We hope many of your friends and followers will be able to join us on Tuesday, November 19th for a CCI reception at the Middleburg Community Center to visit with these extraordinary people and dogs and to learn more about this life changing organization. Check out their web site at CCI.org. The invitation to the CCI reception follows Colleen's message to Forrest:
With boundless gratitude to Colleen, CCI, and Toliver,
Mum
Forrest & Toliver: A Letter from your Puppy Raiser
Dear Forrest,
What an amazing weekend I have had. I feel on top of the world and my heart is
full to the brim. This was definitely
one of the best weekends of my lifetime.
Throughout the last eight years of raising puppies for CCI, I have often
dreamed of standing at that podium and giving the puppy raiser graduation
speech and then handing my dog over to a graduate. NEVER could I have imagined that those feelings
of pride would be multiplied by one hundred.
Handing my dog over to a complete stranger is one thing, but handing him
over to someone so special, who I have known and watched grow up for the last
sixteen years is a memory that will be with me forever.
As Toliver’s puppy raiser (8 weeks-18 months)
it is hard to visualize what the experience will be when you see your dog again
after so long; I turned him back in to CCI at eighteen months and he stayed
there another six months in Advanced Training.
We wonder after only two weeks how well the dogs will have bonded to
their graduate? What we observed with
sweet Tollie and you made us speechless.
Our worries of his happiness, safety, and appropriate placement
evaporated after watching the two of you interact.
I thoroughly enjoyed our day with you. Probably my most favorite memory of the
graduation day was when I gave you the book I had made of Toliver’s puppyhood
and you absorbed yourself in it. You
took so much time looking at that book and taking in every single
picture…..reading each caption out loud and laughing. You showed the trainers the book and pointed
out your favorite photos. The time you
took pouring over this book meant the world to me…… there is no question that
you would love him as we have.
My other special memory was when you had
Toliver bring me the white carnation and place it in my lap. As mum said and I have always believed “life
comes full circle”. When Richard and I had CCI pup in training, Halle, bring
your mum flowers when you were in the GA rehab hospital in those first months,
it was in our deepest prayers that we hoped we would see you as vibrant and
full of health as we witnessed this weekend.
You and Toliver returned that same small act of kindness to us and I
reveled at how far you have come!
I also spoke with the trainers throughout
the matching process and was continually amazed at their assessment of you and
your needs. They could not have been
more accurate in their match for you and what Toliver could offer you. I have always had the deepest respect for the
CCI trainers and watching you and Tollie together only anchored my faith in
this wonderful organization that I love so much.
Before graduation, you expressed to me that
you were worried that you were “taking my dog away from me”. You are such a sweet and sensitive man; just
like the dog you were matched with! Forrest, I want you to know that Richard and I
watched the two of you walk out the hotel lobby…. you had a smile on your face
and Toliver walked briskly by your side with his tail happily wagging from side
to side as he looked up at you. I had an
incredible peace wash over me. I felt
like a proud parent and knew my little furry man was happy. No one deserves a special friend more than
you do. I turned to Richard and we both
had huge smiles and tears of joy in our eyes.
You two were meant to be together and we wouldn’t have it any other
way. Having the opportunity to be a part
of your journey as a team, will fill our hearts each and every day.
All
Our Love,
Colleen and Richard
 |
| CCI Graduation - after Colleen, Richard and Co- Puppy Raiser Karen officially handed Forrest Toliver's leash |
What a beautiful post and story. Having been to one of CCI's graduations, I can relate to the emotions and love in the room. But in our family's experience we were meeting our puppy's recipient for the first time, and there was still an overwhelming connection. So I can't imagine the emotions involved with Colleen and Richard knowing and loving Forrest and passing over the leash of such a lovely dog to a deserving and kind young man.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Fraley Coles
What a great story. Thank you for the post! I am an instructor in the Northwest Region and I'm not entirely sure how Toliver was named, but he does share my last name. I was really pulling for him and was excited to hear he graduated. Good luck to Forrester and Toliver!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Jamie Toliver
Wow! I asked Dick Kaiser, Toliver's Breeder Caretaker, how Toliver was named and he did not know. Maybe you have answered my question!
ReplyDelete-Colleen