ASTA, "Our Annie Adventure" and MAXDOG

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXMOM here...

(ASTA and 'Aunt Tam': July 2010)

---xXx---

Hello there to all my friends around the world,

It's a pretty disjointed time of my life at the moment. 
There is so much happening - and so much not happening too. 

There are only 5 weeks to go before MAXDOG is in print and things are getting exciting - if not a little daunting.

All-in-all the rollout for my book is on track.  There are a few little snags here and there, but nothing major, so I am fairly happy. I have to constantly keep in mind my personal mantra:

"Wherever MAXDOG goes, let it do good."

---xXx---

NOW FOR SOME DIFFERENT NEWS:

Do you remember Lorraine's little guide-dog-in-training,

ASTA?

(Lorraine and ASTA: July 2011)

Well ASTA is no longer 'little'...

 

(Lorraine and ASTA: September 2011)

 

For the past 16 months, ASTA  has been carefully nurtured by my friend Lorraine, who volunteered to be her puppy-walker.  I have been privileged to watch their progress and Lorraine has done an absolutely amazing job with ASTA! Few people realise the dedication involved in this type of work.  I have been in awe of her patience, dedication and committment to producing a dog that will one day become a treasure to its owner.

ASTA and TOBY have also had a very special relationship.  The two of them arrived on our respective doorsteps at more-or-less the same time.  Over the past year, they have become wonderful playmates and really good canine buddies.

They have spent many hours playing and romping together - more recently at our local dogpark.

 

As puppies, ASTA and TOBY were utterly adorable, and Lorraine and I would watch them for hours as they played together: Bitey face, tug-o-war, romping like lunatics and frolicking in the swimming pool. Their energy never abated and they loved each other's company.   

Well, the good and sad news is that ASTA has finally received her "call-up papers".

It's somewhat a bittersweet moment, because next week, ASTA will be returned to the Guide Dog Training Centre to start her formal training to becoming a fully fledged Guide Dog for a blind person. It's time for all of us to say "Good-bye".

On the one hand, Lorraine has accomplished her personal goal - to help train up a pup for service.  I must admit, I have a bit of a lump in my own throat.  I don't think I could have done it and I really admire Lorraine for her resolve.

Congratulations Lorraine, you have trained up an awesome pup!

 ASTA is going to make someone extremely happy one day!

 

Thank you ASTA for being such a wonderful buddy to TOBY over the past year.

We sure are going to miss you!

---xXx---

The other news is that TOBY's article;
"Our Annie Adventure"

is in the November edition of

ANIMAL TALK MAGAZINE

If you are in South Africa, please look out for it on your shelves in the next couple of days.

The article on page 40  looks great:

(Click on the picture to biggify...and read)

Thank you to ANIMAL TALK for giving MAXDOG a shout-out too!

That's all my news for now.
Sending lotsaluv to you all and wishing you a happy week.