Alan, with his cop-look on and his Big-Baby-Boy Koda.
Alan sent Koda in his fancy leather collar to Michigan, in a brand new crate, along with his puppy toy that was shipped with him at 8 weeks old. Thank you Alan! Koda was suppose to fly into Kalamazoo but turns out he needed to be shipped in a 500 series crate and the plane flying into K-zoo was not big enough to accommodate the crate. So Koda landed at Detroit Metro instead. Nick (Evey’s Dad) drove to Detroit Metro to pick up Koda, brought him to his house in Ypsilanti were Koda meet Kelly and Evey. Nick and Kelly bathed Koda and cleaned out the crate. Thank you Nick and Kelly! Koda was then picked up by Crystal in Ypsilanti and brought to Marshall. Thank you Crystal! Koda got out of the truck and had a potty break and then meet Dr. Mos and Tiffany for his first set of Xrays. Thank you Mos and Tiffany! Lynne, Irene, Carolyn, Collin, Monica, Karen, David, and myself all waited for the results. Everyone was relaxed except for me, I had a nervous stomach and a tension headache…you think I don’t get nervous about these things? The radiographs were perfect, normal elbows and good hips. Thank you God! Koda, who is very sweet and friendly, got some loving from everyone there. Thank you everyone! Doped-up on Acepromazine (a sedative to facilitate taking the radiographs) Koda, with his huge head, floppy ears, wrinkles, and droopy eyes looked like a bloodhound, only making him all the more adorable.
This morning Crystal drove Koda back to Detroit Metro. Thank you again Crystal! Not so luckily, Crystal got to stand at the cargo counter for an excruciating hour as a new person struggled through the process…while Crystal watched other agents putting through other dogs in 10 minutes time. At this time Koda is on his flight to Dallas were he will be met by his new mum Josie. At least we hope he is on his way as I guess the cargo agent forgot to scan the paperwork so he is not officially on the plane. But we are guessing it is ok since Delta cargo hasn’t called to tell us differently……
Most of all…. THANK YOU ALAN. We all have a small idea of how hard this was for you to do and especially at this time.
Julie, thank you! I couldn’t have gotten through this without your support (and thanks to everyone who made the trip for Koda at least tolerable). From the top picture you wouldn’t think I’d be crying like a baby but I am and I’m secure enough to admit it. I won’t say much else except that I am at peace and no matter what the future holds for me you will always be family to me. Thanks again.
Alan and Josie,
He is a wonderful and sweet boy. I am glad I got the chance to see him again. Alan, a loss is a loss and I know how much it hurts to have to give them up.
If it is any help to you and Josie, I can tell you from first hand experience that the wonderful breeding and temperament these pups have also makes them very adaptable and resilient. Right now Sammy is doing the puppy zoomies inbetween coming over asking for his belly rubs and acting like he has lived here forever.
And as much as both Sade and Sammy love me, it was very heart warming to see their joy and excitement when they saw Julie again yesterday. They never forget those who loved them.
I am confident that Koda will make himself right at home with Josie and her “boys” and have a wonderful, charmed life. But know this Alan, no matter how happy he is in his new home, he will never forget you and the love you gave him the last few months will be a part of him forever.
Josie – a warning – if he is like his siblings, he will occassionally just stop playing and leap into your arms and smother you with sloppy kisses and just as quickly go right back to his puppy zoomies.
Irene you have a way with words. Now all of us are crying like babies.
Alan, you are in my thoughts and prayers for the best possible outcome for you.
Alan, no body ducks out of this family that easy..even if you wanted to LOL Our prayers are with you. Koda was just adorable. Even tthough he had a very busy day, he will be at Josies soon and I am sure he will meld into the family with no problems. Kodas eyebrow lines cracked me up yesterday, like Julie said he looked like a blood hound he was so relaxed.
Alan, you will always be a part of this family! You have been in my thoughts and prayers.
Koda has landed in DFW and at this very moment, in the pool with the Andrew, I am super annoyed that I wasn’t able to pick him up because today has been a crazy day at work. I will be home very soon and I will take lots of photos.
My husband said that as soon as Koda got home, he was immediately super glued to Andrew, they were apparently having a very serious conversation. Ha ha!
I can’t wait to get home to my boys.
What a wonderful series of events this day was, my heart aches for you Alan, but the beauty is you will know how Koda is doing any time you feel like checking, he is a gorgeous boy and will be in a wonderful home. God Bless you.
I feel so many emotions from this post. Alan, as in any other good family, the Alta-Tollhaus family shares both joys and sorrows. I hope you know that we are here for you, and always will be.
Josie, our very best to you and your family on this very special day.
Alan, I just want to let you know that I’m thinking of you. I unfortunately returned a puppy because of health issues and not getting along with the other dogs. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My heart just aches for you. I wish I could say something that can help with the pain. Just know that I’m thinking of you and praying for you.
The title of this post came from an email Jennie sent to me. You-all will get to know Jennie soon.
I can say that Jennie “fits” right in with this family!
Jennie is extremely sweet, witty and funny. Yep she belongs in this family. 🙂
Thanks so much for the warm welcome. Hopefully, I’ll have more to contribute to my new favorite blog after I have a Zucca-Gavin puppy (!!!) to share with you all.
I credit Josie (and Odin) for leading me to this family. Josie, you were right about everything.
Alan, I’m so touched and humbled by what you’ve done, passing the baton to Josie to finish the journey you started with Koda. We are all rooting for you, praying for you, and wanting the best for you, as you focus on a very different and difficult journey ahead. Stay strong and keep fighting. From that first photo, I know you will.
Jennie
@Julie
Thank you all so much for making Koda’s journey a pleasant one for him. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate all the help.
Alan, Koda is such a super puppy, what a sweetie he is. Thank you for raising him into a perfect puppy, I am in awe with his personality. He has become my husband’s shadow- and now he thinks Koda is “his” dog, lol.
My son thinks Koda is Odin, he hugged him as soon as he saw him, he turned the garden hose on and started playing with him. Koda spent very little time swimming, we will take care of that, I am sure he will be swimming in no time.
Thank you everybody, thank you so much !!
I’m glad he’s home. He looks great and I had no doubt he would settle right in. I told you he had the sweetest personality of any dog I had owned. He will bring endless joy to your family.
@josiem Maybe you will have to get a dog that is yours Josie, since your husband thinks Koda is HIS 🙂 🙂
Julie said the exact same thing! 😀 Koda is definitely a man’s dog (thank you Alan!) Odin was more my dog- almost nothing to do with dh.
Koda got walked at 5:30 am this morning by DH, they love each other already!
Alan, you are a wonderful man. You are in my thoughts and prayers.