Hello, UUCT Family. Considering Henry and I just had our article all about the wonderful Felix in the last issue of The Meridian, I find it important to update you on the most recent developments. Perhaps it may even give you an inside look at the world of service dogs and their partners.

I would love to give you all the details of our several year long fundraising campaign and over year-long training journey and the intrinsicities that led to this point. However, it was recommended to me to pull the bandaid off. The hard truth is Felix is no longer a match for us and is now back at Tails of Hope in Georgia. This is a surprisingly common occurrence, with 36% of service dogs and their partners needing to be rematched for the success of all parties. We knew this was a possibility from the beginning as Tails of Hope and their incredible fosters and trainers told us the good, the bad, and the ugly from the start. Sometimes a dog appears to be the perfect candidate for this work, excels in training, bonds with their human, performs their tasks beautifully, and then, for whatever reason, decides the life of service isn’t for them. When this happens, it would be unfair, if not cruel, to continue to force that dog to continue serving. The life of a service dog should be full of purpose, joy, love, and the intrinsic drive to serve.

We are yet unclear if this is what was happening with our sweet Felix, but it doesn’t matter. He was showing us and our team that he was becoming unhappy. None of us were okay with that. He deserves a joyful, fulfilling life as much as we all do. He is back with his original foster and trainer who will reevaluate him and either continue his training, or, switch his training to what he shows her he wants to do. I have no doubt he will do amazing things as he is and always will be an absolutely incredible dog.

As painful as this transition has been, we know our service dog journey is not over. We do not have to “start over” with Tails of Hope. All funds and commitments are still in place and will remain in place while we find our perfect match. This could take months or, in rare cases, years. Henry has a beautifully supportive, positive, and enthusiastic team behind him at home and at Tails of Hope. YOU are also a part of that team. We have received nothing but love, support, and community from you all. I commit to keeping you posted. In the meantime, we could use some extra care and love as we settle into a life without our Felix, and begin to imagine a life with another service dog.