If you don’t know what that title said, it was my best impression of my reaction to the news that Chuck is Retiring at the end of July. When I got the email that Chuck Farrugia, my field representative for Guide Dogs for the Blind was retiring after 33 years of amazing service to all …
Category Archives: Trixie
There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The Radio
Do you put the radio on for the dog when you go out? It won’t keep your pet calm, study finds Science is science I guess, but anecdotally, I’m not buying this one. I can’t speak for Domino yet because he’s only been here for a few weeks and we haven’t needed to leave him …
So Long, Sandy
I got some sad news the other day. Sandy, Steve’s aunt’s dog, the Australian shepherd that has been in so many stories over the years, passed away. She was 14, so certainly lived a good long life, but it’s still sad. We first met Sandy when she chased Trixie around and around and around the …
My Last Great Hunk Of Tansy Observations
There are still a few things I wanted to write down, even though Tansy has moved on to the next chapter of her life. A few? Who am I kidding? There’s a lot here. I hope you have some time. Tansy has taught me that I haven’t spent enough time with old dogs. By the …
Another Step In The Shmans Retirement Journey
I got some news a couple of weeks ago that, in normal times, would have been up on the blog immediately. But because now is now, I hadn’t posted it yet. After some logistical hurdles and technical difficulties, GDB received all my guide dog reapplication stuff, and it went to the committee, and I have …
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Six Months Of Shmans
Tansy has been very much neglected up here, but I have once again amassed quite the list of updates, observations and acknowledgements of time. Back in October, Tansy got out her barf bingo dabber and checked off that month. I think the little rip stole some dropped food at a social event at work, but …
Keeping You In The Shmanda-Loop
You’re probably wondering what the heck’s a Shmandaloop. Well, it’s another nickname for Tansy. Steve came up with it one time when I was booking a Via Rail ticket. They always ask me what the name of the dog is, and in the background, Steve was petting her and said “Shmandaloop. S h m, a …
Pick Of The Litter: A Fun Little Movie About Guide Dogs
I’ve been meaning to write about this movie, but I wanted to see it first. Now I have, so here I go. It’s a documentary about GDB, the school that trained Trix and Tansy, and it’s called Pick of the Litter. It’s the story of five guide dog puppies, and the process they move through …
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Goodbye To Trixie
Brad, who it can’t ever be said too many times did an amazing job of taking care of Trixie during the last 5 years of her life, has some words to say about her and what happened at the end. Some of what I’m going to write here I know Carin has already written, but …
A Memorial To Trixie
I have to say the people at my work are amazing. When they heard about Trix’s passing, one of them decided to make me a little something to remember her by. Not only that, but she managed to get a ton of people to send me messages of condolence. This all came together super quickly. …