As a result of this placement I have learned to be extremely cautious in placing a pup in a home with small children and to speak in greater depth to the primary care person ...in this case a mom with three young children. At a later date it became very obvious that this Mom was not that keen on having one more thing underfoot. Lacey was hustled out the door first thing upon waking where she remained until bed time when she was allowed to sleep in a crate in the laundry room!

I first realized that all was not right when I picked up Lacey to take to her first Confirmation class. It was quite obvious that she didn't like her tail touched. I have never had a dog like this and became suspicious that Lacey was not getting the home life I was assured that she would be getting. Vizslas are so people oriented that they can have behavior problems if they are excluded from being a full member of the Family.

Upon occasion I would keep Lacey when they traveled. She would arrive with fleas and an attitude of nipping that was not acceptable. When I asked what her word was to go outside to potty they said she did not have one. She did not need one because she was kept outside. This is an absolute breach of trust with me. Twice I entered her in dog shows only to have her excused from the ring when the judge touched her tail. I knew that I had to get Lacey back so I tossed the idea out to the owners. They said they would "pray" about it.

As fate would have it, I was contacted by C.W. and Leslie Stacks in Charlotte N.C. who were looking for a playmate for their 2 year old Vizsla, Fergus. I told them about Lacey and that I had hopes that her owners would give her up. It was clear that these owners were not Vizsla people! I stayed in touch with the Stacks for a period of time that it took Lacey's owners to decide that they no longer wanted Lacey. They wanted a "lap dog" instead. However this process dragged on for months. Now Lacey was 18 months old. I came home one day to find a message on my answering machine..."we may be transferring with my job, we don't want Lacey." Hallelujuah! The catch was that he wanted a full refund on her. I don't know what planet he stepped off of but I do not know where you can purchase something, use it for a year and a half, ruin it and then take it back and ask for a full refund! But none the less..he was playing hardball. Even though I told him that Lacey is what we call a rescue at this point and that my primary concern would be in placing her in a home who could socialize her in hopes of overcoming her nipping tendencies. It was doubtful that she could be shown to her championship and then bred...he then said that I could have the dog...at this point they were boarding her at a kennels to get her out of the wife's hair...but I could not have the papers back. After much negotiating and stress I might add...I got Lacey back. Yes I paid money to get her back, but that was my lesson to learn and a change in my contract as well.

The owner's of Lacey's dad Rusty had me send her out to them on the East Coast, where they began the process of working with her. After 2 months they thought that she was ready for her first show. I flew out to see her and lend support. I waited with bated breath when the judge touched her tail. Lacey stiffened but did not turn. In 4 months she was a Champion! The Stacks arranged to meet Diane half way on the road so off Lacey went to her glorious new life. The Stacks were aware that she might need close watching at first and introduced Lacey on a neutral zone to their dog Fergus. It was love at first sight...it was as if Lacey knew she was home and she fit in like a glove.

Two months later, Lacey had the opportunity to give back to her new family. Leslie had taken the dogs with her on a jog and her husband, C.W., was going to a basketball game. Before leaving for the game he climbed on their roof to retrieve a tool that was left behind by their roofers. He fell and suffered a severe blow to his head and a broken shoulder and ribs as well. He managed to crawl into his empty, dark house where he remained slumped on the floor bleeding from his head. Leslie arrived home unaware of this...thinking he was at the game...she was getting ready to head upstairs to the shower when she heard Lacey barking like a maniac. Leslie thought that she probably had the cat cornered or something like that. But Lacey was relentless and Leslie thought she had best check it out. She walked into the den and flipped on the light. What greeted her was the horror of her C.W. lying on the floor with blood pouring profusely from his head. Lacey had thrown her body over C.W. When the medics arrived they had to peel her off of her master. At the hospital the neurosurgeon arrived and began asking C.W. questions to determine his mental awareness. He did not know what year it was or even his wife of 29 year's name. However, when asked if he had pets...he nodded and responded affirmative...two Vizslas...Lacey and Fergus.

From the moment C.W. came home from the hospital Lacey assigned herself to him as his personal therapy dog. She layed her head gently in his lap as he lay in his special orthopediac chair. When he went up to bed she followed him upstairs and lay against his back to give him support...previously she stayed up with the wife. This great dog overcame her early life of neglect and suspected abuse. Her true spirit now shines through and she is recently a proud new mama of 4 pups. I think Leslie and C.W. are proud parents as well.

Thanks for listening to Lacey's truly heart-lifting story. Not all rescue stories are so successful, but then again there may be another Lacey out there waiting to fit right in with your family...to be loved and to give love back.