Match Day (Ann)

When I arrived at Fidos for training, I thought something might have been planned since I had quite a few people from Fidos ask if I was going to be at class that day and reach out (including my awesome case manager, Helena). I thought that maybe this was it and I was going to be matched but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I got to training early and took a short walk in the beautiful weather to a local festival on Main Street before walking back to Fidos and spending time talking to Helena and Linda. Just before class started, Donnie pulled me aside and led me into the client services office—a room that I have only seen the inside of twice before, once when I was matched with Nala and once when I signed the papers at the end of my probationary year with Nala. I started to feel a bit more hopeful about being matched. Donnie closed the door and asked if I knew what was going on. I was overwhelmed and excited and he happily handed me the leash and said, “Here’s your dog.” I immediately started to cry and Franklyn excitedly jumped up to lick my face, seeming to understand the magnitude of the moment and sharing in the excitement to be partnered with me. (Sandy said that Donnie had been so excited since the decision had been made on Monday and had woken up that morning talking about how today was a very special day.) Franklyn settled in for snuggles as Pat came in and gave the official question: “The training staff has met and decided that this dog is the best match for you. Do you agree to this match?” Without hesitation, I said that I absolutely agreed and Pat left us to going over the contract for the post-match period. After we had finished signing the paperwork, we went out onto the training floor where Donnie proudly announced the match and handed the mic to me to say a few words. I tearfully thanked everyone at Fidos and explained how much this match meant to me, especially to be happening this particular weekend which happened to be a very difficult anniversary for me. Being matched that day was a moment of redemption, hope, and healing that I needed more than I could ever express. Throughout going over the contract and my speech on the training floor, Franklyn never took his eyes off of me. Several of the clients and trainers commented on this and it made me glow to know that they saw it, too. Franklyn and I joined class off and on in between taking photos and chatting with the other clients and trainers who offered their congratulations.

At one point, while taking photos, Dann’s youngest son (2-years-old) started to cry. Franklyn immediately went over and gently sniffed him and licked him affectionately. It was a moment that brought tears to my eyes as I thought of the countless children and adults that Nala has comforted in a similar way over the years while working together. She always seems to know a person’s soul and, to see that same quality in Franklyn, makes me truly humbled and honored to be partnered with him and excited to see what miracles will come from our partnership just as I have had countless miracles with Nala (mostly Nala doing the work of healing someone’s heart while I hold her poop bag…). As an added bonus, David and Della passed their ADI test while I was being matched. David’s brother, Mark, had been going to Fidos with his service dog, Monty, when I had trained for Nala. Mark was always my biggest cheerleader and to have his brother pass his ADI public access test the same day that I was matched felt like a sign from him. It made an already special day immensely more special. The way that Franklyn looks at me gives me such hope and strength. Until I met Franklyn, I didn’t think that I would ever be worthy of that kind of love with how broken I am in body, mind, and spirit. Franklyn, however, looked at the brokenness and chose me. He truly loves me for who I am right now in this moment and does not demand anything more from me. He doesn’t ask me to change myself. Rather, he walks beside me, bringing out the beauty in my heart and soul that I thought that I had lost forever. When I came home, Nala excitedly greeted me. She smelled Franklyn’s scent on me and I told her that we had been matched. She started to wag her tail in a circle (she only does it when she is REALLY happy). She always knew that Franklyn was destined for us, to bring healing to both of our hearts and souls after a very difficult experience. She had the same excited reaction she had had when I showed her Franklyn’s first photograph on Heather’s Facebook page. I have never seen Nala react that way to a puppy picture online before or since. I thanked Nala for being my partner and for making the loving decision to retire knowing that Franklyn was out there waiting for us. Thank you for choosing me, Franklyn. Thank you for the way that you love me. I can’t wait to experience the next chapter of my life with you by my side!