I find it incredibly difficult to say goodbye to any of my dogs but sometimes circumstances occur that make it a little easier. Not easy, but easier.

Quincy is one of those 'marshmallow' dogs ... all he has ever wanted to do is be with me and cuddle and be my best buddy. He would follow me everywhere I went. Even when outside with all the other dogs Quincy would prefer just to stay at my side. He has a very calm and placid temperament and nothing much gets him riled up. Just a lovebug.

As a matter of fact, it is that very quality that convinced me to stop showing him after he attained his Canadian Championship title. He would walk dutifully (but not joyfully) beside me in the ring, never putting a foot down wrong but never appearing animated or looking like he loved to be there either. He just didn't have that great 'showman' attitude that an exhibitor is looking for. And if he is not going to enjoy showing then I'm not going to make him do it.

He has fathered some lovely pups and so has done his job in contributing his genes to my breeding program. He loved that job! That's the one time when he showed real animation! But all good things come to an end and eventually it was time for darling Quincy to retire from even that role.

The dilemma then becomes: what to do with a neutered dog who is the family pet when I am a breeder/exhibitor with limited space within the family home? I need to be able to add dogs that will be up-and-comers in the ring in order to continue to participate in the very competitive world of Dog Shows.

Quincy has never warmed to other people and he is my velcro-dog...stuck to me like glue. He adores me and I adore him. I would never dream of letting him go into another home. I just knew he would be unhappy away from me and his comfortable place within our family.

Then I get a call from a couple who recently lost their 16 yr old bichon, Nicholas. They were crying on the phone as they told me the sad details of their beloved boy's demise, and although I did not have any puppies available they wanted to come and see my dogs and talk further about possibly going on a waiting list for a pup from a future litter.

When they got here and we got talking I could see how very heartbroken they were over the death of their canine family member. Ann cried at my kitchen table, and her husband Dudley was close to tears too. But what really amazed me was that Quincy came up to Ann, put his paws on her lap and wouldn't leave her side. Both she and Dudley petted him and sweet-talked him and his tail would wag happily. I've only seen him take to one other person like that before. I was stunned! It was like Quincy knew their pain and was volunteering to help their hearts heal. He knew they needed him.

He went home with them that day - for a trial - and he has lived happily with them ever since. For the first few weeks I would dream about him periodically, but not unhappy dreams. I missed him but I knew that he was important to this couple and they needed him and his special affection much more than I did. He comes to see me for grooming every 6 weeks and he is always happy to see me - but what really makes my heart glad is that I see him greet his new people enthusiastically when they come to pick him up to take him home again. Quincy has become the blessing in their lives that he always was in mine. His mission in life is love. That's it and that's all. And he takes his mission seriously. Just can't beat that!