{"id":493,"date":"2014-08-21T13:39:34","date_gmt":"2014-08-21T18:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/?p=493"},"modified":"2014-08-23T17:47:28","modified_gmt":"2014-08-23T22:47:28","slug":"give-up-my-dog-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/give-up-my-dog-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Give Up My Dog? part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Note: If you haven&#8217;t already, read part 1 of this post <a title=\"How Can I Give Up My Dog?\" href=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/give-up-my-dog\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Taking Seva to training classes at Helping Paws each week has been a big part of my life for over 2 years. Besides classes at the training center, we train in public several times a week. While it would be an exaggeration to say Seva has been my constant companion, I do work from home and take her places, so we see a <em>lot<\/em> of each other.<\/p>\n<p>A few weeks ago, Seva spent the weekend with S., a woman in need of a successor dog who used to be a vet tech.<\/p>\n<p>I spent the weekend convinced S. was falling in love with Seva. How could she not?<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve gone on vacation and left Seva with other Helping Paws families. It&#8217;s a nice break, like when the kids have a sleepover and you get to go out or stay in, grown-up style. This weekend was different.<\/p>\n<p>I must have told myself 50 times that S. would say &#8220;yes&#8221; to Seva, and I would soon be saying &#8220;good bye&#8221; to her.<\/p>\n<p>Waiting for\u00a0life-changing news is never easy. (Sure, on the spectrum of life-changing news, learning whether or not I&#8217;ll get to keep a dog is relatively low, not like getting test results from a doctor. I do have perspective, but this is a blog about the Wonder Dog so bear\u00a0with me.) The thing is, most news you wait for is one of two things: good or bad. Whichever way Seva&#8217;s weekend with S. went,\u00a0I would be torn.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>I want her. I&#8217;ll miss her. I would never stand in her way. I love her. I don&#8217;t\u00a0<em style=\"font-weight: inherit; color: inherit;\">need\u00a0<\/em>her. She should be with someone who needs her. S. will love her as much as I do. What if Seva\u00a0misses me?\u00a0I might never see her again.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>And around and around I went.<\/p>\n<p>When I picked up Seva from Helping Paws, I let her out of a crate and she leapt on me, all tongue and paws and\u00a0uncontained joy.\u00a0She&#8217;s a kisser. Always has been.\u00a0The moment she was first placed in my arms, I looked down and she lifted her chin and licked my face. She was barely 8 weeks old.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-495\" style=\"max-width: 700px;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-99-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-495 ml-slider ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"New Slider\" data-width=\"700\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_495\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_495\" class=\"flexslider\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-61 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-05-11 23:45:58\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/20120511_seva_14-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-61 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">A tired puppy.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-59 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-05-11 23:39:13\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/20120511_seva_13-433x371.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-59 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The first lesson: click &amp; treat.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-212 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-08-09 15:32:54\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Class-romp-6.14.12-434x372.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-212 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Seva &amp; littermates Roger, &amp; Storm roughhousing at Helping Paws.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-145 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-06-04 14:31:55\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/R0014366-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-145 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Seva's first trip to the big city. Before she knew how to walk on a leash &amp; before she had earned her pack.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-250 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-10-02 10:49:19\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/R0014779-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-250 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Me &amp; Seva at Minnehaha Falls.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-268 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2012-11-06 16:06:59\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/photo-101-e1352239632502-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-268 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Seva votes.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-324 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2013-03-19 22:12:44\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/20130319_seva_115-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-324 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The best eye-mouth coordination you'll ever see.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-370 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2013-08-08 11:59:00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/IMG_2239-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-370 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Even service dogs break things.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-501 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:46:25\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_1945-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-501 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At the May Day Parade.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-509 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:02:15\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/image-560x480.jpeg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-509 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">With littermates Alta (with Emory) and Roger (with Joan).<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-503 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:56:03\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_2963-e1408589024112-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-503 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Working the Metro Dogs booth at Twin Cities Pride.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-497 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:39:05\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_2960-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-497 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At the Wedge.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-498 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:39:13\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_2965-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-498 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Buddies-in-training.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-496 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:36:57\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_3052-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-496 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At the Minnesota History Center.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-354 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2013-05-05 08:27:12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/seva-percy6-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-354 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Air Bear.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-502 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:47:58\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_1953-e1408589120926-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-502 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Getting ready for Halloween.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-451 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-05-26 16:43:09\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_3139-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"Wag Walk Run 2014\" class=\"slider-495 slide-451 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The Wag, Walk &amp; Run.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-472 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-07-25 16:37:34\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/IMG_20140615_163809-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-472 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Outside the Minneapolis Institute of Art.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-511 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:04:03\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/seva-paper-eater-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-511 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Yeah, I did it.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-500 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 09:40:40\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_1867-e1408589165193-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-500 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At Dunn Bros., Loring Park.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-510 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:02:49\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/R0016504-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-510 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Snowshoeing.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-508 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 21:59:56\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/image-3-560x480.jpeg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-508 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Under-Drop-Stay at the library.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-514 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:13:36\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_3080-e1408591123815-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-514 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Doesn't everyone sleep like this?<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-515 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:17:12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_2676-e1408591061807-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-515 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At home anywhere. This time at Macy's.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-513 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:11:45\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_2736-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-513 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">At the chiropractor's. Getting a chin adjustment, apparently.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-512 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2014-08-20 22:08:29\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/20130421_seva-700x600.jpg\" height=\"600\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-495 slide-512 msDefaultImage\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Fastest bear ever.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Turns out, S. didn&#8217;t love her.<\/p>\n<p>Seva had done well during the pre-matching, but didn&#8217;t want to retrieve for S.\u00a0at her house. And she was a little bit naughty. Seva found some duct tape serving a purpose she couldn&#8217;t see, so she gnawed at it till she got a corner lifted and pulled it off.<\/p>\n<p>She does have a naughty streak. Her new thing is to bound over while\u00a0I&#8217;m working at my desk and stare me down. If I tell her to go away, she runs off and finds something to shred, like a piece of mail. My next move is to\u00a0leash her to furniture. Hers is to whine. It&#8217;s a dreadful, high-pitched sound. My final move\u00a0is to capitulate. We take a walk.<\/p>\n<p>Besides not retrieving, some barking, and tearing of duct tape, S. reported that Seva&#8217;s allergies are bad.<\/p>\n<p><em>Bad<\/em> as in pull-her-from-the-program bad.<\/p>\n<p>I heard this from one of the trainers when I picked up Seva, so it was almost official, but not quite. E. has the final say. I went to the following Big Dog class as though everything was normal, except it wasn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p>We went to Centennial Lakes in Edina. As I walked Seva around the lake, I started thinking, <em>this is it<\/em>. Toward\u00a0the end of class, I had Seva in a Drop-Stay on the sidewalk and E. came over to talk.<\/p>\n<p>E. told me they couldn&#8217;t place Seva due to her allergies, and I almost cried. I admit, that&#8217;s kind of weird. I knew it was coming and had been thinking about it for 2 days. Still, when you hear it from E., it&#8217;s final. It felt like the closing of a door.<\/p>\n<p>All those great reasons I had for getting into the program, all the effort put into training this dog, the classes and field trips and other training teams&#8230;done.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed that I&#8217;d go on the next couple of field trips as though nothing had happened, giving E. time to make an announcement to the class. We also agreed\u00a0the news could go public after the Foster Family Recognition Ice Cream Social.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_520\" style=\"width: 536px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/union-depot-group.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-520\" class=\"size-full wp-image-520\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/union-depot-group.jpg\" alt=\"The Big Dogs at Union Depot--our last class.\" width=\"526\" height=\"194\" srcset=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/union-depot-group.jpg 526w, http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/union-depot-group-300x110.jpg 300w, http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/union-depot-group-500x184.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-520\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Big Dogs at Union Depot&#8211;our last class.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Last night, Seva and I made our final\u00a0visit\u00a0to Helping Paws\u00a0as a training team. I received a certificate for the work we&#8217;ve done, and E.\u00a0announced that Seva is having a career change.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s called, a career change. I&#8217;ve heard that only about 60% of dogs graduate. Problems with the training, personality, health, even odd quirks like a phobia of stairs can prevent a dog from graduating. Seva actually had 3 strikes against her: her hip sockets are only &#8220;fair,&#8221; she&#8217;s an indiscriminate eater, and she has allergies. The hip sockets concern is minor compared to the others. She is getting better about eating everything in sight, and I don&#8217;t expect this to be a problem for long. It&#8217;s the allergies that determined her fate&#8211;and mine.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_506\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_3366-e1408588725955.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-506\" class=\"wp-image-506 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_3366-e1408588725955.jpg\" alt=\"Recognizing Seva's Career Change\" width=\"350\" height=\"467\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-506\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Recognizing Seva&#8217;s Career Change<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Seva is now my dog.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more, <strong>we&#8217;re going to be a demo team for Helping Paws<\/strong>. That means she keeps the blue pack and we will answer calls to show the world what a service dog can do for a person. In a year or two, when she&#8217;s mellowed even more, I&#8217;ll probably look into a therapy dog program as well.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">I&#8217;M SO GRATEFUL TO E. AND S. FOR GIVING IT A GO.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">IT MEANS THAT SEVA&#8217;S DESTINY WAS OUT OF MY HANDS.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">AND NOW HER FUTURE IS IN THEM.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<!-- Share-Widget Button BEGIN -->\n<a href=\"javascript:void(0);\" myshare_id=\"mys_shareit\" myshare_url=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/give-up-my-dog-part-2\/\" myshare_title=\"How Can I Give Up My Dog? part 2\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\" return false;\" style=\"text-decoration:none; color:#000000; font-size:11px; line-height:20px;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/wp-content\/plugins\/share-widget\/img\/share-button-white-small.png\" height=\"20\" alt=\"Share\" style=\"border:0\"\/><\/a>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n<!--\nvar _myssmw=true;\n\n\/\/-->\n<\/script>\n<!-- Share-Widget Button END -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Note: If you haven&#8217;t already, read part 1 of this post here. Taking Seva to training classes at Helping Paws each week has been a big part of my life for over 2 years. Besides classes at the training center, &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/alidawinternheimer.com\/servicedog\/give-up-my-dog-part-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[23,19,46,30,50,14,33,18,48,10,13],"class_list":["post-493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-giving-her-up","tag-behavior","tag-foster-family","tag-giving-her-up-2","tag-health","tag-helping-paws-event","tag-how","tag-outing","tag-photos","tag-training","tag-volunteerism","tag-why"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Can I Give Up My Dog? part 2<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How Can I give up my dog after over two years of training her? 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