04/14/2026
I was asked yesterday what made me choose Mae over Finn as the dog I would keep and train for myself.
Both of them had rough beginnings. The queen was not chosen by anybody. She was the last one left in her litter when the Kennedy‘s brought her to me from Virginia. Finn, as you saw yesterday, was extremely ill and weak when he was handed over to me.
I accepted both and was grateful for the incredible kindness, but still wasn’t sure if I was ready to have another dog.
Now very close to six years later, I’m still not over the loss of G ….
But both of the toddlers worked their way into my heart. This little six second video does everything you need to know about both of them.
Finn was about the cutest pup I’ve ever seen in my entire life. He talked constantly. There was never any question about what he wanted or when he wanted it. The queen at the very end if you look closely, you’ll catch that she gives her a little brother it look like, “really?“ by the way, this is the same look I get now multiple times in a day.
I was certain they would both end up brightening someone else’s life.
That was absolutely true. It was especially evident after Mary asked if she and Finn could become forever companions.
While I was up spending a month writing in Minnesota, because of Mary’s intervention, it was clear I couldn’t have both of them in the same small room with me. Mary offered to care for Finn during that time.
I think it took about a week or 10 days before Mary changed her mind about wanting a St. Bernard sized dog and believed that Finn would fill the void left by the absence of HER former beloved pet…
I loved both of these knuckleheads. It was synchronicity, kismet, or divine intervention, or all three that made the decision for me about who I would continue to train as a Service Dog.
I was still convinced that Mae will be going to someone else and that I would put my nose to the grindstone to make sure she was the best Service Dog possible.
Here we are, going on six years later and, well, she is…
