Give and Take

The title of this article is often a statement that does not get the respect it deserves, because our lives are balanced by Give and Take. Each word represents a space in time; the only thing we know for sure is that "no two objects may occupy the same space at the same time", and more often than not, things are taken not given. We live our lives by whatever our conscience allows, following rules that we had no part in making, with the majority of the population agreeing to live within the confines of these rules. Those who choose not to agree, will most likely, have their freedom taken away from them. People, places and things are taken from us in a variety of ways: death, departure, choice, happenstance, mistake, and a missed opportunity (the list can go on). What happens when something is taken? Must we first place a value upon that of which is taken? My first instinct upon writing this was to say no; why should everything have a value? Well, because everything DOES have a value and each individual determines the value of what has been taken.

I lost an earring on Thanksgiving; it was my mother's and taken from me by accident. My mother was taken from me by death over fourteen years ago, but her death opened a space for my first granddaughter, who was given to my daughter (and her husband) and to me. The passage of these two events somehow seem "fair" to me. Then a dear friend and business associate of mine had so much taken from her over a year ago. She struggles with life each day, too stubborn to give up! She had a Service Canine who was with her when her "taken" event occurred in the form of a horrific automobile accident. The give was there in the form of a new automobile (van), but there was also a take, which presented a great sacrifice. Did these two events seem "fair"? Only on the surface, one would say "yes". A duck glides across the surface of the water; we never see how fast his feet are moving. Like the duck, she kept on trying to move forward, but for whatever reason, she became "stuck".

I know what it is like to be "stuck" - it is that place between give and take. I am now with a chronic health issue that placed me in a position where I had to give what was important to me: My own Service Canine and adorable cat. Why do I feel that they have been taken from me? In order for my body to start a long and undetermined time to heal, I must rest. Without rest, I will not heal and I cannot rest while tending to the needs of both my Service Canine and cat; I must be patient and wait. The give will come when I am ready and I will no longer be in the middle of give and take - otherwise known as "stuck".

I am happy to relay my friend has reached another give and take event in her life, but it is hard to define which event is the give and which is the take. Over months of her being "stuck", it became very apparent that her canine would no longer serve her as a Service Canine. He, somehow, was stuck in the moment of the accident and never fully recovered with task performance. Was he taken from her? Yes, in a way, but on the other hand, did she give him the opportunity to live his life as a dog? Her former canine now with a new master, will undoubtedly spend many years romping and playing on the beach in Sarasota, Florida. My friend struggled with her decision for months, repeatedly hoping and assisting her loved canine to resume his task performance, but it never occurred and the months turned into over a year. It was a time for her to "give".

The two of us researched breeders and potential canines intended for Task Performance. To our surprise the Golden Doodle, (the breeding of a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle), were a top choice for many persons with disabilities requiring a Service Canine. Locating a breeder devoted to this newer species, efficient and conscientious as well as caring, was the next task. Several days after selecting the breed, my friend's give/take event became a give/take moment in her life. A breeder in Kentucky had a small litter of Golden Doodles from one of their females with two males and a female. With an odd coincidence immediately after the female's birth, a male birthing collar with small frogs on it, (intended for a male), was placed around the female puppy's neck. The breeder's crew began referring to her as "Froggy" and by the time, the mix-up was discovered the canine began relating to her name. The breeders had only this one little "Doodle" left, a female they intended to keep as a breeding canine. Their next Doodle (F1) litter was not expected for puppy delivery until April 2008. This was a give/take event if ever there was one!

My friend was ready to take the puppy after spending several days interviewing by both telephone and email, and an afternoon of watching the Doodle in the surroundings of the breeder's kennel she came to know as home. The breeders were not ready to give (release) her, until they were convinced my friend would give her the care and affection Froggy deserved. All fell into place when my friend accompanied the Breeders to the Veterinarian for the 12-week old puppy's final health check and consultation. The Veterinarian confirmed this Doodle puppy was an excellent candidate to be trained as a Service Canine. Fortunately, it became a very big GIVE moment for the Breeder's and my friend. The puppy would serve as a Service Canine instead of a female breeder. The breeders did give the little Doodle to my friend, because they never would have allowed this special little Doodle to go if they had any doubt my friend would not take good care of her. The little Doodle, now named Princess Froggie Loveable Doodle, entered a new beginning. She and her new owner are starting on a journey of Give and Take, remembering that give is a complement to take; it will take both to achieve the ideal Service Canine to replace my friend's former Service Canine and it appears the two of them are well on their way with a successful journey.

Note: The word "give" in this article does not imply, "giving away", but rather the paring of the puppy and the Handler. Costs can and will vary for canines intended to be used as Service Animals. When obtaining a canine for Task Performance, cost should not be a factor. What is more important is the reputation of the Breeder and relationship between the canine and human obtaining the potential Service Animal.