A Monumental Decision

Have you ever needed to make a decision and not been able to do so, when someone out of the blue gives you the answer? Usually, in these situations, the answer was there all along staring you in the face. Well, that is exactly what happened to me last January when my husband, Gary, announced (after about a year of deciding) that he might have decided on a breed of dog to get. A Newfoundland - did I know anything about them? Whack - Wham! A big kick in the rear for me. How long have I listened to him describing the kind of dog he wanted and it not register in my brain. I should have known from the start, after all, I had worked for Marget Johnson at Windwagon Newfoundlands. Now, how are we going to find one at a price Gary was willing to pay? (You know men!) I told him Marget's pups started at $800.00 (gulp). But then, finally using my brain, I remembered that Marget was involved with a rescue program for Newfs. But how was I to find one? Internet, here I come!

My search brought me to the Heart of America Newfoundland Club (HANC) rescue program and the phone number for Marty Swindell. I called, no, she was not home. She was on a mission to rescue a Newf at that very moment! I called back a few hours later to learn that she had rescued Sara, a 5-7 year old female. Then the bad news. They could not place a rescue to Ohio because they couldn't do all the checks and monitor her. Marty's next question was (and I remember exactly), "Have you ever owned a Newf or know anything about them?" My answer as, "I never owned one, but I once worked for Marget Johnson at Windwagon Newfoundlands for a little over a year." They say you get ahead in this world by the people you know. To make a long story short, Marty knew Marget and even had her phone number. After a few calls and a reference to Jean Hain, Sara was ours!!

Now the bad news. Her vet check revealed she had heartworms. Marty e-mailed me with the news. Would we still want her? By this time, we were so excited about the thought of her that nothing was going to change our minds. More blood work, some phone calls and e-mails, and it was decided that Sara would come "home" for her treatments. We felt there was no reason to let her get adjusted to one home (a foster home) and have to readjust to ours later.

Friday night, January 30th, 1997 at 10:00 p.m., we decided to get Sara the next day. Make arrangements, to bed by 11 p.m., on the road at 4:00 a.m. We meet Marty in Columbia, Missouri at 11 :00 a.m., back on the road by noon, and home at 6:45 p.m. Sara is in the tub by 7:00 p.m., and we get to bed around 11 :00 p.m. What a day! But it was worth it - Sara is HOME! Sara's heartworm treatment went very well and on March 28th she was given a clean bill of health. Hooray! Sara now has a home where she is really loved and cared for.

Gary entered her in obedience classes and finished 2nd out of 12 in his class with a score of 193. Her favorite game to play is tag and chase. One Friday night she jumped and turned her neck just right (or wrong) and sprang it. Of course, we didn't realize her injury until about 11:00 p.m., that night when every time she moved, she howled in pain.

So, what does Gary do? He gets her to lie down, gets himself a blanket and pillow and lies down beside her with his arm around her "to keep her still." (I wonder if he would do the same for me?)

Sara loves to go for walks. The park is her favorite place to go. She thinks she has to say "Hi!" to everyone she sees (and be petted too). This is okay, because most people want to see her. In fact, there have been times when walking through the neighborhoods that people have actually come out of their homes to see her. She always draws a crowd. Young kids just love her and she is gentle even with the youngest child.

Sara also loves to go bye-bye, however, neither of our cars was comfortable for her. Gary had even built her steps to get into his hatchback, and they worked fine, but she still didn't have enough room. So, problem solved! We purchased a pickup, with a topper that has sliding windows. (Of course, we had to get rubber mats for her!) Sara loves to hang her head into the cab of the truck, or sometimes she lays her chin on the wheel well. She is sooo cute!

Sara has adjusted to our home very well. She may be spoiled, but she deserves to be. In April we found out she has low thyroid. We are thankful that we have her so she can get the treatment she needs. Her coat is shiny and starting to grow long again. We love her very much.

I would like to thank all the members of rescue that helped with her heartworm expenses. I thank Marget for the reference, and I thank Jean and Marty for all they have done to make Sara a part of our family. By the way, Gary says anyone who could have mistreated Sara and give her up must have a cold heart. I say, thank you God, for working wonders.





Editor's note: At the age of 10 she earned her DD title. She also earned many therapy dog certifications (Delta, TDI and MvPTA). She has blessed many children through her pet therapy sessions. Sadly on March 20, 2004, just 5 weeks shy of her 13th birthday, we held our precious wonderful Sara in our arms as we helped her cross the rainbow bridge into a pain free life. She blessed our lives for 6 years 1 month and 19 days.