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to work and could not afford to hire someone.
With the help of the Coulee Creek Family Lab owners, a foundation was
started to continue their 30-year breeding program in Labrador Retrievers.
"We donated the Lab [to the Stahlman family] because we saw an opportunity
to help someone in need," wrote Chuck in an email to this writer. "...We
derived enormous pleasure from helping the children."
Degree Four:
Mike Morano, the owner of two Coulee Creek Labs, lives within a half-hour of
the Stahlman family in New Jersey. He reads the email from Shirley to the
Rolands and offers to take his Lab, Belle, over to the Stahlman family for
the children to play with and to pick up Pooh when she arrives at the
airport. He will also socialize and train Pooh at his own home until she is
ready to live with the family.
Chuck speaks with Shirley by telephone and tells her of all the offers of
assistance. He also emails the Coulee Creek Family members with an update.
"Everything here was one disaster after another," Shirley tells Chuck. "Our
life had disintegrated and all was so dismal. Meeting Pat and her Lab had
such a calming influence on my sister and her children, I had to write you.
When I received your answer offering us one of your Labs and help and hope,
it was like a light in the darkness."
Chuck contacts Rick Hutson, local manager of Atlantic Southeast
Airlines/Delta, asking for help with the transport of Pooh from Texas to
Newark Airport in New Jersey. ASA/Delta donates the transportation and even
provides patriotic bunting for Pooh's crate.
Degree Five:
With a donated crate, veterinarian services, 160 pounds of Eukanuba pet food
from Iams, air transportation and training provided by Morano, the plans
begin falling into place for Pooh's arrival in New Jersey.
Concerns about providing a safe environment for Pooh at her new home now
bring the Lehigh Valley connection into the picture.
Ron and Kathy Leh of Heidelberg Township, members of the Coulee Creek
Family, purchased their yellow Lab, Amber, 2-1/2, from Chuck and Mary Anne.
"Buying one of the Labs is like adopting one of Chuck's children," explained
Kathy, during an interview for this story.
"He is very concerned about where his dogs go," added Ron.
The Lehs, too, have been following the back-and-forth flow of emails from
the Rolands, Shirley and others on the mailing list.
Ron, South Whitehall Township's superintendent of streets, also works as a
pet management consultant for Invisible Fence Lehigh Valley, based in
Whitehall Township. The company's owner, Ralph Shenyo, of Queen of the
Valley Farm Boarding Kennel, Zionsville, along with the Lehs, makes
arrangements for an Invisible Fence perimeter system to be installed at the
Stahlman home and for Pooh to be trained in its use.
Degree Six:
Pooh arrives at Newark Airport in mid-October and is welcomed by Mike,
Shirley and her son, Erick. On Sunday, Oct. 21, Mike introduces Pooh, now
named Starlight but called Star, to her new family. Ron and Kathy are there
for the first meeting.
"Shirley had arranged the surprise," said Kathy. "Blanca knew something good
was happening but didn't know what it was."
Mike Wald, another member of the Coulee Creek Family, reads the emails
between Shirley and the Rolands. He has family in the Holmdel area and
offers to help by putting the Rolands in touch with the Taylor Fence Company
of Howell, N.J. The company donates and installs a 6-foot-by-12-foot kennel
for Star's use when she isn't with the family.
On Nov. 4, after frequent visits to the Stahlman family, Star is ready to
live at her new home. Mike and his family deliver her to Blanca, Allison and
Jacob.
Ralph, Ron, Kathy and Cody Evans, a trainer for Invisible Fence, return to
the Stahlman home on Nov. 10 to install the perimeter fencing. The following
week, Annette Teneci, another trainer with Invisible Fence Lehigh Valley,
travels to New Jersey and provides a second day of training to familiarize
Star with the fencing system.
The kindness and generosity of the Coulee Creek Family did not stop,
however, with Star settling happily into her new home. Fund-raising efforts
across the country raised $1,750, which was given to Blanca and her
children.
On Jan. 7, the Rolands received an update on the Stahlman family and Star
via an email from Eric's cousin, Lissie, who lives in Atlanta, Ga.
"It was only a couple of days ago that my brother happened to be surfing the
net and came upon your site which describes in detail all the love and
support of the many individuals that went into this effort…
"When I asked Blanca lately how Star was doing, she told me that after she
puts the children to bed at night, she and Star curl up together and that
this canine companion is in large part responsible for her ability to 'make
it through the night.'
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