They started off by teaming up and tugging against me. I made each of them take an end and I grabbed the middle of the rope. I decided that this awkwardness had gone on long enough and brought out a rope tug bone. Linnie and Roselle seemed a bit uncomfortable with each other that night and into the middle of the next day. Later that evening she met my retired guide, Linnie. We came home to New Jersey on December 2, 1999. The Stearns told me later that she could snore with the best of them. During my first week with Roselle I also discovered that she was a loud snorer. In fact, her tail hardly stop wagging during the almost 12 years I knew her.

Her tail wagged through the whole experience. She was always willing to give them up undamaged and ready-to-wear although a little bit damp. She didn’t chew them up she just carried them around and then hid them somewhere only to bring them out later just to taunt me. Almost from the first night we spent together I found that Roselle was great at stealing socks. What took me a few days to discover was that Roselle was also quite a character I constantly referred to her as a pixie. I could tell that she would be an excellent guide from our very first walk together. It was obvious from the very beginning that we were a perfect match. I think I first met her on November 22, 1999. I must say that I think the culture did rub off on her.Īfter her time with puppy raisers she went back to Guide Dogs for the Blind for training. Kay and Ted introduced her to airplane flying, New York, snow, and even the theater. Kay and Ted Stern had the joy and pleasure of spending the longest amount of raiser time with her. She went to Santa Barbara, California to be raised by several puppy raising families. I heard right from the start that she was quite a mischievous little puppy. Roselle was born on Maat Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California. I write with joy because Roselle is in a better place, no longer feeling pain, while I get to have so many fond memories of her.

I am sad, of course, because I will miss Roselle so very much, more than any of my other guide dogs. I have the solemn obligation to inform you that my hero guide dog, Roselle, who was with me in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, passed away last evening, Sunday, Jat 8:52 PM. Nevertheless, it is something which must be done. It is strange for me to be writing this article while I have feelings of both sadness and joy in my heart.

Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson