Update - Lab Going To Retruing Soldier

[Tapua]

Just thought this would be a story some of you might be interested in

We have a litter due of Labs and of course there are numerous enquiries - a couple of weeks ago we were emailed about from a soldier who said he was in Afganistan called Andrew wanting a pup from this litter. My husband & I were a tad dubious about it all but we emailed back asking if he could confirm more details about who he was and what he wanted. Back came name, rank and that he would be calling in a couple of days. Which he did...Amazing conversation! :D Anyway the short story is his X- fiance took off whilst he has been over there and worst for him SHE TOOK THE DOG! So he really wants a companion to come home to when he is back in October.

I really wanted to make sure he gets a pup but given how many orders I offered him the option our 7 month old male ... who has morphed into a small horse and just way way over size. Anyway Andrew delighted to get Dimples our 7 month old since he will be about the same age as his pup that was taken by the X.

So the emails and pictures have been flying of Dimps and Andrew and some 'bonding at a distance' has been happening. Which is lovely. Then this morning we got an email that 2 of his friends were injured yesterday and he sounds scared. So this brings it home to me people not onlyabout our men and women serving in Afganistan but the importance of dogs as therapy. As dissapointed I am that Dimples wont make it as a stud for our kennel this adorable big lug has a purpose and I know he will do his job well.

Light a candle for the people serving overseas -things are hotting up over there especially in the area where Andrew is. He is just a kid he's about 20

Pauline Gill

Tapua Kennels

Labrador Retrievers

http://www.tapualabs.com

This is the original post in August - Andrew 'Nads' Naidu arrived back in Australia from Afganistan and will pick up his new mate 9 month old 'Dimples' Tapua Lt Commander this Saturday. I will get photos on the weekend.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Tapua

[lilli_star]

That's great news, Tapua :D I was wondering whether he was back home yet.

[LoveMyLabEva]

Wow, thats a fantastic story! definately gives him something to look forward too! My Brother is in the military and been to afgan once and iraq twice so I love the fact you are helping this Hero to find a puppy to love.

looking forward to seeing the pics of the meeting

[Dust Angel]

That is just beautiful. I often think about those serving overseas and proudly support our brave servicemen and women. This has been sent to me several times and although I believe it has been proved to not authentic it really brings home to me what they give up to serve our country, it also makes me cry every time I read it.

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie

as I looked at him lying in his pen. the shelter was

clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere

I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and

open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the

street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to

settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog

couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to.

And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local

news. The shelter said they had received numerous

calls right after, but they said the people who had come

down to see him just didn't look like "Lab

people," whatever that meant. They must've

thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me

in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog

pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis

balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous

owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off

when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is

how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his

new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to

adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis

balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in

his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked

boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need

all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he

settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon

that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he

knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and

"come" and "heel," and he'd follow

them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to

listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my

direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then

he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd

ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly

obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a

couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little

too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.

The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two

weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search

mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I

remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest

room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the

"dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the

shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys

from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's

direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most

enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But

then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come

here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he

sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared"

is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and

flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I

thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I

had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay,

Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if

your previous owner has any advice.".........

_______________________________________

To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this,

a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new

owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this,

it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after

dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different.

I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was

wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have

to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that

it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls.

the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part

squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always

has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in

there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't

matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be

careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made

that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the

shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them

again: Reggie knows the obvious ones -

"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals:

"back" to turn around and go back when you put

your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your

hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking

water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He

does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet

you could work on that with him some more. He knows

"ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's

business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens

his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the

morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought

stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots.

Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with

yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when

he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the

vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't

know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but

he knows.

Finally, give him some time.

I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie

and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere

with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if

you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he

doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be

around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard,

with him going to live with someone new.

And that's why I need to share

one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped

him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie.

He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it,

of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to give them his

real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that

handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting

that I'd never see him again. And if I end up

coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it

means everything's fine. But if someone else is

reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should

know his real name. It'll help you bond with

him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change

in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank.

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area,

maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter

that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they

received word from my company commander. See, my

parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've

left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the

Army upon my deployment to Iraq , that they make one phone

call the the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank

could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy,

too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it

personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though,

frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was

writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still,

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as

long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your

family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same

way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to

Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent

people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those

terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank

in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of

service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my

country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop

this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another

good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time.

Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis

ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you, Paul Mallory

_____________________________________

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I

had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even

new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few

months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he

gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at

half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on

my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his

eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on

the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head

tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in

months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each

time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture

relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood

him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried

my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me.

Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and

licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some

ball? His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that?

Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and

disappeared in the next room.

And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in

his mouth.

Tank

[JulesP]

Thank goodness he came back safely.

[tiny_terror]

So glad he is back safely, has he settles on a name for dimples yet? i remember he was tossing a few around in the original thread.

Dust Angel i now have tears running down my face after reading that...

[dogbesotted]

phew! and a huge welcome home to Andrew!!!!!

H

[Little Gifts]

I bet there will be a few tears this saturday! Fantastic story!

[Tapua]

Hey Dust Angel I got the same email on Tuesday ... I cried - true or not the sentiment is wonderful. However this isa true Dinki Di story. Gotta give the big lug Dimples a bath

Tiny Terror - no he hasnt thought of a name yet - though 'Hero' was the one he was leaning towards a couple of months ago. He has to meet Dimps first I think to get a good name.

[Loving my Oldies]

Hey Dust Angel I got the same email on Tuesday ... I cried - true or not the sentiment is wonderful. However this isa true Dinki Di story. Gotta give the big lug Dimples a bath

Tiny Terror - no he hasnt thought of a name yet - though 'Hero' was the one he was leaning towards a couple of months ago. He has to meet Dimps first I think to get a good name.

I agree - LOL. Although I have had names picked out for a couple of dogs before I met them, simply because of the particular circumstances.

Thank god he is home safely. When I started reading the thread I didn't realise it was an update and thought: oh no, the waiting until he gets back is going to be nail biting.

Just think what family members go through when their loved ones go off into a war zone :D .

[Loving my Oldies]

Should have said: you'll have to tell Andrew that a condition of the adoption is that he joins DOL and keeps us updated

[LoveMyLabEva]

Should have said: you'll have to tell Andrew that a condition of the adoption is that he joins DOL and keeps us updated

agreed!

[Loving my Oldies]

Today is the day !!!!

Lots of nutters on DOL: I'm excited about the meeting between a dog I don't know and a man I don't know

[Rainy]

+1

[Dust Angel]

+2

[RiverStar-Aura]

I really hope things go well with the meeting; I'm sure he'll fall in love with Dimples just like we've all fallen in love with this story. Please update us when you get the chance and best of luck to Andrew and Dimples!!

[Tapua]

He arrives tonight - I will introduce him to you tomorrow morning! When we have sobered-up

Edited October 9, 2010 by Tapua

[Dust Angel]

He arrives tonight - I will introduce him to you tomorrow morning! When we have sobered-up

[JulesP]

This makes me all teary for some reason!

[whiskedaway]

Me too. It's such a sweet story. Hope all goes well with the meeting!