!

 Her tail acting as a rudder.

 Change of direction.

 Look out, I'm comin' to getcha!

Finally get her sitting still.. lovely portrait of this sweet girl!

Happy New Year!!

January 1, 2012-

I invited all our Freedom friends over to our house for a New Years pot luck get together. Almost everyone was there, but unfortunately, Marge, Edwin and Todd could not join us. Their pups came, though! We had Vegas, VaLinda, Valley, T-Bone and Toby, and of course, our Victory, Hannah and Inga. Cousin Lacey also came to play for a little while. (We kept Inga in the kennel, she gets overwhelmed in a crowd and gets snarky. The pups went over to say hello several times and she started to relax. Next time, she may be more comfortable, and we can let her out on a leash.) Temperatures were in the 50's (very unusual winter we are having in CT!) We enjoyed our appetizers down on the patio, while all the pups romped in the yard. By the time we sat down to dinner, they were ready for a nap. Looking forward to our next gathering!