But dogs are other family and people.
The only pet we have had in years is our 14 year old Lab, Aster. She is not your average pet. We met the family that was keeping her mother for a dog guide school in the summer of 1993. That fall my daughter and theirs schemed for us to get one of her puppies to raise to be a dog guide. It was a great year with several of the litter in the same state and making it to monthly meetings. The next fall, Aster went away to dog guide school and graduated the next spring. We were very surprised she was given to a lady that lived in the same county. So the three families all became friends and still visit regularly. This is very unusual, I do not know of another instance where the breeder, puppy raiser, and partner socialize regularly. Aster retired 4 years ago, and now lives with us as a pet. We all still visit regularly.
Her age is catching up to Aster, but she still enjoys a walk of a mile or 2 most days and occasional swims in the river or a housing development detention pond. She doesn't enjoy the new puppies we get every fall to raise for the dog guide school. They want to play, and Aster doesn't want their sharp little teeth in her old hide.
Once a dog retires as a service dog, they no longer have any access rights. We do still take Aster some places pets don't get to go. Last Saturday we took her to a meeting of a group that does fund raising and support work for dog guides. She is always welcome at local agency that provides services to the hearing and vision impaired. She often takes turns at fundraisers out in front of Wal-Mart. Depending what we are doing, sometimes she goes along to meetings with people raising puppies for the dog guide school. Aster always enjoys getting out around other people and dogs.
This was 3 years ago at her 11' th birthday party.
She is the yellow Lab on the left with her mother next to her. The largest black Lab is her replacement as a dog guide. The one in ''Seasonals'' is a younger half sister that also was dog guide breeding stock.
Here he is trying to take Ava's leash and walk her!! 
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