Emma’s Lab Type:
Under the ‘ABOUT’ page on this site, I mentioned our unbreakable bond with Emma was cultivated by fate and destined from inception. Well, let me explain!
All I wanted after graduating from college (that year is not important here) was to have companionship. Going from a young full life, busy with school, and constantly surrounded by friends to a lonely scary start at a professional career on my own in this big world proved challenging at first. I wasn’t good with changes back then. Though I was prepared, I craved a roommate, confidence, and purpose. So, I decided to get a puppy (to really age myself here, saw an ad in the newspaper) and talked my parents into buying me an English Labrador Retriever. I researched the breed thoroughly. Choosing the right dog involves considering various factors such as lifestyle, living situation, and personal preferences. It’s important to think about the dog’s environment, diet, and financial circumstances. I, on the other hand, ignored all of that completely. I lived in a small rented apartment, knew I’d be going into an office and/or traveling 75% of the time, and had no money (quick plug: thank goodness for my parents who helped me tremendously during those times). I just simply could not get over these cute little potato looking puppies with big round bellies and outgoing personalities that resonated with me. Not really sure why, I just knew this was my dog – Shadow Lane. Named after tripping over her a dozen times. She was always a little heartbeat at my feet. Quiet, calm, cool, poised, easygoing, self-assured, intelligent, observant, nurturing, and levelheaded. DID I SAY CALM? I learned the breed (so I thought) along the way and what a perfect fit! Shadow taught me about confidence, independence, courage, discipline, and responsibility above all.
Fast forward years later, Shadow Lane was eight (8) and I married my now husband. Together, we decided to grow the love in our home by adding another dog to the household. Maggie Mae enters the chat! We rescued this American Retriever and just when I thought I knew the Labrador, raising her was a breed of its own. Vivacious, playful, active, high energy, and with a greater drive. Yet, such a good loving goofy girl. She broke out of every type of crate we owned, chewed her way from the bathroom through a sheetrock wall into the closet, and ate more flip-flops and kids shoes (maybe out of jealousy) than I care to admit. She was the baby of the house and got away with everything because she was ‘daddy’s girl’. When Shadow crossed the rainbow bridge at fifteen and a half, Maggie took on a different role in our house. I’ll never forget! Minutes before Shadow passed, Maggie suddenly came down the stairs, they had what seemed to be a quick chat, and then she took herself back up the stairs on her own – it was such a strange interaction. You see, Shadow had always been the protector in our family and overnight we quickly saw Maggie transform into this new character. Ah, that interaction suddenly made sense. Maggie let us grief the loss of Shadow but made sure we stayed busy with her silly shenanigans otherwise. It was her way of getting us back on track. Her high energy demanded frequent outdoor activities and our home at the time just want’s the right place anymore. Having experienced a highly active lifestyle when I first got Shadow in Wilmington, NC, I felt getting back was exactly what we needed so we moved. Boy was I right! She was made for the salt life – boating, swimming, and fun in the sun. Sadly, Maggie was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (a rare form of canine skin cancer) when she was only ten (10) and we lost her sooner than anticipated. She taught us to be carefree (if you know us at all then you’ll understand this was a huge task) and to love bigger than life.
Losing Shadow and then Maggie within years close apart was the most gut-wrenching heartbreaking pain I’ve ever felt and the thought of ever getting another dog was never going to be a consideration – NEVER AGAIN! I said it over and over. I was done. My still to this day neighbor trying to console my angry thoughts said to me – “The Heart Always Makes Room for More Love” – but at that point I felt we had been blessed with the best two ‘Labby’ girls in the world as well as the chance to have owned one of each type of lab. Could it get any better?
A couple of months later, I received a random call from a friend (old sorority sister from college) who was volunteering for a Lab rescue group out of the Cary/Raleigh, NC area wondering if we were interested in a puppy. IMMEDIATELY, NO! But she called prepared with a ‘hook on a casted line’. Said the puppies (listed on Craig’s list) were babies, only weeks old, sleeping in hay beds out in one of the coldest winters NC had experienced to date. She begged, asked us to check out the litter, and gave me an address in La Grange, NC. Where in the world? Never heard of the place but asked my husband who was sitting right next to me and his response was what I know today as the first sign the universe had aligned – “I’m going by there on my way to work tomorrow”!
The second sign and hardest to ignore was the fact that this ‘accidental litter’ of Labrador puppies were a mix of English and American retrievers. Are you kidding me right now? The next morning I joined my husbands work day and traveled with him to La Grange to ‘check out’ these pups. I was unsure and to be honest a little sick to my stomach full of emotions and questions, going over different scenarios in my head. Mainly wondering if it was too soon to even be looking at other dogs. Upon arrival pulling into the driveway, we saw the big chocolate block head English Labrador ‘sire’ (or dad). I got out of the car and went straight to the backyard where twelve little potatoes were running around. Right away I noticed the sweet looking American Labrador ‘dam’ (or mom) and I saw an identical dog that reminded me of my ‘Maggie Mae’ and thought to myself – “I wonder if they would let me take that one?” – but then a big squeaking bark interrupted that thought. When I looked over to see which on of the puppies had let out the yack, saw one of them making direct eye contact looking up from the ground at the woman who had come to greet us by now. This puppy was a female, had the lightest yellow colored fur coat of the litter (same color as Shadow and Maggie), and immediately demonstrated qualities I recognized and felt too familiar. “THAT ONE!” My husband shockingly surprised (since he thought I had already made up mind during the drive there was no way I’d be returning home with a dog) quickly replied – “what about that one?”. “That’s the one I want.” He replied again – “Are you sure?”. I paused for a moment but when the woman responded eagerly in my place – “Y’all can take this one today if you want” – there it was, the third sign. I felt without hesitation there was something ‘special’ about this puppy. Oh, and remember that hook and casted line? SINK HER! Enters, The English/American Labrador – Emma Grace Bammert – October 30, 2013.