Second Time Around: Maribel and "Angel"

In 1999, Maribel Shuman applied for a Service Dog. Her medical condition was worsening and she had become more and more confined to a wheelchair. Because she lived alone Maribel realized that she needed someone or something to be with her in case of an emergency. A Service Dog was the perfect answer to her dilemma.

Maribel received a beautiful golden retriever Service Dog named Honor from THSD. Honor and Maribel were bonded about as closely as a Service Dog team can be. Honor, in fact, saved Maribel's life several times, which resulted in her being named Purina Dog Chow's Hero Dog of the Year 2000. Honor was the best thing that ever happened to Maribel.

Two years ago Maribel noticed that Honor was not feeling well. She was becoming slower and slower and was losing weight. Oddly, she would go outside in the yard and rub her head constantly against the fence. Despite thorough vet exams and a myriad of tests, no one could find anything wrong with Honor. What Maribel and the doctors didn't realize is that Honor was dying of a brain tumor. Yet, Honor continued to work for Maribel until a week before her death.

Maribel mourned Honor and couldn't imagine replacing this extraordinary dog. But the time finally came when Maribel realized that she needed the help and missed the companionship of a Service Dog. Once again, THSD had the right dog for her.

January of this year "Honor's Angel" came to live with Maribel. It was a match made in heaven. Literally. Shortly before Angel came to live with Maribel she had an unusual dream that Honor had come home. She was ecstatic to see her dog. Honor came inside the house and gathered up all her toys. But she wouldn't stay. Surrounding Honor was a white cloud.

Angel is an all-white retriever mix that looks like a cloud.

Maribel emphasizes that Angel has not taken Honor's place. She's called Honor's Angel because she's taken up where Honor left off. Angel volunteers with Maribel at a local hospital. She's welcomed everywhere they go. Angel loves to work and is on the job 24/7. And like Honor, she's prepared to save Maribel's life if necessary. Maribel had to make an emergency trip to the hospital recently and Angel accompanied her. She stayed by Maribel's side in the emergency room until Maribel was released to go home. She is, in a sense, Maribel's "guardian" Angel.

The hardest part of getting a successor dog, according to Maribel, is the wait. Maribel recommends that a recipient become involved with some other meaningful activity while waiting for their successor dog to take the focus off your loss. For Maribel that meant volunteering as a foster home for Golden Retriever Rescue. She fostered 5 dogs while waiting for Angel.

Maribel also acknowledges that it's hard not to compare. "I simply made up my mind that I would NOT compare my next dog to Honor. I had to be fair to the new dog."

Obviously, no comparisons are necessary. Angel, the dog who appeared in her dreams as a cloud, has become Maribel's closest companion, second pair of hands, and partner. This "successor dog" had some big paws to fill. She has done so admirably.