Chris is a volunteer with Fidelco. She takes in puppies until they are old enough to start their training as guide dogs. She enjoys the work though is sad when she has to give up a dog. They quickly become part of her family.

The way Fidelco works, the dog is a puppy with one family, goes through training with another, and then is given to a blind person who trains with the dog. Chris comforted her children with the knowledge that when the dog retired at age 8, they'd have the choice of bringing it back home.

Her latest dog is Faro who was a fluffy German Shepherd. So sweet and playful, the family adored him. Even the family's other dog like Faro. That's where the problem arose. Their other dog was used to being around puppies in training, but Faro was more rambunctious than the others. He wanted to jump and wrestle. The older dog and Faro got along, until one day the older dog was too tired to keep playing. When Faro jumped on him, he knocked the puppy off and into the wall. Faro's head hit the wall with a horrible sound. The family rushed the puppy to the vet. Despite the Vet's best efforts, Faro lost his eye.

Fidelco offered to take the puppy back and give it to another family as a pet, but Chris and her children loved Faro. They decided to keep him. Well Faro healed quickly. He would never be a Guide Dog but he was a happy family pet.

He is a year old now and despite his injury, he romps and plays like any other dog. Nothing stops him or the other dogs from playing in the fenced in yard together, or the den. Chris continues to volunteer with Fidelco. Even though she now has two dogs of her own, and two children, she knows her work as a temporary home for a Fidelco puppy is important.

It still hurts when she eventually has to turn over the dog to Fidelco, but she's comforted by knowing Faro has a home with her forever.


Reprinted by permission of Bea Sheftel

Bio:Bea Sheftel is a former journalist and editor. Her articles and fiction have been published in newspapers and magazines. She also teaches writing on line and in person. She also is a book reviewer for Romantic Bower, Heart Rate Reviews, Writers Club Romance Group (AOL), and editor at Fitness Heaven and Suite101 on homelessness.

The Homeless http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/8780/53571
Keeping the Homeless Warm http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/8780/59755.