Our family was so lucky to have found you and your pups back in 2017. After losing our family pup, Annie, that fall, I was absolutely devastated. Meeting one of your dogs while in Hilton Head prompted my mom, my sister, and me to “pit stop” on the way back to Virginia to meet you, see your facility, and meet the puppies. That visit simply did us over! Throughout my senior year of undergrad, you and I went back and forth about each litter, the behavior I was hoping to have and reinforce, and the type of companion I wanted, and the type of owner I wanted to be. In the second half of my senior year, a March litter was born. You kindly allowed my family and me to drive down, meet and engage with the pups, and begin to hone in on a pup. Thinking my heart was set on another yellow lab, I met a quixotic little nugget – the only black female in the litter – and was told that, “If [you] want a dog that’s up for anything, this is your pup.” And THAT she was (and is)! Driving down during finals to pick up Maggie (and for my sister, Tilly) was the best way to finish undergrad and has since provided me with some of the most rewarding experiences I could ask for in the last three years. Maggie loves being part of our crazy crew. She learned so much from and found comfort in our other older family pup, Izzie (recently passed), loves getting to see and play with her sister, Tilly, frequently, and has learned to find her way with the family frenchies (Olive, Zoe – passed last year). From day one, Maggie has lived up to her personality as “the up for anything pup.” Her nature – even before formal training – was innately calm and well-natured with people of all ages and abilities. She is a happy-go-lucky pup who loves walks, her glow ball, swims, car rides, trips to adventure, outings around the city, curling up with her softies and/or a bone, hikes, the beach, hanging out with me outside while I workout, and shark-bumping me (or anyone around) with a toy to inform me (or anyone in the room) that she is here and she is ready. Maggie wiggles constantly, is the first up each morning, and brings smiles to quite literally everyone she encounters. We are putting all of that to good use with a TDI therapy certification (delayed due to COVID-19) that allows her to venture into hospitals and interact with patients. Needless to say, I love this dog, and we love our two pups. Jim and Kathy, we are so grateful to you both for facilitating the continuation of English Lab companionship in our family. I have come to rely very heavily on this breed and Maggie is, though I am biased, the absolute best first dog – the first dog that is truly “mine” – I could have hoped for. My quality of life depends on her quality of life; I am delighted to have this responsibility, so thank you, really and truly.
