A gift in the form of a letter to the shelter Tess came from.

I've been meaning to send an email to the manager of the shelter in Indiana that I adopted Tess from. Yesterday morning I did it. I do hope she reads it and can feel good about Tess being with me. The story is such an intense one for both Tess and myself. This letter only lightly covers it. Tess was about to be gassed to death 60 miles away from this Humane Society in Indiana. Two weeks before she had been in a shelter in Charlotte North Carolina. I drove out from Vt, and back, with a scary crazy woman who I did not really know. I had been heart broken and impulsive after the death of my previous dog. Tess was very ill and traumatized.


Hi Rebecca,

It's been about a year since I contacted you about the dog I adopted from the shelter August '08, Aaliyah. I told you that I felt it had been a huge mistake even though she was such a special dog. From the traumatic trip to Indiana to get her, and back to Vermont, as well as my physical and emotional challenges as well as hers, I felt that the best thing for her would be to find a really special family familiar with PYRs (she had been listed inaccurately as a Saint) who could give her what I could not. Well, I did not re-home Tess (Aaliyah). I could not - for both Tess and myself. It had been one hell of a year with constant challenges that felt insurmountable but we did it.... not only as pet dog and her person, but as a mighty fine Service Dog team.

After more than a year of ongoing challenges,... through love, play, and a whole lot of patience and work with positive training methods, Tess passed all of the criteria for the IAADP so I put her into full service dog status. We are together 24/7 and she alerts me to sounds and alarms at home, helps me with my hearing away from home, helps me with other medical and emotional issues, and so much more. Tess is rock solid in restaurants, motels, stores, schools, hospitals, and even did great at a zoo a few weeks ago. She knows she's loved and well taken care of and is the most gentle, sweetest soul to me and the people who's lives she touches every day. One of the many huge gifts she has given me has been her connection with my Mom, who is in the final stages of Alzheimer's. Even when my Mom can not speak or connect with me, she almost always puts out her very weak hand to stroke Tess' ears and look into her eyes. Thank you!

My life has been filled with loss these last five years. It's still tough but somehow Tess has pried open my heart with her devotion and gentleness. The biggest surprise for me happened a week ago when I realized once again how far Tess has come from that desperate, heart-broken call I made to you last winter when she took off disaPYRing into yet another blizzard after the leash dropped from my hand. This time I let Tess out back after checking for deer. Although I had not seen any at first, all of a sudden three ran across the yard with Tess chasing them. I yelled for her to come and she immediately turned and flew back to me. The constant positive training has been absolutely miraculous.... Due to my health issues, the overwhelming deer tick explosion, and more, I can't let Tess live the ideal dog's life that I thought she wanted and I wanted for her. It's taken me a long time to finally realize that although she has a much different life than I thought she wanted, she has a wonderful life (a different ideal) filled with love, health, purpose, and her person with her always.

Please share this email with Tony. Thanks so much....... Please know that the nightmare became a love story in this case.