Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald ~ turning the page to the next chapter

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

On Friday our dear Ella Fitzgerald at 4 1/2 years old officially retired, she was spayed. It is bittersweet because it is time, but I still swallow a lump in my throat. I do not know if I can find the words to express how I feel about Ella but am going to try.

Ella came to us in whelp with puppies sired by James Brown. She came to us from a wonderful breeder, Holly at Four Paws Doodles. Ella was the foundation of our breeding program. That is not the way we had planned for it to begin but after learning that the father of the darling chocolate girl we had hoped use had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia we elected not to proceed with testing and change our plan. We had already

welcomed our number one stud man, Micah, but he was too young to complete his testing. At a cross road we were blessed to happen upon Holly and of course Ella Fitzgerald. Due to come into heat anytime Holly agreed to retain Ella and breed her for us, she kept her long enough to confirm via ultra sound and then passed the torch to us.

We picked Ella up late on a Friday evening at the airport. She was timid initially and gosh who could blame her? Poor thing was hormonal, had a lengthy travel, left her family to have strangers peering into her crate beckoning her to come out and went from cold weather to well, summertime in February. Initially she responded best to my son who was nine at the time. She stayed near his side, let him handle her and her leash freely and would only get back into the car for a vet visit the following day with Nicholas leading the way. Surely her response to Nick was a result of the love imprinted upon Ella by Holly’s own four children. It did not take long for her to warm to us but it was a mere appetizer of what would unfold before us.

Ella allowed us to welcome with her our first litter on March 29, 2008. What a glorious litter it was and I do know that the families of those puppies would agree. Since that initial litter, Ella and Micah provided many families with forever furkids as a result of two more litters. It is the goal of many reputable breeders, myself included, to retire breeding girls early ~ this allows the greatest portion of their life to be that of a very pampered pet rather than a ‘career gal’. Truly if we really are that adamant about providing magnificent pets to others it must begin with us setting that example.

What I could not have envisioned prior to this experience was how life changing it would be. For me it has always been about lives that are touched, the stories, the process of being blessed in the midst of providing a blessing to others. Not just to their own families but in many instances countless others.

Several of our dogs have gone on to become therapy dogs, but there are many who are not official therapy dogs that I would still classify as such. There are those who have assisted in the heart mending of their human families who thought they could never make room in their heart for another dog love again like those who took up residence there previously. There are those that have sparked a drive in their humans to keep going in spite of health or economic issues. Of course there are also those who have assisted in rolling back the years of their older new fur siblings. I could go on and on, but you get the idea ~ ’therapy dog’ is a very broad description, not one that can be limited to formal training and certification. I like to think of therapy as where one heart joins another that by itself is limited and beautiful results are the fruition.

To that end the beauty that Ella has brought to our lives is endless. She has taught us much about unconditional love. She has enlarged our hearts and stretched our minds. She has even been the vehicle in which we were taught a bit more about patience and being humbled. I suspect we will be adding to the list of all that Ella has bestowed upon us through her presence in our life, as will those that are our extended family through Ella’s pups.

Thank you for allowing me a few moments to elaborate about Ella and share much that we have had the pleasure of celebrating. Of course if you are reading this and have been touched through Ella I would love to read your words and share the memories that have been, are and will be.

Wishing you abundant blessings ~

Dianne Carter

　

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

This is such a moving tribute to a much loved Doodle that it is warming to know there are wonderful breeders out there who do indeed breed many more Therapy Dogs than are ever officially labeled as such.  Ella Fitzgerald will have a happy retirement no doubt about that.

[Karen and Ollie]

Thanks to Ella we have our wonderful Ollie.

We'll always love her and appreciate that you are a caring breeder Diane

after the last breeder nightmare we came from to find you.

Thanks , Karen and Ollie

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

What a wonderful tribute! I am sure Ella will have a wonderful life living as a pampered pet, but I know you will miss her. thanks for sharing.

[Nancy & Bisbee]

Well my fair lady, we wish you all of the very best for a long and happy pampered retirement. I had the pleasure of meeting Ella and was taken the minute I laid eyes on her, just beautiful and sweet. I want to thank you Ella for healing two old hearts after losing Riley...who would have thought your fluffy black doodle was just the answer. Bisbee has fulfilled our every dream, he is awesome. Thank you, Ella!

[Camilla and Darwin]

She sounds like a wonderful girl, and I hope she enjoys her retired life!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Although I've never met Ella, she did just touch my life in a very special way just by reading this story. We got Lucy and Sophie about 2.5 years ago after loosing our precious Asti (toy poodle) 5 years earlier. I never thought I would have another dog after the pain of loosing Asti. We had an appointment with the breeder to see Sophie, but fell in love with Lucy as well when we got there. From the day we brought Lucy and Sophie home our plan was to prepare them to do therapy work as our new purpose in life as we entered our retirement years. Sophie has recently passed her Delta Society test, but Lucy is very shy, and at this point is not ready to take her test. I'm always hopeful that she will one day be ready. However, until reading this tribute to Ella what I didn't think about is that Lucy has already provided the most needed therapy and that was heeling our hearts from our loosing Asti to be able to love another dog(s) as much (or even more) than our Asti. I cannot imagine my life without them and that is the greatest therapy she could have ever provided. Thank you for helping me to realize that.

[Sally, Echo and Emmi]

I met Ella when I was on a journey with my friend who adopted one of Dianne's amazing puppies. She truly is a wonderful lady and very well loved in the "Trinity" household. I am sure the rest of her life will be as pampered and loved as the first 41/2 years. She is a real beauty.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ella must be a very special Doodle Mom! You are clearly a responsible and loving breeder....you must be very proud of Ella and all her wonderful puppies who are bringing joy to so many families.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ella, enjoy your retirement! We wish you the best.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Enjoy your reirement Ella!