Sweet Siena, the loveliest spotted Great Dane, has a wonderful new home. Anytime one of “my” dogs (not really mine, by the way — all these dogs are really Service Dogs of Virginia‘s dogs, I just raise them) goes to a new home, whether they’re placed as service dogs or are career changed like Siena, I’m full of worry that their new home will love them enough.
What’s “enough?” I don’t know. As much as I love them, I guess.
I’m not sure why I worry. After all, every dog that I’ve had a hand in raising has found a spectacular new life — either with us (tee hee) or with their new partner. But I guess it’s what parents worry about when their son or daughter is about to get married — with their spouse look out for them, take care of them, even spoil them?
I’m covered all all those fronts with Siena’s new family. They came for a visit to see if Siena was the right dog for them. I liked them immediately. Siena was stand-offish and shy. They didn’t take it personally and let Siena set their pace.
They didn’t mind the dog hair, the dirt, the slobber that is inevitable with four dogs in the house. I certainly don’t mind it, but I’m a dog person and it’s kind of par for the course. Dogs = dirt. At least in my house. But at one point, the woman had a web of Siena’s slobber from her thumb to her index finger and she didn’t miss a beat. Ah, my kind of people!
Siena will be close by, which makes my heart happy. I’m hoping her new family will take us up on our offer to babysit her whenever they need us. We’ve been fortunate with most of the dogs we’ve raised — they’ve all come back at some point to visit and vacation with us.
Rocky, our very first dog (above), so dear to our heart, spent some time with us every year. We were thrilled that his family trusted us enough to take care of the Rock Star while they vacationed or traveled abroad. We would joke that it was Roo’s vacation time, just like it was their vacation time. He did love his visits “home,” and it made my heart sing when he bounded out of my car and into his partner’s wheelchair upon reuniting. That’s the best of both worlds, now isn’t it?
And Big Talos. Oh my. That dog. We’ve been lucky enough to have that big lug back in our lives a few times as well. Again, we feel so fortunate that his new family feels comfortable enough with us that they let him spend some time with us.
It really is something special to share this beautiful Dane girl with another family who gets her like we do. I know Siena will be spoiled, loved, and happy with her new people. She will get everything she needs, and then some. And her new family will be rewarded with the love of this sweet, lovely little girl.
We’ll have her for another week or so, then she’ll transition to her new life with her new people. We’re both excited and, not surprisingly, a little forlorn. But really, in the end, it’s a win-win-win. Us, Siena, and her new family have just won the lottery!
Congrats to Siena! The best of luck to her and her new people.