Judy Vorfeld’s Office Support Services

Note: this letter was just written by Connie Smith, of Buried Boulder Labradors, September 3, 2008. Last year we had the privilege to meet with Karen Shirk of 4PawsForAbility out of Xenia. She and her staff train service dogs, specializing in service dogs for children with Autism.

They ended up with three of our pups. Blessing and Ben for their breeding program, and our Sam. We were very attached to Sam as he was the last of our pups and we knew that there would be no more pups for several years as we retired both Mollie and Maggie because of their ages.

Sam was put into training to become a service dog, specifically to help a child with Autism. A few weeks ago we got a phone call from Karen. Sam was graduating. His new family lives in Germany. She wanted to know if we would like to come to graduation and meet his new family before he left. She was so pleased with how well Sam did.

We did indeed go. Sam all grown up. His little girl Miranda was beautiful. She was very agitated from all the activity and things not familiar to her even after being there in training for several weeks. Sam simply lay at her feet. Never getting excited, just staying beside her.

At no point did we see Miranda smile or come out of her own world. Her parents were very supportive and felt once she was home she would settle more. We exchanged email addresses with Louise and her husband and she promised to keep in touch.

I just received these pictures from Germany and this note. Miranda and Sam are bonding much faster than we would have thought.To see Miranda smile makes all the dog hair over the years worth while. Anyone who has ever been at our house has ended up taking a few dog hairs home with them. Well worth the frustration.

Connie M Smith
Buried Boulder Farm
153 Township Road 135
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

…And here’s the letter from Miranda’s family in Germany…

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

Thought I would let you know that Sam was brilliant on the transatlantic flight. He laid at our feet the whole way and never made a sound. Lufthansa were very accommodating and sat us in business class, so we had plenty of room for Sam. He was such a star!

Life in Germany is very different for Sam and he is having to make a lot of adjustments. For example, he is quite frightened when a bicycle goes past. I dont think he has seen many before and every one cycles here. He is a bit depressed, I think, and missing his 4 Paws friends. We are giving him lots of love and helping him to settle down into a routine.

He and Miranda are slowly bonding. She was tickled pink yesterday when she was having her shoes put on and Sam came and sat next to her and lifted his paw, as if he was trying to put on her shoes.

Today, he licked her foot and she thought he had given her a kiss. When she got home from school, the first thing she asked for was a kiss. She stroked and patted him independently today and enjoyed running with him in the garden.

We took him for a walk by the Rhine this afternoon and I took some photos which I have attached. I think we made good bonding progress today.

It is still very early days.

Note: I highly endorse 4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.

Maggie’s pup Sam in Germany!

Note: this letter was just written by Connie Smith, of Buried Boulder Labradors, September 3, 2008. Last year we had the privilege to meet with Karen Shirk of 4PawsForAbility out of Xenia. She and her staff train service dogs, specializing in service dogs for children with Autism.

They ended up with three of our pups. Blessing and Ben for their breeding program, and our Sam. We were very attached to Sam as he was the last of our pups and we knew that there would be no more pups for several years as we retired both Mollie and Maggie because of their ages.

Sam was put into training to become a service dog, specifically to help a child with Autism. A few weeks ago we got a phone call from Karen. Sam was graduating. His new family lives in Germany. She wanted to know if we would like to come to graduation and meet his new family before he left. She was so pleased with how well Sam did.

We did indeed go. Sam all grown up. His little girl Miranda was beautiful. She was very agitated from all the activity and things not familiar to her even after being there in training for several weeks. Sam simply lay at her feet. Never getting excited, just staying beside her.

At no point did we see Miranda smile or come out of her own world. Her parents were very supportive and felt once she was home she would settle more. We exchanged email addresses with Louise and her husband and she promised to keep in touch.

I just received these pictures from Germany and this note. Miranda and Sam are bonding much faster than we would have thought.To see Miranda smile makes all the dog hair over the years worth while. Anyone who has ever been at our house has ended up taking a few dog hairs home with them. Well worth the frustration.

Connie M Smith
Buried Boulder Farm
153 Township Road 135
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

…And here’s the letter from Miranda’s family in Germany…

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

Thought I would let you know that Sam was brilliant on the transatlantic flight. He laid at our feet the whole way and never made a sound. Lufthansa were very accommodating and sat us in business class, so we had plenty of room for Sam. He was such a star!

Life in Germany is very different for Sam and he is having to make a lot of adjustments. For example, he is quite frightened when a bicycle goes past. I dont think he has seen many before and every one cycles here. He is a bit depressed, I think, and missing his 4 Paws friends. We are giving him lots of love and helping him to settle down into a routine.

He and Miranda are slowly bonding. She was tickled pink yesterday when she was having her shoes put on and Sam came and sat next to her and lifted his paw, as if he was trying to put on her shoes.

Today, he licked her foot and she thought he had given her a kiss. When she got home from school, the first thing she asked for was a kiss. She stroked and patted him independently today and enjoyed running with him in the garden.

We took him for a walk by the Rhine this afternoon and I took some photos which I have attached. I think we made good bonding progress today.

It is still very early days.

Note: I highly endorse 4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.

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