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A Canine Companion Never to Be Forgotten
A Canine Companion Never to Be Forgotten
By Carina Elgin
Release, Shelly. Release.
We had to “release” Shelly for the last time this past December. Release is the Canine Companions command that the dogs know means they are no longer working, and may do as they please. We released her, peacefully, at home, to a world with no pain, lots of tennis balls and her favorite, Mrs. Pastures horse cookies.
It was hard, as it always is, to make that decision, but it is also a deep honor to respect all she gave us, by making sure she felt safe and loved as she passed.
Shelly was 13, born out of Canine Companions very selective 50-year breeding program in Santa Rosa, California. She was lovingly raised for about 14 months by the Teeter family in Davis, with back up from Kathy Zastrow. Shelly entered professional training at the Canine Companions national headquarters in Santa Rosa, under trainers Lauren Lee and Merit Buyer.
My daughter, Caroline, and I happily flew to Santa Rosa to be matched and trained with her when offered the chance, as the waiting list was longer at the Northeast Regional Center in New York.
In her 11 miraculous years with us, Shelly loved Caroline deeply. I cannot think of a time she ever wasn’t perfect (when working), including riding on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney, snoozing as cannons flew overhead.
She was extremely smart. When learning the command for “get the shoe,” she looked at the shoe, went and got a drink of water, and then came back and got the shoe, without having to be reminded.
Once when videotaping for the annual DogFest during Covid, we were asked to get her to pick up an egg. After a few unsuccessful tries, she turned around and brought us the entire carton.
Shelly was by Caroline’s side as she got her Bachelors degree in graphic design from the Art Institute. She was always by her side, until Canine Companions decided she should retire while we waited for her successor. It was a long, hard wait not to have a working dog next to her, but Shelly enjoyed retirement with gusto.
The first few days she seemed to wonder why she wasn’t coming, but after about day three, she waved us out the door. She was special, in so many ways.
I prayed the new dog would come before Shelly passed, much as Shelly had taken the baton from Sajen before he passed. And in April, Caroline was matched with Gabe, a noble, serious boy with a very different personality, but the same steadfast love and desire to please his girl.
Shelly was diagnosed with cancer, but with Dr. Hill at the Marshall Veterinary Clinic’s full love and respect of Shelly, we chose only to keep her as happy and comfortable as possible. Dr. Jenna Porto came to our house and helped her go very peacefully on our couch, next to “her girl.” I think she had decided Gabe was up to the job and she could move on.
Shelly, you were one of a kind and meant so much to all of us and your many fans. We hope to meet again.
