It's Official....Plato Will Retire

Plato has been having trouble with his hips for awhile now but we were in denial about it. Well Kris took him to have X-rays because after his routine Vet check-up they told him that his muscles were much weaker on one side. At that time they made the diagnosis of 2-3 years until retirement. Well, the X-rays were BAD and the Vet gave him 1 year at the most until he will be retired. I am devastated as is Kris. Poor Plato...he is well-bred, from an amazing German bloodline with documentation, but sometimes it just doesn't matter. He is having trouble standing up sometimes. You can see it and this summer we saw problems when he would run. Like I said, we were just in denial. Being a working dog is very tough and it takes quite a few years from their life expectancy. Plato is about 7 years old, but we don't have an exact birthdate.

So what will happen? Technically Plato will then become our dog. The Sheriff's Office will release him to us. We will then be solely responsible for his medications, bills, food, etc. We do not pay one penny for him right now. The county pays for it all. We don't have a problem with this, although it will be an extra expense, but we have decided that we will not be able to keep him. This is really hard for us. Working dogs become very attached to their handlers. Plato already takes anxiety medication because he can't handle being left in our house when Kris is not here. He tears the house apart. And I mean he DEMOLISHES it. He can't be left. There is just no way possible to leave him here all day while we are at work. It's not fair for Plato. On the other hand it seems so unfair to find him a new home. But Kris will be getting another dog, so where will that dog stay? The two dogs can't reside in the same house. Plato won't tolerate that one bit. Kris is so upset over this. So....the hunt is on for the perfect family for Plato. He needs a family where ONE PERSON is home all the time. I mean, not all the time, but not working.

This will be so hard on all of us, but we have to do what is best for Plato and this is the answer, sadly. I am just having a real hard time with it. REAL hard time. Plato is the first dog I have ever had. So I will cry like a baby. I am hoping we find someone who we know well so we can visit him. Let me tell you what....we will be VERY picky about it. Pray we find the right home with the right situation for the most loyal dog I have ever seen in my life.

The first picture was taken at a training exercise with Plato. The other two pictures were taken this week with my student that I tutor in Massillon. He wanted to meet the dog as his "treat" for completing his tutoring session program. This is what he "worked towards" and so Kris got approval to take the dog down to the school for a special visit. This was one SUPER excited little boy...let me tell you!