Bay Team in memoriam
From BayTeam
Our canine companions always leave us too soon. But we never want to forget our partnerships, successes, love, and fun. This is for all of our departed canine agility teammates.
- For memories of departed human club members, see Members in memoriam
Note: Although not every loss is mentioned here, these are the farewells reported to us by our members. If you are a Bay Team member, you can log in and add more info. Or anyone can email us about any omissions or corrections.
Cruiser (Border Collie)
- November 24, 1994 - June 24, 2009
- Titles: LAA-Silver, ADCH, MACH
- Handler: Sarah Johnson
Tucker (Labrador Retriever)
- June 1, 1995 - June 18, 2009
- Handler: Nancy Campanile
Risk (Border Collie)
- October 10, 2000 - May 29, 2009
- Titles: ADCH-Silver LAA-Silver SACH-Platinum GCH-Gold SCH-Platinum JCH-Gold, a steeplechase Q the next day would have given him his ADCH-Gold.
- Handler: Cheri Scannell
Last night we lost our beautiful black and white boy, Risk. He was happy and healthy when we got to Turlock. Right up to the moment he came to the line for his first run, he was acting completely normal. He took 2 jumps and stopped. We left the ring. He seemed depressed all of a sudden. It was observed that his gums were grey and we were advised to go to emergency, which we did. 3+ hours later he was gone. He was in shock and eventually went into cardiac arrest. Best guess was a possible a heart valve defect but the cause of death was never fully determined. No poisons suspected nothing abnormal in the xrays. We drove home from the site last night in tears and in shock ourselves. This morning we are lost. We alternate between sobs and consoling each other trying to figure out what to do next.
Risk changed our lives when he came to us as a rescue at 10 months old. He taught us so much. His pack was everything to him. He had to be where we were at all times. He was not your average border collie. He was Risky. We loved him so much in spite of his quirks and because of them.
Now he is changing our lives again. Creating a void that may never truly close. Risky, we miss you so much.
Thank you to all the folks who stepped in to help us proving for the billionth time that the agility community is a great one indeed! Thank you thank you.
And especially Thank You to Katrina and Holly and Pat for coming down there and lending expertise and moral support as we waited all those hours until those final difficult moments. You guys are the greatest.
- Added: May 31, 2009
- Contributed by: Mike and Cheri Scannell
For those who wanted to know, Risk's necropsy came back and what they found was a tumor on his spleen. We were told that they are generally asymptomatic and you would not have any idea of their existence unless you were doing an ultrasound for something else. When they finally rupture, a dog will generally succumb within 5 hours. Risky lasted about 4. 3+ were in the emergency.
Thank you all for the kind words. And as always, hug your dogs,
- Added: May 31, 2009
- Contributed by: Mike and Cheri Scannell
Rip (Border Collie)
- February 4, 1997 - March ?, 2009
- Titles: ADCH-Gold LAA-Bronze [MACH3; EAC EGC OJC]
- Handler: Sharon Freilich
Have no information, just word of mouth.
Blaze (Shetland Sheepdog)
- September 25, 1994 - March 31, 2009
- Titles: ADCH LAA-Bronze [MACH3; NATCH]
- Handler: Cindy Glantz
This comes with great sadness. We've had to put our Blaze to sleep last night after a long fight with cancer. He is in a much happier place now. We will miss him dearly but our wonderful memories will always last forever. Give your furry kids a hug and kiss.
- Added: April 11, 2009
- Contributed by: Cindy Glantz
Another of the old stars has left us to join the agility constellation. Many of you may not have known Cindy Glantz' sheltie Blaze, but, in addition to having Mach 3, he was also one gambler leg from his USDAA Lifetime Silver when his career was cut short by a stroke. I believe when he was forced into retirement he had more qualifying scores in 16" than any other dog in USDAA at the time.
- Added: April 11, 2009
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
Boomer (Australian Shepherd)
- February 27, 1996 - March 23, 2009
- Titles: MAD JM RM GM TM [MX MXJ; O-EAC EGC O-EJC]
- Handler: Joan Jamison
Have no information, just word of mouth.
Hawkeye (Golden Retriever)
- December 22, 1997 - March 23, 2009
- Titles: ADCH SACH RCH-Bronze GCH-Bronze JCH-Bronze SCH-Bronze TM [MACH CGC]
- Handler: Nancy Damarodas
- Web page:
Damarodas’ Seadog Hawkeye.
Hawkeye was featured in the Shelter Champ Series in the March 2009 Clean Run in a beautiful article written by Lisa Barrett. Thank you so very much. I am not a famous trainer, nor a young handler, nor have I ever made the finals but apparently through perseverance or just my stubbornness Hawkeye and I have been an inspiration to others. I put together some of my favorite photos on Flikr.
I knew nothing of leashes, I thought crates were cruel, sits and stays and recalls: what were they? In the beginning he was just my dog and so it was. People say Hawkeye was lucky to have found me . That is not so. I was the lucky one and treasure every bark and moment we had together.
Today I said good-bye to my very best friend. Hawkeye was a rescue dog sometimes I say the best $49.00 Investment that I ever made. Most of all he got me out of bed on days when I just wanted to hide under the covers.Hawkeye was always happy, barking way too much and wagging his tail and getting into trouble. His number one goal was keep himself with something in his mouth and be happy.
More than anything I wanted to remember him happy, smiling and with his tail wagging. That it how we first met and that is how we said good-bye as his tail wagged until the end. Even more important, thank you to Dr.Lisa Eshman who was responsible for us adopting him and helping me say good-bye.He put up a brilliant battle and really he tried to not let anyone know how much pain he was in. But week by week and day by day the pain became worse. The meds increased but the pain was always winning the battle.
I asked so many people how I would know when it’s time. I didn’t want to do this too soon or wait too long. The most common answer was that Hawk would let me know.
Hawk did. If you have ever seen Hawkeye near water or a pool you knew he would be in the water, leash or no leash. Hawk did things like jumping off an 8 foot bridge or jumping in pool in the middle of a party with family all around or jumping on top of a crate and jumping in a pool with the pool cover on. He couldn’t finish an agility course at Sir Francis Drake without ending up in the water. So last week we went to the beach and he didn’t want to even go near the water. When I threw a toy he just stood there and shivered. I knew then that he was trying to tell me it hurt too much.
Agility was a plus for us. Nancy Gyes and Jim, Basic thank-you so much for putting up with all Hawk’s antics in class for so many years and his barking. We never would have achieved what we did in this sport without your patience and guidance.
The last few weeks have been so, very special as Hawk has enjoyed tons of treats and well wishes. We were lucky that we had some time to say good-bye to so many friends we had made along the way. We have gone to many of our favorite hiking places that were easy access. Most of all he was able to chase after his favorite orange ball. Today we even did some agility a tunnel and table and a jump and a tunnel.
I can go on and on but I am getting very sad. Tomorrow will be so, very difficult as I will want just another minute to throw your ball, to hear you bark and see your smile.
I’ll miss you so very much and yes Cheesey Boy I‘ve got your ball.
- Added: March 26, 2009
- Contributed by: Nancy Damarodas
Aquila (Australian Cattle Dog)
- March 26, 1994 - February 23, 2009
- Titles: ADCH-Bronze LAA-Bronze PD3 [AX MXJ; NATCH TN-O]
- Handler: Jennifer Jones
- Web page:
Jennifer is sad to report that we said goodbye to Aquila on Monday afternoon. He was a great friend, agility companion and member of our family.
- Added: March 5, 2009
- Contributed by: Jennifer Jones
Jennifer has been living out of the state for several years, but she and Aquila were constant and familiar sights at Bay Team trials while they were here, and Jennifer ably server a term as Bay Team President, among many other positions.
Aquila was one of the first cattle dogs I ever knew, and he was a kick to watch on the agility field: Very fast, very eager, and pretty darned successful after they got over the teeter fly-off issue. Jennifer's probably tired of hearing about that, but he was known in all corners of the universe (at least our little universe) for that joyful, all-systems-go fly-off straight into the air. He seemed to love that extra boost into the air that that convenient ramp always gave him, and wasn't inclined to wait around for it to drop to the ground.
He was almost 15 and so retired; he competed in NADAC, USDAA< and AKC, earning ADCH-Bronze LAA-Bronze PD3 [AX MXJ; NATCH TN-O]. He excelled at agility; won the Bay Team's California Cup at the Elite level in 2000 and placed well in the 1997 NADAC Nationals.
We featured Jennifer and Aquila as a Cool Canine in 2003; read more about them.
I've missed having Jennifer around and I hope that she's finding plenty of agility friends and support in her own area at this tough time.
You can email jennifer at jjones(at)bayteam(dot)org or send snail mail.
- Added: March 5, 2009
- Contributed by: Ellen Finch
Thanks Ellen for your beautiful eulogy to Aquila. I had not yet had the fortitude to write one.
I first fell in love with Aquila when he was just 5 days old and could fit in my hand. I had been aiming to get a Belgian Tervuren but after talking to my friend and Aquila's breeder, I found out she had his litter which happened to be a repeat breeding from which I'd had another dog, Spirou. Spirou had a tragic accident with his collar and a metal fence about 6 months earlier. I was at her doorstep the next weekend and the rest was history. The breeder tried to talk me out of him, his coat was too dark and when he was a few weeks old he got a little too close to another dogs space and a bit of his nose was scarred. I decided that my conformation career was over and Aquila was the dog for me.
I held on to his papers for some time before giving him the name of "Aeroballistic Aquila", an apt name for him. I fondly remember the 50 lb red mass hitting me in the chest after jumping directly off the teeter towards me, during one of Jim's exercises. I also remember the 'love bites' he'd give me to let me know that he would do the contact, as long as I paid for it a little. One time while stalling at the gamblers line, he bit my ankle after I'd made him loop around one time too many. I also remember how, often, usually after I was frustrated a bad run, someone (usually a stranger) would come up to me and say how they loved to watch him run, he exuded joy and had constant smile on his face.
Aquila had a great time after we moved to St. Louis, we have a huge back yard and he helped with squirrel control, surprising us with one every now and then. I moved him to veterans/performance shortly after we came here where he experienced a new joy for agility. He went into forced retirment in 2006 when I was about 4 months pregnant with the girls and by the time I was ready to start competing again, it was clear that he was out of the game. None the less, remained his impetuous weird and loving self until the end.
- Added: March 5, 2009
- Contributed by: Jennifer Jones
Tahoe (Australian Shepherd)
- July 18, 1998 - February 25, 2009
- Titles: ADCH-G APD NATCH ATCH-SP MACH AKC/ASCA CH Black Rock's Imperial Tarn ASCA CD AJD-S AKD-B ATD HT CL4 AXP AJP OFP USDAA LAA-Gold ROMXI ROMI-P DNA-CP
- Handler: Dave Grubel and Erika Maurer
- Web page: http://slipstreamaussies.com/tahoe.html
Today we set Tahoe free from the cancer that had invaded her lungs.
She gave us over 10 great years of companionship, competitive victories, and unquestionable love and loyalty. We are so grateful that we were able to share that time with her as she enriched our lives with her caring nature, her sensibility, and her love of just running full out.
We’ll miss her toothy grins and snorts, her gleeful howls, the glint in her eye while flying over a-frames, her joyful parades with the slipper or Frisbee, her presence (“the anvil”) on the bed, and her white blaze and clear blue eye staring out the front window. We’re sure the mailman won’t miss her warning salvos as he attempted to deliver our mail, but we know we will.
After a somewhat rocky start (including a-frame perching and zoomies), she had a great career in agility, recently competing in Scottsdale making the 2008 USDAA PSJ and PGP finals and taking 2nd in the ASCA Veteran Agility Finals in Las Vegas. She enjoyed agility, but most of all she enjoyed running with Dave. Her love of the sport grew through her bond with him, and there are many of us who will miss seeing the two of them take the line to prepare for yet another exhilarating run of daring front crosses, linear accelerator a-frames and now and then even a gratuitous “boof” from Tahoe, especially on rear crosses.
So now she is at rest, joining her canine soulmate, Chase. She will live on in our memories and our hearts, and of course in her kids.
We love you, T, and thank you for all you’ve given us.
- Added: February 25, 2009
- Contributed by: Erika Maurer and Dave Grubel
Cammi (Boxer)
- January 2, 2003 - December 8(?), 2008
- Titles: PD1 PS1 [AX AXJ RN, high in trial boxer natl specialty 2006]
- Handler: Kay Chandler
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Kay Chandler has lost her beloved Boxer, Cammi, to lymphosarcoma only 3 weeks after her diagnosis.
I remember the first time I saw Kay and Cammi running a course together many years ago. It was at an AKC trial in Santa Rosa and they were in Open Standard. Cammi did about 2 jumps before having the zoomies around the ring. I promptly dismissed them as not being a threat to my own boxer ambitions. But little did I know that Kay was a great trainer and Cammi a great Boxer. It wasn't long before they were in Excellent and my ambitions were at risk. Cammi was fast!
I tried to keep this team at a polite competitive distance, but Cammi quickly won me over with her boxer snorts and wiggles. She really loved to jump up and give people kisses on their chin. As much as she loved to greet other people, she was also huge 'Momma's Girl' and couldn't stand to be away from Kay. One time I tried to run her in FAST (Kay is distance challenged), but Cammi wouldn't even do the practice jump with me when I had treats in my hand!
This great team qualified for the 2008 AKC invitationals and were only 1 double Q from their MACH. But they are definitely champions to me.
- Added: December 9, 2008
- Contributed by: Channan Fosty
Tack (Border Collie)
- December 21, 2002 - November 26, 2008
- Titles: ADCH 3/3/07 SACH-Bronze SCH-Bronze JCH TM-Silver [MX MXJ]
- Handler: Nancy Damarodas
It is with great sadness that I tell you that Nancy Damarodas's border collie Tack died suddenly on Wednesday. Nancy had left for Chicago to be with family for the holidays and the dogs were being watched by a house sitter. She had just let the dogs out into the yard when Tack fell over and died almost instantly. Nancy's vet thinks it was probably an embolism.
Nancy and Tack were in class on Tuesday night, and had a great practice. Nancy was so pleased with how well they had performed that night.
- Added: December 9, 2008
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
Tam (English Shepherd)
(Photo)
- July 1, 1994 - October 6, 2008
- Titles: AD [CGC; O-OAC O-OJC OGC]
- Handler: Ginger Cutter
There has been a cloud over our house the last day or so, because Tam the Wonder Dog, also known as "the best dog in the world," has passed away.
She fought cancer for ten months, wagging her tail most of that time. She went on the whole behind-the-neighborhood dogwalk, running at times, only four days before she died. The last two days, her energy, spirit, joie de vivre, chi, life force - whatever you want to call it - just started slipping away. She wasn't in pain, but it was clear her life was nearing its end. She was serene.
She relished her last meal of pastrami, Sun Chips, and a 3 Musketeers bar. We carried her to a beautiful garden, with flowers and birds and bright sunshine, laid her on one of her favorite blankets, petted her for half an hour, and let her go.
Since the newspaper probably won't print her obituary, here it is:
Web page: http://www.kennedyclan.org/tam/obituary/tam_obituary.html
Printable PDF: http://www.kennedyclan.org/tam/obituary/tam_obituary.pdf
- Added: October 7, 2008
- Contributed by: Ginger Cutter
Homer (Border Collie)
- August 4, 2006 - August 16, 2008
- Titles: 1-second running dog walk WOW
- Handler: Robert and Karen Yi
Today Rob and Karen Yi lost their wonderful 2 year old border collie Homer in a tragic way while enjoying an afternoon of swimming. Homer collapsed after swimming and died enroute to the vet hospital.
Homer was a great up and coming young dog, imported as a pup from England, from a line of great working border collies. Karen and Rob are obviously distraught with this tragic loss of their young precious dog. Losing a dog is never easy and to lose such a promising young, talented dog so suddenly makes it that much harder.
We send Rob and Karen our deepest condolences on this tragic loss.
- Added: August 20, 2008
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
Not much of a competitor myself in the agility world, I always thought of our little Homer as a wonderful boy that completed the family, one who happened to possess amazing qualities which came through in the smallest things that I am sure all of you as dog lovers will understand. How I wish I could kiss his forehead and tell him he's a special boy just one more time!... We miss how he snuggled like it was his last chance every time; miss the way he looked through the living room curtain while we drove off; miss the way he jumped on us whenever we got home from work. I miss singing the songs I made up with his name and dancing with him in the silliest way. My life was forever changed when Homer's fighting heart stopped beating...
Many of you never got a chance to know him. We loved him so much, he was our favorite because he was so sweet, even though we tried not to have favorites.
We were able to take him on a long trip to Lake Tahoe, instead of going off to Germany for the EO and leaving him behind. We were so lucky to have that extra time with him. We did all sorts of grand stuff with him before he passed.
- Added: August 20, 2008
- Contributed by: Karen Yi
Tippy (All American)
- Nov 15, 1992 - August 13, 2008
- Titles: MAD GM JM RM [NATCH]
- Handler: Steve Bettcher
Tippy at age 16 years 10 mos. passed peacefully in my arms yesterday.
- Added: August 14, 2008
- Contributed by: Steve Bettcher
Honey (German Shorthaired Pointer)
- Sept. 18, 1998 - July 12, 2008
- Titles: C-ATCH 3, ChST, ChFH, ChWC, ChSN, ChJP, ChCL, ChJU; AAD, CM, RM [AX, AXJ: OAC, OJC, EGC, TG-N]
- Handler: Donna Sprouse
Honey (Honey Hit & Miss) went over the rainbow bridge last night at about 9:00 PM. After setting the cones on the courses last night at John's Fun Match I took Gailanne over to see Honey [who had been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma a couple of weeks earlier]. But she could not walk and could barely even stand. She walked into the field but could not stand and walk to leave. [I took her] to UC Davis. As we got there she started to have bloody runny diarrhea. I went into to emergency and they came out with a cart and they transferred her to the cart and by then it was really flowing out. They hooked her up to an IV. At this point she was still ok. But she had lost too much blood and her red cell count was 14 and she was shaking and it was time and they could do no more. So I got to hold her head and kiss her while they gave her the injections and peace. I told her to go with Daddy and Naylor and some day I will see her again. I miss her so much already and my heart is breaking but I know she is safe now. As some of you know maybe that is what it is all about. When she was a pup she used to just run off like at the snow days and I would panic that she would get hit with a car. It took years to get a pretty reliable recall. Now she is safe. She was my BEST Friend and my companion and I was her pet. She was 9-3/4 years old.
- Added: July 14, 2008
- Contributed by: Donna Sprouse
Angel (Pembroke Welsh Corgi)
- Nov. 30, 1992 - June 14, 2008
- Titles: [MACH CD CGC TDI; NATCH]
- Handler: Beverly Morgan Lewis
I had struggled with writing a fitting obituary for Angel. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge June 14, 2008. Then, in August I was flying back from a judging assignment. I had with me a copy of “The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog” by Eugene O’Neill. It’s a short and tender essay that had me blubbering and red-faced in my seat as the other boarding passengers passed me by, giving me looks of sympathy (and curiosity?). Of course, the tears were for Angel. So I decided I needed to write her story.
Angel was born without an anus, the puppy that wasn’t supposed to survive. Surgically remedied, she remained with Canine Companions for Independence’s Hearing Dog Program. But at 18 months she was demonstrating food aggression. (Imagine a dog that growls at a deaf person when its food is touched??!!??) Because I wanted a Corgi for Therapy Dogs within 5 months of my first call, CCI called me back with Angel. With her I was able to continue in obedience, do more with Therapy Dogs, dabble with tracking and had my first sheep herding experience. And we really got going in agility!
Angel and I competed at the 1999 Agility National Championship in Denver. Angel returned to the Nationals in 2005 in Tampa, this time with Fern in tow. She won the 12” Bay Team (NADAC) California Cup in 2000. Angel was the first Humboldt agility trial champion, earning her NADAC NATCh in January 2001. She earned her MACh at age 13, in 2005. I think she is still the only Humboldt dog to have agility championships from more than one organization.
Since her passing people have reminded me of many funny (and some not so funny) “Angel Stories”. Like her crocked little head and her natural list to the left. Like the time she ate 120 tabs (480 doses) of the anti inflammatory Rimadyl. The loaf on English muffins she ate when left alone with them in the car for a few minutes. As a house guest she ate a canister full of DARK chocolate-covered RAISINs, then puked them up all over our hostess’s laundry room. Speaking of puking, the time she puked up cat poo at class, indoors of course! Or the time she carried a latte from the front seat to the back seat of the car (without spilling much at all) while I was unloading at an agility trial, her best course time ever!! And I remember the time she escaped a big-dog mauling and ran for her life. But when I caught up to where she had disappeared, she came right to me out of the bushes as soon as I called her, despite the ordeal she’d just been through.
Despite the fact that she used to beat up her big sister, China, (88-pound Chessie) and her little sister Fern (creating Fern's temperament), she was good to baby-boy Puck. At the end, as she struggled over every breath and could barely stand, Puck would lick her all over until Angel would tell him, “That'll do.” The puppy that was born without a pooper could sure be a butt. But she was my butt and I miss her.
So, read O’Neill’s “The Last Will….” and have a good cry. You’ll cry for every dog you’ve ever loved. “Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long, happy life with you: ‘Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved.’ No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail”
- Added: December 30, 2008
- Contributed by: Beverly Morgan Lewis
Poet (Flat-Coat Retriever)
- March 23, 1996 - April 26, 2008
- Titles: UD TD RE MX MXJ JH WCX HOF
- Handler: Barbara Fowler
Poet (Applegarth Fionn's Ladder) was my first dog, he was a great dog, a happy dog, he loved to run, ran like a freight train (and turned like one too).
I didn't complete with him in USDAA the last couple of years but I was thinking of when we began agility and our first trials. In the late '90s there were few local trials and the Bay Team's semi-annual NADAC and USDAA were the highlights of the year.
The first USDAA trial we competed in was at Stanford. I was so stressed I hardly remember any of my runs and I'm sure we were pretty bad. But it was still great fun. About a year later at another trial, a photographer said, "Oh Poet, I have a picture of Poet." That was my first Tien Tran photo, Poet jumping 30 inches at his first USDAA trial. (note: it was pretty hot that day.)
We had a great time in NADAC too, and got up to the Elite level(I don't remember the exact titles and NADAC's website title page is down). Then we went on to AKC and spent most of our agility career there, chasing MACH. When Poet qualified for the Flat Coat Retriever Society Hall of Fame, I retired him from agility competition shortly thereafter and he got to just hang out and enjoy being just a dog.
A couple of months ago he got a sarcoma in the elbow joint of his leg. The cancer triggered his immune system to attack his platelets and despite the medications we tried, his blood counts continued to fall to the point where we had to let him go.
- Added: May 1, 2008
- Contributed by: Barbara Fowler
Hopscotch (Mixed Breed)
- 1991-April 2008
- Titles:
- Handler: Nancy Gyes
I think that many of you will still remember the little rescue dog Hopscotch I ran for many years. His owners Craig and Janet Telford were members of the Bay Team way back when we got started. I showed Hopscotch in lots of big and small events and we made finals in Houston one year, and came within a couple gamblers legs of an ADCh when he hurt his back and retired from agility.
I found him on my street, named him, and gave him to Craig and Janet who were obedience clients with another dog. Hoppy was a funny little dog and even though it has been some years now since I have seen him, I still have lots of wonderful memories of all the shows together with him. For a while Scud and Hopscotch were my main competition dogs until I added my other rescue, Toast, to the pack. From 1991 until almost 1997, I ran one border collie and TWO minis. This is a message from Craig and Janet regarding Hoppy's passing.
- Added: Apr 9, 2008
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
Our dog, Hopscotch (nicknamed Hoppy), has been ailing for some time, and we have decided to bring his pain to an end. This is so hard because he still responds so well to us and tries so hard to please. But he’s old (17 1⁄2) and everything has worn out. We’ve had him for so long that he has become a real member of the family.
In his younger days, after flunking obedience school, we started taking him to a local Agility Club started by the Dog Trainer, Nancy, who gave Hoppy to us in 1991. (She found this 9-month old pup in her corral where he had a horse cornered – so we knew he had spunk!) Agility is a competitive sport where the dog is run through an obstacle course by a handler. He loved it! Hoppy soon outgrew our abilities on the course, so Nancy started running him on courses all over California and eventually the country. By 1995 he had been in National Agility Competitions in Texas, Washington, and Colorado and some were broadcast on the Discovery Channel. He eventually came home with his National Masters ranking, the highest a dog can get – from the 1995 North American Dog Agility Championships. Hopscotch was truly a nationally recognized champion, but then we always knew he was! (Did you know that a “mixed breed” dog is listed as “all-American)?
He was always a very intelligent dog. And those of you who’ve had a smart one know all that this brings! Throughout those years Hoppy “Houdini” was an escape artist at heart – we electrified the 6ft high fence on our property line in a desperate attempt to keep him in, but he still went over the top with ease. It was all that Agility competition! It gave us many stories to tell, and fun memories.
Eventually Hoppy had to retire from agility when he hurt his back. He hurt it again in 1999 and had an operation to repair his spine. The vet prescribed crate rest for 5 weeks. About week 3, he’d had enough. He broke off one of his canine teeth bending the wire gate open to escape. Thereafter, we could never keep him in a crate for any length of time.
And he had personality! He would do anything for food! This was the good news and the bad news. He sometimes would stay at a friend’s house when we were away, as we would doggie sit for his dog too. Anyway, we forgot to remind Ted that Hoppy would get on the table in an instant if there was food there. So without thinking about it, they set out a freshly baked pie on the kitchen table and left the room for a brief time. Upon their return, there was Hoppy, completely up on the table top, face first in the pie! He ate most of it, and we got another great story!
Hoppy never liked to be photographed; as a runaway, I think he’d learned to equate this with something that might possibly hurt him. So the photos don’ t show him smiling, but he did a lot. He was mischievous, fun-loving, and so full of energy!
Please wish Hoppy a good afterlife. His spirit will live on with us as we remember how he made us laugh, how he always succeeded in getting us to look outside of ourselves at the natural world around us. We will miss him. We took him to the vet this past Friday and there we said goodbye one last time. We are still trying to recover from this. As I write this, I’ll still turn from the computer and think he’s still lying there in the hall, relaxing, but keeping his eye on what I’m doing.
- Added: Apr 9, 2008
- Contributed by: Janet and Craig Telford
Whoopi (Parson Russell Terrier)
- March 13, 2003 - April 2, 2008
- Titles: AAD [MX MXJ] (maybe more?)
- Handler: Sharon Freilich
- Added: April 7, 2008
Heather (Shetland Sheepdog)
- June 18, 1995 - February 19, 2008
- Titles: ADCH LAA-Bronze SACH-Gold JCH-Silver RCH-Silver SCH-Silver ASD [MACH7 PT TD], World Cup Team champion
- Handler: Kathie Leggett
My world is darker today. My beautiful blue girl has gone.
- Added: Feb 19, 2008
- Contributed by: Kathie Leggett
It is with the saddest heart I write that Kathie Leggett's 12 year old Sheltie Heather died last night. She had emergency surgery three days ago to remove her gall bladder after diagnosis of a gall bladder disease, which I believe is called gallbladder mucocele.
Heather had a heart murmur that got in the way of her recovery and she never really got her feet under her after the surgery. She was MACH 7 Marshland Fantom of the Opra, TD, PT. Kathie wrote this morning, "My beautiful little blue girl has gone. Her heart couldn't stand the strain of her illness. She died at 12:17 am this morning".
Kathie and Heather have had such a long successful career that it would be hard to tell it all. I am sure Kathie is most proud, though, of her 5 years on the US Agility Team and the Gold medal from 1998 and the Silver Medals from 2000 and 2002.
Kathie started training Heather here at Power Paws when Heather was no much more than a pup. Kathie and I traveled together a lot over the years and when I think of my dogs Scud and Riot and their international career, I always think of Heather since she was always right beside them. Hanging on their tails while we exercised and sitting on the hotel beds together in too many cities and countries to count. Those were some of the best memories I have of Kathie's and my agility career together.
- Added: Feb 19, 2008
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
Inyo (Belgian Tervuren)
- May 25, 1993 - January 11, 2008
- Titles: AAD [CDX MX AXJ]
- Handler: Karey Krauter
This thing I wrote about Inyo many years ago always makes me smile, what a good honest boy. I wrote it for my terv club newsletter's annual year's-titles-in-review edition, for the year Inyo earned his CDX. "It was a dark and stormy President's Day holiday weekend, back in the year 2000. I had both dogs entered in the West Valley Dog Sports USDAA agility trial down in Northridge, southern california. We competed in freezing rain all weekend, between classes huddling under the score table tents with pitiful little propane mini-heaters. The people staffing the score tables were fighting for mini-heater time also, hand-drying each wet-rag scribe sheet that came to the score table for each dog's run. The grounds were thrashed, all grass churned to mud; the dogs would never be welcome here again. Pipe tunnels had to be substituted for the cloth chutes. Water cascaded off the brims of the judges' hats down the backs of their necks, and then the howling north wind came up. Neither of my dogs qualified in any of the 20 runs I was entered in, and we were just miserable dripping sots all the red-eye drive home, the driving rain and the flooded roads forcing us to stay under 40MPH the whole night. I was ready to commit suicide, and my dogs were NOT having any fun. And to top it all off upon getting home finally, I had to set the alarm clock for pre-dawn in order to go to a dumb cold somber WET obedience trial at Santa Clara Kennel Club on Monday morning. Inyo was to be the first dog into the Open-A ring. What a dumb idea to enter. Our last time showing was more than a year earlier, and that was when I'd tanked three in a row, confidence problems. We got three hours sleep. We step up to the ring steward. Thank god it was indoors. We start heeling. Inyo-the-alarmed stays with me! We do the figure-eight. Inyo-the-worried speeds up to a trot on the outside post! I start getting giddy. Inyo-the-serious drops on recall! (Which is something that only started working after I realized that yelling only made things worse.) Inyo-the-worker retrieved on the flat without worrying about the banging door! This damp puppy must be so dead tired that his stress-brain hasn't connected. Moment of panic on the retrieve over the high as I say "Over!" and Inyo seems to have missed the command. His butt is rooted. Omigosh I didn't say "Inyo, over!" My jaw drops open in dismay - inadvertent illegal signal? - and Inyo-the-obedient chooses that moment to do the exercise. Now my voice is quavering and my knees are weak; I might not make it. Inyo-the-loyal finishes the final broad jump with zero points off! Inyo-the-steadfast cruises mightily through the group exercises! Inyo-the-CDX made me cry after the worst weekend of the year turned into the best of the year! We celebrated by going home and napping together for the next ten hours straight."
- Added: Jan 13, 2008
- updated: Jan 08, 2009
Aira (Doberman)
It is with great sadness that I tell you Silvina Bruera lost her wonderful Doberman Aira today to a fast-growing cancer. She was one of the nicest dobermans I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and the light of Silvina's life. Aira was the reason that Jim and I met Silvina after she moved here from Argentina and the reason I believe that her life has taken her on this agility and career path.
I don't know all her long list of titles or accomplishments but they pale in comparison anyway to the most important title of being Silvina's wonderful companion.
Aira's favorite game besides taking a little nibble of Silvina was to play with the bubbles that Silvina blew for her at the end of a course.
I hope that there are lots of bubbles in Aira's dog heaven.
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
- Added: Dec 7, 2007
Chase (Australian Shepherd)
- May 30, 1997 - November 28, 2007
- Titles: ADCH-Silver LAA-Silver TM-Platinum RCH-Gold SCH-Gold AKD-Bronze AJD ASD; CL4 [MACH AKC/ASCA-CDX CGC; ATCH-OP; NATCH]
- Handler: Erika Maurer
- Web site
- Bay Team rescue stories#MaurerChase
- photo
Sadly, today we had to say goodbye to Chase. He went peacefully this morning after a brief but valiant fight against a reaction to his first chemotherapy treatment.
Unwanted by his original owners, we were extremely lucky to find him when he was 13 months old. He was the first for us in so many ways -- first dog of our adult lives, first Aussie, first agility dog, and so much more. He had more character and soul than most people, and had a great presence about him (with or without the barking soundtrack). He was comforting, forgiving, pushy, patient, good natured and always ready for action. He loved to learn patterns that meant fun was about to happen, and would scream or wag his nub with excitement at the sight of us going to the leash rack, putting on shoes, or driving up to a field with agility equipment.
While our hearts feel empty today, we know that he has made us better people by having shared the past 9 years with us. In that time he introduced us to so many friends across the country, opened the door to new experiences, taught us about competition, and most of all how to have fun. In short he was a wonderful companion and teacher.
He leaves us with many great memories, not all of which involve barking. Here are a few:
- He was so gentle and trusted that he was the only dog that Tahoe would allow into the whelping box to greet her puppies.
- When Dave was traveling every week on business, Chase became a well-known visitor to the Albuquerque airport, sailing through security (pre 9/11) and energetically greeting Dave at the gate.
- He would bark so loudly during agility class that the instructor would almost always say, "just put a toy in his mouth!", after which he would prove that he could bark almost as loudly with a toy in his mouth as without.
- He loved to be groomed so much that one time when he saw me pull out the grooming box he jumped up on top of the covered barbecue thinking that it was the grooming table.
- Earning the nickname "Sir Barks-a-lot", he would always bark loudly on the start line, letting Dave know that it was time to scramble for the camcorder to record the run (because we never knew what would happen but it was usually entertaining).
Rest well, sweet Mister. We know that you're now happily barking, chasing squirrels and getting someone to throw the Frisbee for you at the Bridge.
- Contributed by: Erika Maurer
- Added: Nov 30, 2007
Mick (Border Collie)
- June 1, 1991 - November 23, 2007
- Titles: ADCH LAA-Platinum [ADC; O-NATCH]
- Handler: Jim Basic
It is with great sadness that I am telling you of the passing of my border collie, Mick. After 16 1/2 years of age, the body that never missed a show to an injury, finally gave out. There is so much I could write about him, and the impact he had on my life, the career he had, but, that will have to wait until some other time.
In the hours before he finally left us, he was resting peacefully, the cloudiness that had crept into his eyes and mind over the last year or so seemed to lift, and were clear and bright once again, as if he was telling me not to worry, and to think of all the great times we had together, the places we saw, and the friends we made. Before the end, I could tell that dreams were invading his sleep, and I would like to think that in them we were running one last course together. Thank you for everything Mick, I will never forget you.
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
- Added: Nov 30, 2007
A dog and handler of this magnitude deserves immense recognition. Those who had the pleasure of watching them run cannot think of Mick without thinking of Jim and vice-versa.
They were an inseparable team that dominated the sport of USDAA agility for more than a decade. Mick and Jim earned the "Quad-Squad" of all four TOP-TEN USDAA categories for many years in a row. That feat alone is phenomenal. On top of that add: #1 Lifetime dog in USDAA with over 550 Master/Grand Prix legs and the ONLY dog to achieve PLATINUM LEVEL of at least 50 Masters titling legs and over 500 Qualifying legs overall. Many of you know how difficult it is to qualify in Master Gambles and Master Snooker. As of month-ending Sept 2003, Mick and Jim did that 126 times and 113 times respectively! Moreover, 32 GrandPrix, 93 Master Jumpers, 81 Master Pairs Relay and 106 Master Standard Agility Q's. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!! Check out http://www.usdaa.com and be amazed.
Mick and Jim were the 1st true Dual Agility Champions (USDAA and NADAC). Mick and Jim were National victors in both NADAC and USDAA (1996 USDAA - Ventura CA).
I remember when my wife and I first saw Jim run Mick. We were mesmerized by their combined talent. He became our idol. Their efforts in the ring inspired us to not only to entertain this sport as a hobby, but to do so with a passion. Jim is humble, talented, professional and giving; a mirror image of Mick.
My hat is off to this great team and to all of their accomplishments. Mick may be gone from the ring, but he will always be special and always be remembered as the greatest in my eyes.
- Contributed by: Marquand (Mark) Cheek, Oct 23, 2003
- Added: Dec 7, 2007
California, USA
Bruno (Border Newf)
- October 11, 1995 - October 11, 2007
- Titles: AAD JM [EAC O-EJC OGC]
- Handler: Gwen Tatsuno
- photo Today I had to say goodbye to my Bruno, on his 12th birthday. He was a big dog with a big heart and calm and gentle way. The high energy border-newfs led me to agility. He took to agility with gusto, progressing much faster than his brother, Spike. I'll treasure all the photos showing his beautiful long stride, the look of determination on his face, his long coat flowing. The newfie stubbornness did come out, though, when it came to doing (or not doing) those contacts! And forget about those gambles!
I will always have fond memories of a dog that loved to:
- Climb up on your lap and get as close as he could to your face, and give big wet sloppy kisses
- Howl and sing at the top of his lungs, bringing a smile to the faces of all that heard him
- Sun himself on the deck, and lay outside in the cool night air
- Plunge into the bay waters off Pt. Isabel and tirelessly swim after his kong, even on the coldest winter day
- Pull me down the street for a walk around his favorite park
- Show his sense of humor by pretending not to want the ball, but then scooping it up and running away with it when the others thought he wasn't interested
- Play keep-away with that ball once he got it
- Bark at me on the agility course, when I didn't get those commands out quickly enough
Even when his agility career ended he would love to accompany us to trials, pulling me toward he ring to watch the action and cheering us on when I was running the other dogs. I want to thank all of you that came by and gave him a little pet this past weekend at the HD trial. It really perked him up and helped to brighten his last days.
I hope that I can someday find another dog with so much heart. I will miss him terribly.
- Contributed by: Gwen Tatsuno
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Buddy (Border Collie)
- November 1, 2000 - May 13, 2007
- Titles: CL1-R
- Handler: Isaiah Moss (Junior Handler)
We came home tonite and Buddy was already dead. She was only 7 years old. She passed away in her sleep on a sunny part of our deck. It was a quick death from pericardia, an infection of the sac around the heart. The vet said there was no way to determine what caused the infection, but we think it was most likely from a tick bite. The infection was not contagious.
- Contributed by: Elise Moss
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Choni (Flat-Coated Retriever)
- April 19, 1996 - March 6, 2007
- Titles: UD, RX, JH, MX, MXJ, WCX, AD, EAC, EGC, EJC (plus 1 SH leg, 8 RXE legs and all but one leg of her AAD)
- Handler: Amy Kitay
Since I haven't been that active recently, not all of you knew my sweet, sweet princess. Very early this morning, Choni was relieved of her brief struggle with cancer and allowed to go in peace and join her littermates at the Rainbow Bridge. I held Choni in my arms to the very end; it was so difficult to say goodbye to such a dear friend and companion.
Choni was many firsts for me. She was my first dog as an adult. She was also a yellow flat-coated retriever: a coat color that was shunned by the flat-coat community at the time she entered the world. I had no intention of getting involved in dog sports and knew nothing of the dog world, but given the wrath I received when I entered the flat coat community, I decided to check it out. Because of her coat color my life forwever changed.
We trained, we learned, I made mistakes, we trained again, we learned and we performed. In her career, Choni became national ranked for flat coats in agility and in obedience. She received most of her titles with blue ribbons and high to top scores. Although earning more than enough points to be in the Flat Coated Retriever Hall of Fame, Choni was never recognized by the FCRSA because of her coat color. Over the years while attending national specialties, my belongings were vandalized and I or Choni were slandered. I glad to note that the negativity we received over the years was eventually limited to a tiny minority. After demonstrating the good that can result from a genetic "flaw", opinions changed and Choni and other yellow offspring are better (not entirely) accepted.
Despite the bad, nothing could detract from our relationship. For me the greatest compliment I ever received came not from ribbons or applause, but rather from perfect strangers coming to me after we performed to tell me how much they enjoyed watching the pure joy that Choni exuded working together with me. So many times we were one in the ring, a perfect blend and balance. There was no better feeling.
Choni was also my rock and anchor. She saw me through several career changes and major hurdles in my life. She gave me the focus and unconditional support that was immeasurable and priceless. I am lost without her.
Late December, Choni came up lame and during the subsequent work-up, my vet found a mass on her spleen which was removed immediately. Diagnosed with a plasma cell tumor, the cancer progressed swiftly and agressively despite a brief and belated attempt with chemo. Yesterday Choni awoke paralyzed from the waist down and it was time to let her go. The only activity Choni could enjoy at the end was in fact, her greatest joy, the abiltiy to eat. Choni came into this world with a voracious appetite, which on a couple of occasions, got her into trouble. Yesterday. she got to eat all day: liver, beef, chocolate cookies. macaroni and cheese, greenies, chicken and peanut butter. She enjoyed every last bite. Her spirit remained intact right to the end. She was a sweet, sweet dog. Loved by everyone who met her. Choni was impervious to the controversy about her color and accepted and loved life to the fullest. She will not only be missed by me but also by her sister, Tavi (FCR) and her brother, Frankie (JRT).
Be at peace. I love you, sweet Choni.
- Contributed by: Amy Kitay
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Jake (Semidachshund)
- November 1, 1991 - Feb 26, 2007
- Titles: ADCH 09/09/01 APD SACH-Bronze SCH-Bronze ASD-Bronze AJD-Bronze AKD-Bronze; C-ATCH 06/06/04 [CGC; ATCH GV-E-OP; O-NATCH 06/10/01+03/22/03 TN-E TG-O WV-O EGC-V EJC-V]
- Web page
- Handler: Ellen Finch
- photo
I am completely unprepared to make this announcement. On Saturday, Jake ran in two CPE classes at the Championship level and Qed in both, even placing 3rd among 7 considerably younger dogs. He celebrated by getting into the front seat of my car while I was elsewhere and consuming 5 or 6 bags of truly gourmet dog treats, his own dream come true.
In the wee hours of Sunday, he had a major seizure and spent half a day at the emergency clinic recovering and being tested, none of which revealed anything. The main likely thing left would be a brain tumor, although we didn't scan for it. By afternoon he was the same old Jake, and I could only hope that it was a one-of-a-kind occurrence.
Last night, two more major seizures overwhelmed his poor little Jakey brain. This morning, although his tongue barely functioned and his mouth, mind, and body hardly better, Jake the Obsessive Chowhound proved to be indestructible and perked up as much as the damage allowed when I pulled out the goodie bag, and he took goodie after goodie from my hands, obsessively oblivious to anything else in the world, right up until the merciful drugs put him to sleep for the last time. Oh, Jakey-man, my old guy.
http://www.agilityinmotion.com/movies/030420-Ellen-Jake-jum.html
- Contributed by: Ellen Finch
- Added: Nov 30, 2007
Bobbi (Border Terrier)
- November 11, 1991 - January 31, 2007
- Titles: ADCH [MX MXJ CDX CGC JE VE; EAC EGC EJC]
- Handler: Aileen Brodsky
- photo
Aileen and Bobbi were a very special team indeed.
Aileen worked very hard in competition obedience as well. Bobbi was hard pressed to be out of Aileens sight and the out of sight sits and downs were more than just a little bit of a challenge. Aileen worked and worked to get her open title, with very nice scores and beautiful heeling. Back in 1997 Sharon Freilich, Terri Demiere and I competed in a team obedience event with four border terriers that all had USDAA MAD titles. Can you imagine that? The West Coast MAD Dogs (Willy, Bobbi, Rasta, and Jessie, all gone now) Aileen and Bobbi competed at USDAA nationals more than once too.
More than all that Aileen Brodsky and Bobbi were simply one of the very specialist teams ever. Her love and devotion to that little dog were second to none and anyone that ever saw them together could appreciate all that they were to each other just by seeing it.
I know I am not alone in feeling lucky to have known Bobbi, a very, very special little brown dog that never be forgotten.
- Contributed by: Sandy Rogers
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Maddy (Pembroke Welsh Corgi)
- Jan 27, 1993 - Feb 4, 2007
- Titles: PD3 PS [AX AXJ CGC; EAC-V NGC OJC]
- Handler: Gail Mahood
- photo
On Sunday, in the wee hours, my sweet fluffly corgi girl, Maddy died in her bed at home, just a week past her 14th birthday.
She had been treated for congestive heart failure and kidney failure for a couple of years. We nearly lost her last May, but she rallied, and we are grateful for the extra nine months we had with her. As late as last week she was able to take slow walks and growl The Boys off her food and toys. She took a turn for the worse Friday. I took her to the Horsepark at sunset, and carried her out for a final sniff in the greening field. Though she could barely move, she was still Maddy, and so walked a few steps to engage in one of her favorite activities--wading in the mud of the shallows of a water jump.
I've attached an obituary [not shown here] that my husband, Wes, wrote for her. As you can tell if you read it, he loved her more than anything or anyone else in the world. He is very sad. I try to console him and myself with the fact that she had a very good life. She was much loved and will be sorely missed.
- Contributed by: Gail Mahood
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Babar (French Bulldog)
- February 5, 1992 - Jan 10, 2007
- Titles: PD1 CL3-S [CDX MX AXJ AXP AJP; GS-N JS-O RV-E; EAC EAC-V EJC-V S-OJC OGC]
- Handler: Jackie Drucker
I've started to write this so many times and now that it's really time I'm at a loss for words. Babar and I said goodbye this morning....Jan. 10, 2007. I thought for a while he might see 14 but it was definitely not in his best interest anymore to try. That would have been Feb. 5.
What do I say about this wonderful creature? We've done so much together. In obedience he got as far as his CDX and though he knew all the utility exercises, we put it aside until 'he wasn't able to do agility anymore.' Well, most of you know that did not happen until he was 12 1/2...........way too late to bone up and get that UD.
My first agility dog!!! A French Bulldog????!!!! And did I learn a lot from him. We competed in NADAC, AKC, USDAA, ASCA.... I think that covers it. And he had advanced degrees in all venues.
He 'taught' the ropes to several other dogs of mine with his own twist on what was proper behavior. He outlived several of them also.
Because of him I have a multitude of friends across the country. All Bayteam competitors will remember him for Babar Pairs as well as for many other reasons.
Thanks to all of you for all your love and support. The dog community is wonderful.
- Contributed by: Jackie Drucker
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Kita (Tervuren)
- Titles: ADCH, first terv doing so [MX MXJ CDX; EAC EGC EJC]
- Handler: Rob Michalski
- April 25, 1991 - Sept 20, 2006
Yesterday, Rob and I had to say goodbye to ADCH Kita MX, MXJ, CDX, EAC etc. She was one of the last of the agility world's "greatest generation."
Back in '91 when Kita was a puppy, a terv friend of mine (Kita's breeder) recommended that we enroll her in obedience classes with a well-known obedience competitor--a woman named Nancy Gyes. In Nancy's obedience classes in those early days were Sandy Rogers with Rasta, Jan DeShera with Lad, Renee Newcomb with newfie Raider, and of course Nancy with Scud. Under Nancy's tutelage, Rob and Kita became Dog World Award winners and Gaines competitors, rising obedience stars...until one day in '92 when Nancy said, "So there's this new sport out of England called Dog Agility, and I've ordered some equipment and want to start a class. You guys want to come?" And the rest, and the saying goes, was history.
I was there to see (and videotape!) Rob and Kita and Nancy and Scud's first agility trial, the first agilty trial in California, in Nov. 92 at Haute Dawgs. It was one ring, one run each (but four judges, with some names we'd come to know rather well: Ken Tatsch, Stuart Mah, Darlene Woz, Laurie Schulz), not particularly well organized (we all had to pull our cars ringside as darkness fell, so the last dogs could finish), but already a lot of camaraderie and fun. Little did we all know what that was the beginning of.
Kita went on to be (jumping 30" as a 21.5" dog) the first MAD terv, the first ADCH terv. Kita hooked Rob on the sport but more importantly, she was his first and dearest love, his beloved companion and friend. Alert and a fighter until the end, what she wanted most was to be with her dad, for as much as possible, for as long as possible. We will miss her very much.
- Contributed by: Derede Arthur
- Added: Oct 11, 2007
Kintla (Bernese Mountain Dog)
- Apr 8, 1998-June 30, 2006
- Titles: first ADCH Bernese [MACH (first!); EAC OJC OGC]
- Handler: Katie Tolve
- photo
Two weeks ago this Friday in great sadness I said good-bye to Kintla, my wonderful friend for eight years and my great agility partner until almost the end.
The day before was special. She went to one last class at Power Paws and rested under the canopy where a nice breeze kept her cool. Throughout the class she basked in Nancy's attention, being stroked and told how beautiful she was; she happily ate watermelon slices, refreshingly chilled by Amy Brastad, and devoured various treats offered by Ellen Finch; she enjoyed special words from Kathie Leggett and Pat White; and she watched with undimmed interest as a new group of agility dogs worked through their lesson. When it was time to leave, Jim tenderly kissed her good-bye. Before returning home, she visited her friends along Burlingame Avenue, where one after another came to the car to chat with her. Later her favorite mailman gave her the ultimate surprise: not having seen her for three years, he came out of retirement for just an hour to give her some of her favorite treats at the bottom of our driveway. At day's end, Nancy Damarodas came by to hand feed her juicy chicken slices sent by Hawkeye, and then she lay on the floor with Kintla to caress her. For almost an hour Kintla nestled up to her, giving and receiving love as only a Berner can.
It was a day dedicated to Kintla. I wish that I had a thousand such days to acknowledge this remarkable dog. Charismatic and endearing, she was born to please, and the recipients of her good nature were many: Peet's coffee lovers who daily greeted her; children and toddlers whose parents knew she could be trusted; residents of a nursing home who looked forward to her regular visits, most especially my mother who endured pain just to allow Kintla to lie on her and give her Kintla kisses; and my family who always found in her an eager playmate, warm snuggler, and sweet companion oblivious to academic or work pressures. She was also born with great drive and unusual athletic skills for a Berner, and no one was as fortunate as I who got to run by her side in agility.
Inconsequential or significant, many agility memories of Kintla make me smile. Some of them are early: a vivid image of her always trying to jump over the fence around the field at Shamrock Ranch before class, eager to get to those obstacles as a young dog; my calling her to enter a tunnel, forgetting that it was wise to make sure I was out of her way - tossed in the air, landing hard, and then licked by Kintla offering a dog's solace, I knew I had found a sport of unpredictability and challenges, but with immense potential for fun and companionship; and Jim Basic's exclaiming the first time he saw her run that she was a Border Collie in a Berner body, leading him to call her the "Berner with the after-burners." Most of the memories span the years: seeing her mimic the Lipizzaner levade as she would often rise up to greet me when I returned to her x-pen at trials; her awesome Hybrid Run at the Katy, Texas AKC Nationals where she thrilled the crowd with a 34 second time; her reluctance, even though exhausted, to get into the car and leave Power Paws camps in Placerville at week's end; and her unfailing enthusiasm in class with Jim or Nancy week after week, year after year.
The most enduring memory, and perhaps best, is all the quiet time in my car driving to and from trials. With her curled up in the well behind my seat, occasionally nudging me for attention, and with my mind preoccupied in anticipation or with post-trial analysis, I knew that she had taken me on a journey where together we had found new friends, new places, and new thrills. What a great ride it was.
- Added:July 13, 2006
- Contributed by: Katie Tolve
Marley (Golden Retriever)
- Dec 14, 1995-April 4, 2006
- Titles: MAD JM RM GM [MX MXJ; EAC EGC OJC] ;
- Handler: Tania Chadwick
- photo
Me Too (Papillon)
- March 5, 2002-March 14, 2006
- Titles: PD1, PS1, PG1, PS1 [JNC, NAC, NGC, TG-N, TN-N, OAC, OAC-V, OJC-V, OGC-V, O-OAC-V, O-OJC-V, WV-N; MACH, 10 QQs and 675 pts towards MACH2];
- Handler: Art Bailey
- photo
Tailor (Border Terrier)
- byr-2006
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Sharon Freilich
Ally (Belgian Malinois)
- May 23, 2000-early 2006
Text.
- Titles: AD [EAC, NJC, NGC, TN-O; OA, OAJ, CD, CGC];
- Handler: Kerilyn Nobuhara
Tess (Border Collie)
- Oct. 30, 1991-Feb 13, 2006
- Titles: PD1 [CD CGC TDI; RV-E JV-N GV-N; EAC-V NGC-V OJC-V TN-N] ;
- Handler: Jennifer Slater
Some of you might remember Tess, my first agility dog and the one I was competing with when I moved to CA in 1999. Her agility career was all too short because of hip problems. She gained no champion titles but she was a very good dog - what better epitaph could there be? Yesterday I had to let her go - her body had been failing her for about a year and to wait longer would have been useless and painful. She died peacefully in my arms and will leave a big hole in my life.
- Contributed by: Jennifer Slater
Cheyenne (Australian Cattle Dog)
- July 30, 1989-Jan. 20, 2006
- Titles: [OAC-V NGC-V EJC-V];
- Handler: Wendy Bruce
Last night we assisted Cheyenne on her final journey. She would have been 17 this year - she had a good run!
Yesterday morning she had difficulty getting up, a trip to the emergency vet revealed a mass on her pancreas/liver area. We were able to spend most of the day cuddling with her on the couch. By 10 pm she was "out of it" and we asked the vet to send her on her way.
She was 6 when we adopted her and thought she was old when we got her! But no, she was just overweight. We thought we'd be giving her a home in her twilight years, little did we know she would give us more than 10 years and go on to do such things as herding and agility.
We'll miss her, but we are glad not to have endured a long slow deterioration or to question whether our decision was the right one.
Give your dogs an extra hug tonight, their lives are so short.
- Contributed by: Wendy Bruce
Rontu (Australian Shepherd)
- Sept 17, 1991-July 21, 2005
- Titles: ADCH [EAC EGC EJC];
- Handler: Rob Michalski
I write with regret to tell Bay Teamers of the passing of our 14-year-old aussie ADCH Rontu, handled to his championship with great aplomb, back in the days of the 30" jump height, by Rob Michalski. Rontu had cancer of the mouth and we sadly said goodbye to him on Thursday.
- Contributed by: Derede Arthur, July 23, 2005
- Added: December 2, 2007
Cali (Pembroke Welsh Corgi)
- Feb 27, 1996-Sept 24, 2005
- Titles: AAD RM JM SAM [MX MXJ PHC CGC; NGC];
- Handler: Ellen Clary
- photo
Cali died of a very rare and agressive (and difficult to diagnose) cancer called Histiocytic Sarcoma that destroyed her red blood cells. She had 5 separate transfusions while we tried various medications and tried treating the treatable Inflamatory Bowel Disease that she also had in hopes that was what was causing the blood cell loss Her health diary/blog is here.
My sweet, sweet dog - I will miss you so much.
- Contributed by: Ellen Clary
Reno (Pembroke Welsh Corgi)
- Jan. 16, 1993-April 22, 2005
- Titles: ADCH [MACH CDX HC; NATCh];
- Handler: Debbie Ogg
- photo
I just received a telephone call from Debbie Ogg. Reno passed away this morning. He was 12 years old.
As some of you may know, Reno took ill a week ago last Sunday, and ultimately his inflamed lungs could not provide enough oxygen. This is especially hard on Debbie and her friends because of the suddenness of Reno's illness. Only two weeks ago at Power Paws class, Reno and Debbie were running courses faster and tighter than Flint and me.
Reno and Debbie are one of the longest-running agility teams. At the Bay Team trial in January they celebrated their 10th year in competition! Reno spanned the arc of agility as it developed in this country, from jumping 18" when that was the lowest height in USDAA, to winning the recent CPE Nationals. At his last competition, Reno finished his MACH. Many of his fans were in attendance to help them celebrate, and commented that Reno and Debbie were just getting better and better as a team. When he died, Reno was only 5 points short of his S-NATCh and 3 legs away from his Bronze LAA. Reno and Debbie were also accomplished in competition obedience.
Reno and Debbie are my oldest agility friends. Debbie took me under her wing when I started with Flint (tactfully pointing out that my jumping meatloaf could be a bit leaner), and was generous with her advice and support. One of my more cherished moments together is when Reno got 1st and Flint 2nd in 12" Gamblers at the USDAA Nationals in Del Mar. Reno and Debbie repeated that performance at the 2004 Nationals. As mature male corgis, Reno and Flint were never demonstrative and were grumpy with most dogs, but, oddly, they seemed to like and appreciate each other. We'll both miss Reno.
- Contributed by: Gail Mahood
Felix (French Bulldog)
- Feb. 27, 2002-April 13, 2005
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Jackie Drucker
- photo
I'm sad to report, for those who don't already know, that Jackie Drucker's Felix passed away this last week at just about three years old. He was a cheerful, playful, and enthusiastic Frenchie with a tremendous amount of energy, showing great promise in his agility classes. Unfortunately he has also been plagued with multiple problems that sometimes crop up in the short-faced breeds. He has undergone several operations in his short life and suffered repeated bouts of pneumonia. Recently, a case of pneumonia had failed to go away and more extensive tests revealed excessive growth in his throat that had to be surgically removed. The operation went well but Felix did not recover well, having even more trouble breathing, and they were looking at more operations and probably a permanent tracheotomy. For such an active dog, this would have been a miserable life, even if he recovered from all of the procedures, which was seeming less and less likely. Jackie was with him at the end.
- Contributed by: Ellen Finch
Calvin (Vizsla)
- Dec 28, 1992-Dec. 1, 2004
- Titles: ADCH [MX MXJ CD CGC; NATCh];
- Handler: Bill Gignac
Breeze (Tervuren)
- May 14, 1989-May 7, 2004
- Titles: UDX TDX MX AXJ PT, VMAD JM, EAC EGC EJC;
- Handler: Linda Knowles
I had to say goodbye to Breeze (Snowflower's Spring Breeze) last Friday, just a week before her 15th birthday. I left work a couple hours early on Thursday and took her for a long walk in the park, and just sat with her for a while under the trees. Even though taking care of her the last year has been a little difficult, she will be greatly missed (only by me, though - Mercy will be quite happy to have me all to herself!).
Breeze was that one special dog of a lifetime. She was my "dog of firsts". She was my first Terv, my first UD/UDX, my first TD/TDX, my first agility dog, and my first herding dog. She finished her UD just after her 3rd birthday, and earned 8 UDX legs that year before they counted! She was the 5th-placing Belgian Tervuren on the Front & Finish (Shuman) obedience system for that year - not too bad for a dog that didn't show in Open for half the year!
We started competing in agility in 1991, and showed at the very first AKC agility trial in Houston in 1994, where she placed 2nd in Open. She also was a finalist at the 1996 USDAA Grand Prix of Agility, finishing in 4th place in the 30" height class.
She earned her TDX at age 11, which made her the 14th dog in the country to have completed the "Triple-X" titles of UDX, TDX, MX! There are still only about 25 dogs that have earned that combination.
- Contributed by: Linda Knowles
Chewbacca (Golden Corgi)
- December, 25, 1987-April 26, 2004
- Titles: CH, OTCH, MAD, GM, RM, V-NATCH, TD, TT, HTCsd;
- Handler: Peggy Clark
Most of you know my oldest dog Chewie, the Golden Corgi. I am sorry to say that I had to put Chewie to sleep on Monday afternoon, April 26th.
About four months ago, about the time that Chewie turned 16 yrs old, she slowed down from doing a 2-mile walk ahead of me, to being behind me and walking slowly. I figured that age was finally catching up with Chewie. Three weeks ago Chewie was diagnosed with a tumor in or on her knee. She was on meds and still feeling great. So off to Power Paws Camp we all went. On Sunday she wasn't feeling good, so I took her to a vet to be checked out and have an eye kept on her. On Monday morning she took a turn for the worse. So I left camp and brought Chewie home. The decision was made on Monday afternoon with our vet at home.
Chewbacca was in the first group of dogs doing agility in California, when we only had a chance of competing maybe twice a year in the whole state.
Chewbacca had a great life and enjoyed meeting people and dogs, while doing as many things as she could. She retired to the couch from agility at the age of 13. Long past the time I expected I would have to quit with a very long backed dog.
Chewie taught me many things. But one of the most important thing, was to always remember to keep it fun and enjoy what you are doing.
She was actress, Pinup Girl, Unofficial therapy dog and hunt retriever, and most of all best pal and teacher.
- Contributed by: Peggy Clark
Willow (Labrador Retriever)
- Sept. 1, 1990-March ??, 2004
- Titles: [OA NAJ CD; OAC NJC NGC];
- Handler: Cathy Lynch
Travis (Flat-coated Retriever)
- Dec 7, 1994-Dec ??, 2003
- Titles: PD1 [OA OAJ CD; OAC NJC];
- Handler: Cathy Lynch
Pippin (Australian Shepherd)
- May 18, 1998-Nov 30?, 2003
- Titles: AAD; EAC OGC OJC;
- Handler: Wendy Gurney
- photo
We are so sad. Our fuzzy-love-bug is dead. We went to Eric's cousin's farm in Washington for Thanksgiving, a place we love to take the dogs because they can run free and be dogs.
After Thanksgiving dinner their 12 year old son decided to take his aussie, Pippin and Indigo out to play. He was unable to recall Pippin from running to the road. Although Pippin stood to the side of the road, the oncoming car failed to swerve or stop. He died very quickly.
He is buried beneath the tree Eric used to play in as a boy. A happy place, with other beloved family pets.
There is a large hole in our lives. We miss him very, very much.
- Contributed by: Wendy Gurney
Skyedance (Bearded Collie)
- April 19, 1991-Nov 23, 2003
- Titles: Ch.Melita Skyedance AAD RM JM; EAC OGC O-EJC TN-N [CH MX MXJ PT HCT CGC VX] ;
- Handler: Jack Buhite
- photo
Skye, their 12 1/2 year old beardie died suddenly this morning. Skye had been battling an illness for several months that was recently diagnosed as Cushing's Disease. Skye took an unexpected turn for the worse this morning and died after they had rushed him to the emergency clinic. I don't think anybody who saw Skye run will forget the enthusiasum he showed as he charged through the course with that flying hair. Jack said his best times on the agility course were with Skye. Nancy and I and the rest of Skye's friends at Power Paws will miss him.
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
Jack and I are feeling great sorrow and loss this evening. Our beautiful boy is gone, so suddenly, so silently. Skye just couldn't stand up this morning and, after lifting his head once on the way to the emergency vet, his great spirit slipped quietly away. Skye was our very first Beardie and has been with us since shortly after Jack and I were engaged to be married. His joie de vivre was totally contagious. He loved people and made a point of greeting everyone who came to visit us or anyone who wanted to pet him.
We named him Skyedance since Jack and I had met doing Scottish dancing and particularly loved an Alasdair Fraser album of that name. I had wanted a lively, energetic Beardie and Skye was all that, embodying the joyous, upbeat attitude of the highland reels. Skye loved going to the Scottish Games, kissing visitors to the Beardie booth from morning to night, and parading to the sound of the Bagpipes.
He was sweet, loving, and gentle as well as very strong willed. Along with Iris Berry's Spiff and Sharon Prassa's Annie, Skye was an agility pioneer in Northern California. He absolutely loved doing agility with Jack and seemed born to fly. Thanks to Nancy Gyes and Jim Basic we were able to give Skye a sense of accomplishment and purpose, directing his enormous energy, for Skye liked to perform and be applauded. He also wanted to get it right. Woe to Jack if he made a mistake on the course. Skye would stop and bark at him, letting him know that his signals were confusing. When Jack and Skye were in sync, both were totally happy. Jack told me today, between our many bouts of sobbing, that his proudest moments were with Skye.
Our most embarrasing moments were also with Skye. In the conformation ring when he was a year old, he would bark every time he heard clapping. We were very glad to retire him from that venue after he earned his championship. When we finally learned more about communicating with him, he returned a few times to take Best of Breed.
I loved Skye's complexity and exuberance and delighted in his closeness. He would look me straight in the eye when I petted him, spoke with him, or played with him. He always needed to know exactly where I was and spent most of his day at home right under foot, loving to be touched or groomed or played with. We bred Skye twice, once to Caprice at age 3 1/2. Of the four boys in that Christmas litter, we kept Caper, who is totally different from Skye, except for his liveliness and desire to work with Jack. Skye and Caper used to play tug of war a lot and enjoyed a good tussle. We bred Skye again two years ago to Jean Richland's Nauti Nina and two of the girls of that eight puppy litter are now champions. It is a consolation that Skye's spirit lives on in them. We will miss Skye greatly. Tonight is the first night of our married life that we have been without him and our hearts feel very empty.
We thank Jean Richland for this wonderful, talented, lively, opinionated, and totally beautiful boy. We thank our friends for all of their support, especially Kim Horsley who has held my hand via e-mail during Skye's last illness and Sharon Prassa who handled Skye for his first Herding title and shared almost all of Skye's agility trials with us.
I did not have many nicknames for Skye other than "Handsome" or "Darling" or "Dancing Boy."
When you see the BeardieAgilityDiehard logo on the BAD website or wear your BAD T-shirts, think of Skye, who is the Beardie pictured there. Without him as my inspiration I would never have founded our close-knit Agility group or accepted the position as BCCA Agility Co-Chair. May his "BAD Attitude" live on in all of us.
(Skye had retired from agility about a year earlier.)
- Contributed by: Libby Buhite
Scud (Border Collie)
- Jan 25, 1991-Sept 19, 2003
- Titles:
- ADCH MACH "SCUD" EAC EGC EJC [MACH CDX]
- 1998 USDAA Grand Prix National Champion 30"
- 1995,1997 Runner-up USDAA Grand Prix National Championship
- 2000 USDAA Veterans Grand Prix National Champion
- 1996,1997,1998,1999 AKC World Team Member
- USDAA Dog Agility Masters National Champion
- USDAA BRONZE Lifetime Achievement Award
- Handler: Nancy Gyes
It is with the greatest of sadness that I tell you Scud has died. I am too sad to write at length about what he accomplished for me in the agility world, and of course dogs don't care about titles and championships anyway. But I will tell you about his awards.
Scud liked awards.
Award ceremonies were at the top of his list of favorite moments in life, closely followed by swimming & tennis balls. I know he did not understand the correlation between running as fast and perfectly as I asked him to, and hearing applause and getting to come to the center of the group for ribbons & toys. But happily his performances often placed us there. He would drag me to the middle of the group, screaming, not just when his name was called, but when anyone's name was called. If a ribbon was within his reach, it was in his mouth. The line "It's all about ME!" was written by him.
Scud would not be as happy competing in today's weekend trials, where ribbons and awards are kept in boxes and handlers pick them up quietly on their own. He lived for the applause, and couldn't wait to tear up his ribbons. The four years of Closing ceremonies at Worlds remain to this day, some of the most trying hours I have ever spent with a dog. He screamed his way from beginning to end, unable to contain himself no matter how many cookies or toys I tried to shove in his mouth. Faster, more maniacal dogs lie quietly around the room listening to the applause, and watching the teams on the podium, but he didn't care. It was always as if it was all there just for him.
Those days are memories now, pleasant funny ones, that make me cry. But mostly I remember that no dog could have given a person any more than he gave me. When I asked him to run as hard as he could, he did. I don't think anyone could have gotten him to give an ounce more. When he got cancer four and a half years ago at the age of eight, I did everything that I could possibly do to get the rest of his life out of him, and as usual he obliged. Not surpisingly he loved his doctors, probably because they showered attention on him every time he came through the door. Happily making the estimated 100 trips to the vet, most of the time to receive some kind of horrid potion or pill, so I could keep him a year, a month, and at the end, just one short day longer.
Jim and I called him Scudly, Scud-Bud, Scudly-Budly, but mostly just plain "Bud". That sort of sums him up.
(Lymphoma/leptospirosis)
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
People would always ask us, why on earth would you name him Scud? He was actually named by his breeder and Nancy did not get him until he was around 6 months old. He was born during the air campaign of the first Gulf war in 1991, at a time when Iraq was launching its Scud missiles. Though I am sure the breeder named him after these missiles, I like to think the actual definition of “scud” is much more fitting for him. In the Webster’s New Dictionary, “scud” is defined as, “to run or move swiftly; glide or skim along easily. To be driven or run before the wind”. Anyone who saw Nancy run Scud remembers how smooth and effortlessly he seemed to move, always faster than he appeared to be going, in perfect harmony with Nancy.
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
Zeke (Great Dane)
- byr-Aug 2003
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Shawn Cossart
Daisy (Border Collie)
- byr-July 2003
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Paulette Czech-Fitzgerald
Zephyr (Belgian Sheepdog)
- July 27, 1989-June 10, 2003
- Titles: ADCh; O-EAC EGC EJC EJC-V [CDX MX MXJ];
- Handler: Karey Krauter
- photo
Karey wrote Nancy and I today to tell us that Zephyr, her Belgian Sheepdog, died Wednesday. Zephyr had recently been diagnosed with what appeared to be a brain tumor and though she seemed to have rallied in the last week, Karey came home from work to find her curled up in her bed, apparently passing away peacefully in her sleep, one month short of her 14th birthday.
Karey and Zeph showed up at Nancy's about the same time I did, and so I was able to witness and be part of her career from the beginning to the end, and though there were the usual trials and tribulations of a handler and a dog new to the sport, Zephyr finished her career in grand style, getting two gambles and three Super Q snooker legs at the age of eleven to earn her USDAA ADCH. And this was during a year when 6 of the top ten 26" snooker dogs in the USDAA were from Northern California.
Zephyr was a big part of Karey and Dan's life and we know they will miss her greatly. (Zephyr retired from agility about a year earlier.)
- Contributed by: Jim Basic
Tyler (Flat-Coated Retriever)
- April 21, 1992-June 19, 2003
- Titles: ADCh; O-NATCh NATCh-V 7 times over [MX MXJ];
- Handler: Anne Etherton
- photo
I'm sad to report that the Bay Team has just lost another long-time agility dog who was still going strong: Earned a 2nd-high-in-trial at his first CPE trial at Level 4 not even 2 weeks ago.
Tyler Etherton, a sweet Flat-Coated Retriever, was put to sleep this morning, just 2 months past his 11th birthday.
The Etherton dogs have been fixtures at Bay Team agility trials for a long time. Tyler earned 3 NADAC legs in his first-ever agility trial in January of 1995 and has been racking up the Qualifying scores ever since. Anne trained him, and she ran him until Will came along; Ron has been running him more often since then. He was a good reliable dog who could be counted on to earn a Q in most of his runs, especially gamblers.
Anne reports:"Tyler seemed okay this morning, but after bringing in the paper and having breakfast, he just lay down with his eyes open. We took him to the vet this a.m., then to a specialist who did an ultrasound. He had a tumor in his heart and it was bleeding into the pericardium. She said it was probably hemangiosarcoma. We put him down this afternoon. It was a pretty big shock, with him going so fast."
Ron adds: "Anne & I counted every day with Tyler a blessing, and with flatcoats, every day past age 8 was very special. Our memories will be first and foremost his spirit. Agility is supposed to be fun. Every run we ever had with him was a thrill. I've never known a dog that enjoyed life more than Tyler did. The titles and ribbons were icing on the cake."
He'll be sorely missed at our agility trials.
- Contributed by: Anne Etherton, Ron Etherton
Anne and Ron didn't want to brag much about this wunderhund, but I do, so here's my (incomplete) list.
Some of his achievements:
- First Flat-Coated Retriever to earn a NATCH and also the first to earn an ADCH, both in 1998.
- NADAC LIFETIME points earned: 4,200, placing him among *all* NADAC dogs:**as of 1999: 5th Regular, 6th Gamblers, 6th overall
- as of 2000: 2nd regular, 2nd gamblers, 4th jumpers, 2nd overall
- (I don't have info later than that)* And in NADAC's ANNUAL TOP 10 point-earners:
- 2000, 3rd regular, 2nd jumpers, 3rd gamblers, 2nd overall
- 1999, 1st in Jumpers, 2nd overall , 6th Regular, 7th Gamblers
- 1998, 1st in Gamblers* NADAC nationals:
- 2002 6th place overall 16" veterans
- 2001 Grand Champion 20" Vets
- 1998 Elite Large Dogs Team Champion (with Secret and Laser)
- Contributed by: Ellen Finch
Whisper (Flat-Coated Retriever)
- Dec 7, 1994-Apr ??, 2003
- Titles: OAC NGC OJC [Ch NA NAJ];
- Handler: Pat Rohde
Tanith (All American)
- April 1, 1991-April 1, 2003
- Titles: AD; EAC EGC-V EJC-V;
- Handler: Diane Blackman
- photo
Died of hemangiosarcoma, starting on the spleen, four months after diagnosis.
Remington (Squirrelhund)
- July 1, 1993 - March 8, 2003
- Titles: AAD JM RM; NATCH TN-N [CGC; RS/GS/JS-E; CL4-R CL3-F] ;
- Handler: Ellen Finch
Remington came to live with me when he was 10 months old.
He loved to learn, and he learned quickly. He learned to shake hands almost instantaneously. I taught him every trick I could imagine. He was insatiable, and his capacity for learning seemed limitless. Furthermore, he loved doing tricks for junk food more than almost anything except perhaps running free and wild in a new huge open field filled with the scent of squirrels and gophers.
In March of 1995, we took our first agiity lessons. That was it, it was all over for every other activity. He loved being off leash. He loved climbing and jumping and running. And he loved doing it with me. Our first competition was in January of 1996. Remington earned two qualifying scores. I was hooked. Agility brought me closer to him than I could have ever imagined. And we learned everything about it together, sometimes in painful and frustrating steps.
Six and a half years of lessons and 77 weekends of competitions later, in August of 2002, Remington earned the final qualifying score that he needed to become a NADAC Agility Trial Champion. That summer he was running faster and more confidently than he ever had before. He had just turned 9 in July, and he had never shown the slightest signs of aging.
Three weeks later, he came up ill. Blood test showed that he was somewhat anemic but we didn't know why. But he got better. Over the next couple of months, his agility running was sometimes on and sometimes way off, and we still didn't know why. On November 4, he became frighteningly ill. I took him to the emergency room and learned that he had an inoperable hemangiosarcoma tumor on his heart muscle, that it was aggressive and deadly, and that he could expect between 1 and 6 months more of life.
I decided to fight it with operations and chemotherapy, as long as doing so allowed him to be happy and comfortable. It seemed successful--briefly. Remington competed in only two more trials--one in early January, where he once again showed his blazing speed and won his NADAC Jumpers competition, and one in early February, where he ran happily but slowly. In mid-February, he officially retired. The doctor put him to sleep in the early hours of March 8. He was only 9 years and 8 months old. He was one jumpers run short of a Superior Jumpers title and only 2 Standard legs away from his MAD.
He loved to lie in the sun, go for walks, do tricks for junk food, run and run and run. I miss him terribly.
- Contributed by: Ellen Finch
Tonka Toy (All American)
- June 6, 1986-Feb 2003
- Titles: NAC-V [MBCDX] ;
- Handler: Mandy Book
Molly (English Springer Spaniel)
- March 4, 1998-Dec 27, 2002
- photo
Kidney failure brought on by undiagnosed bladder infection.
- Titles: AD; OAC NGC OJC [AX AXJ];
- Handler: Janet Feemster
Powder (Bedlington Terrier)
- Aug 29, 1998-Aug 28, 2002
- photo
Cancer.
- Titles: AAD RM; O-OAC OGC O-OJC [CH MX MXJ TT];
- Handler: Jeri Bernard
Morey (Golden Retriever)
- May 17, 1995-June ??, 2002
- Titles: AD; OAC OGC NJC [NA NAJ];
- Handler: Mary Van Wormer-Haven
Cadbury (Border Collie)
- March 8, 1993-2002
- Titles: ADCh; NATCh [CD MX MXJ];
- Handler: Sharon Freilich
Kipp (Border Collie)
- July 28, 1993-March 1, 2002
- Titles: ADCh; NAC NJC [OA NAJ CD TD];
- Handler: Lauri Plummer
In November of 2000, 7-year-old Kipp was diagnosed with Lymphoma. In early March of 2002, he succumbed from his disease.
He was diagnosed when he had but one snooker leg left to get his ADCh, and while that kind of goal seems very unimportant in the scheme of life, goals help us struggle through the toughest of times, and Lauri and Kipp soon after that achieved the ADCh with the elusive snooker leg. He did it while he was on chemo, and he did it in grand style.
Kip was unlucky with his cancer; it made him sick at times, and the chemo made him uncomfortable at best and close to death at the worst of the treatments. Like so many other great dogs we have lived with and loved, he stayed happy through all the stages of his disease, and never showed his discomfort by losing his wonderful playful attitude and joy for life.
There are some dogs we love, and many we will remember forever. Those of us lucky enough to know Kipp will never be able to forget that he was one of those rare dogs whose presence, desire to please, playfulness, intelligence, and honest working style will stay in our hearts and minds forever.
- Contributed by: Nancy Gyes
Rio (Belgian Turvuren)
- May 18, 1993-Sept 1, 2001
- Titles: AD; OAC NGC OJC [AX AXJ CDX HT];
- Handler: Cheryl Bavister
Hildi (Foxhound)
- ?-2001
- Titles: AD; NAC NJC [CD];
- Handler: Candy Gaiser
Bob (Jack Russell Terrier)
- April 13, 1996-June (20?) 2001
- Titles: MAD; EAC EGC EJC [AX AXJ];
- Handler: Cheri Scannell
We have lost our beloved Bob to a 3-year fight against cancer (mast cell tumors). Two weekends ago he was with us in Sonora running with Cheri and then in the past two days the cancer invaded his internal organs and the battle was over. We had Bob for only five years but in that short time he was a cherished member of our family and a wonderful agility partner for Cheri. Our house is not the same without him.
For those of you who saw him run, keep a good thought in your mind for a small, sweet dog with one brown ear, who loved to play the agility game. I don't think he loved it for the sport itself, but because he was playing it with Cheri. We loved him dearly and we will always have a place for him in our hearts.
(Mast cell tumors)
- Contributed by: Mike Scannell
Meiske (Kelpie mix)
- Jan. 1, 19867-June 12, 2001
- Titles: ADCh VAD; NATCh O-EAC-V EGC-V S-EJC-V [ADC CGC MB-CDX];
- Handler: Kathryn Horn
- photo
Meiske was one of the early agility dogs, starting agility in 1988. She was the first Mixed Breed to earn USDAA's MAD title, at a time when that title was the top title in USDAA. She placed 2nd in the mini class (all small dogs competed against each other at that time) at the 1993 USDAA Nationals and 1st in the 16" Elite class at the 1995 NADAC Nationals. She was at the very first NADAC trial in Graham, WA and was the first small dog and first Mixed Breed to earn a NATCH. This made her the 3rd dog in the country to earn both an ADCH and a NATCH.
We went through all the hassles that many new competitors go through, among them an inability to do Gambles (velcro dog extraordinaire for a long time) and an entire year of no Q's as we tried to move from Starters to Advanced. I still remember almost every second of the first leg after that drought… a 1st place Q in Advanced under Darlene Woz. A picture of her with those ribbons sits near me as I write. It was a major turning point for us.
But more than an agility dog, Meiske was a teacher. She taught me, patiently and slowly, that harsh methods don't work and aren't much fun… for the dog or for the human. She taught me how to use play to train and how to just plain enjoy playing. (She never was able to teach me to catch a rabbit, although she was good at it.) She taught me about living in the moment and reminded me of that daily as she approached the end. She was my pal, my soul mate, a dog who danced through life and took me with her to the dance floor. Her legacy is immense… Through her I have met some of the most incredible people and dogs Because of her I have learned to place the relationship with a dog high above titles or ribbons. This legacy pervades my relationship with my other dogs and is at the core of my teaching.
I miss her terribly. I am honored and grateful to have had almost 14 years with her. (She was 9 months old when I adopted her from the local SPCA.) When the hurt is less, I will have the most incredible memories of a special 25 lb. dog who stole my heart and changed my life.
Thank you, Meiske. (Old age.)
- Contributed by: Kathryn Horn
Sam (Australian Shepherd)
- May 17, 1993-?
- Titles: NAC OJC [OA OAJ CGC];
- Handler: Naomi Harada
Micky (All American)
- March 1, 1994-May 2001
- Titles: MAD JM RM SM; EAC EGC EJC;
- Handler: Steve Bettcher
As many of you may know, I had to adopt Micky out because I couldn't have 3 dogs in my current living situation. I had found him a wonderful home with Sharon Nelson's son Chris in Idaho. I placed him in February with Chris and they were doing incredibly well together as a team. Chris and Micky were made for each other. I got this very sad news from Sharon Nelson this last weekend:
- Unfortunately, I have some sad news. We lost Mickey today. He slipped through a narrow opening in the pasture and was kicked by a horse. We rushed him to the emergency clinic, but they were unable to save him. We are all upset and will miss him very much.
Died one snooker leg short of his ADCh.
- Contributed by: Steve Bettcher
Maia (Belgian Shepherd)
- Aug 6, 1996- Sept. 29, 2000
- Titles: MAD JM RM; EAC NGC OJC [TD AX OAJ],
- USDAA Grand Prix 2000 National Finalist (6th place);
- Handler: Derede Arthur
- photo
By age three, Maia had achieved the AKC Agility Excellent, the NADAC Elite Certificate, and the USDAA Masters Agility Dog titles. In September 2000, Maia and Derede finished in 6th place in the highly competitive 26" Grand Prix at the USDAA/Animal Planet National Championships. Maia had 21/23 of the legs necessary for her USDAA Agility Championship when she died of lupus at barely four years of age, a few weeks after the USDAA Nationals.
This past week, Maia's red and white blood cell counts continued to plummet, for the lupus (not any medication, the U.C. Davis vets now believe) had destroyed Maia's bone marrow. Tests suggested that it was attacking her intestines as well. All the chemotherapy could not stop the relentless progress of the disease.
Despite appalling low blood counts, Maia miraculously remained happy, felt well until Thursday morning. Thursday began a rapid decline, and we took her to the emergency clinic at U.C. Davis. When we learned that her kidneys were failing, her intestinal lining was filled with blood clots, and she was hemorrhaging internally, we decided not to keep her going with transfusions. At 8 p.m. on Friday, September 29, Maia went quietly to sleep in our arms.
Goodbye, my beloved daughter; thank you for teaching me so much. I know you have gone where you will never more feel pain. Jump high, climb strong, run free.
- "Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." -- George Bernard Shaw
(Lupus)
- Contributed by: Derede Arthur
Jessie (Australian Shepherd)
- May 1, 1987-2000
- Titles: AAD; EAC EGC EJC [RS-E JS-E GS-E CDX];
- Handler: Donna Highstreet
Chad (Belgian Turvuren)
- byr-2000
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Sue Pokart
Gunnar (Norwegian Elkhound)
- April 27, 1986-??, 1999
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Billy Tinsley
Shiner (Norwegian Elkhound)
- May 22, 1989- ??, 1999
- Titles: xxx [xxx];
- Handler: Billy Tinsley
Ranger (Australian Shepherd)
- Nov. 6, 1992-1999
- Titles: ADCh; EAC EGC EJC [MX MXJ];
- Handler: Sharon Freilich
Put to sleep.
Zoe (Vizsla)
- Jan. 9, 1994-??, 1999
- Titles: OAC NGC OJC [OA];
- Handler: Nan Keder
Died young of cancer?
Blue (All American )
- 1995?-1998
- Titles: NAC-V NJC-V [MB-CDX ACD];
- Handler: Pat Rohde
Cancer.
Webster (Pug)
- March 25, 1991-1997
- Titles: EAC NGC OJC [CD AX];
- Handler: Julie Craig
(encephalitis (?))
