Dear Ursula, Joni and team,

 

I am a regular visitor to your website even though we are now 7500 miles away, and I have read all the 'Happy Endings' and 'Tributes' repeatedly. Never did I believe that other people could be as lucky as we have been, but I guess boxers bring the same joy to everyone - although of course Faith is that little bit more special......!

 

With Joni's empathy and understanding I was able to 'temporarily foster' Faith, a then 7 year old boxer female, to my home at Monty Roberts ranch in Solvang, CA in January 2005. I don't know who was kidding who, but Joni continued to be patient and understanding even as my intentions to rehome Faith waned and disappeared entirely. Faith is now probably one of the most extensively-travelled of BRLA's boxers (not to mention one of the most expensive!?!), having made the 12 hour flight and 30 day quarantine to live at the bottom of the earth in New Zealand.

 

When we first began to get to know one another, I was determined that as a professional horse trainer, Faith would represent my beliefs by being perfectly trained. Faith is, of course, perfect in every way, but the training was most often done by her and has resulted in me being a near-perfect owner (on-leash anyway...)

 

We did go through the Delta Society Pet Partners therapy dog training program, primarily as a training tool so that Faith and I would be comfortable with a variety of environments and people, and I have attached a photo of her in her smart therapy dog vest.

 

She is just the most perfect dog in the world, and brings me an inordinate amount of joy moment-to-moment. I will be lost without her when the time comes, but know how much she is helping and giving me through her unconditional love - if I could aspire to be half the loving being she is, I would be proud.

 

So thank you all, and know that I wear your t-shirt proudly Down Under, telling everyone about your work, and am just getting involved with the NZ Boxer Rescue.

 

I have attached lots of pictures of Miss Faith, and will send more as our adventures continue...

 

Sally King