Archives: Dedicated Tributes

I was born in Deb’s house and I was the most independent puppy of the lot. At 10 weeks of age I went to Laura’s house and lived there for the rest of my life. I guess you could say I had two moms.

I learned about the water when I was very young. In fact they were calling me Dock until I was about 12 weeks old. When we went to a pond I jumped in and swam to the middle while my two moms were looking very worried. Funny, after that they just called me Duck!

Deb made me look wonderful and took me all over the country for a while. People would hand her ribbons and stuff and she would be very happy. Laura taught me all the things I needed to know. I learned about walking on leash, sitting, not being too much of a nuisance in the house and all that stuff.

I was a bit of an independent adolescent and both moms had to really make sure I didn’t get into too much trouble…. Sometimes it worked!

I learned all the water trial stuff but I really never liked going to trials. My mom, Deb decided that it was more important that I enjoy her and the water. She said I taught her that our relationship was far more important than any title or ribbon. It made my life nicer and we had lots of fun together.

My mom Laura taught me all the stuff I needed to be a Delta Society™ Pet Partner and we were the first team to visit the hospital. Now that was my niche! I just loved snuggling up to some sick person and when I got done, they felt better, every time!

I also went to the Paws to Read program and the little kids would read to me. Now that was fun too. They would start off being a little uncomfortable but I would listen and soon they were more confident and having fun.

I guess I was a good ambassador for PWD’s. It was my job to help people be happy.

I had lots of fun going for walks, swimming and running in the snow. I was a champ at eating and rolling in horse poop (especially if it was really fresh!). Actually anything soft and stinky and sticky was wonderful. When you are mostly white, it sure is fun getting black, green or brown smeared on! I loved playing with the other PWD’s that I met and at night I would hop in Laura’s lap (yea, I was a bit large but it was fun anyway) on the recliner and snooze.

My life was really fun and I acted like a young dog right up to the end. I never did get old.

Duck was much loved by Laura Van Dyne of Carbondale, Colorado and Debra Keller, Scylla’s PWD’s in Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Conversational. In a word, that was our beloved Nina. For almost fourteen years, she told us what she wanted, and listened to what we had to say. She helped raise Jordan & Danny every step of the way. Nina played “keep away” with Danny’s favorite toy to encourage him to learn to walk. She attended Jordan’s “tea party”, waiting patiently until the other stuffed animal guests were served before she dined.

Our king size bed was her domain. A medium-sized portie, she would stretch out to seemingly impossible dimensions, taking the bulk of the blankets with her.

Nina was interwoven into our lives from the moment we first laid eyes on each other. As our time together drew to a close, our efforts to comfort her were outshone by her efforts to console us. Her spirit was more than willing, but her body was unable to keep pace.

It is with unbearable sadness that we say goodbye to our best friend, the most caring, compassionate person you could ever hope to meet.

You were such a beautiful girl, in every sense of the word.

Love always,

Laurie, Steve, Jordan & Danny

From the time she leapt into our hearts and life, Cassie began each day as a great adventure. She was an agile hunter and loved digging giant holes. Once, she even caught a trout in the stream! Her joy of scrambling up and down the most rugged pile of boulders took my breath away. Down a cliff so steep it gave us heart attacks . . . she would scamper to take a dip in a lake or creek. At home, after a big dig, she would serenely float off the top step into the swimming pool for a leisurely cool dip. No splashing about here. She swam smoothly, effortlessly.

She earned all of her titles with only 1 NQ in agility (my fault) and class placements in each. I know she read the rules herself as I was a blatant novice. I believe she was the first PWDC-NC dog to have titles in 3 different performance events. She was tied for #1 overall in PWDCA obedience rankings and was the top Delaney award PWD in 1993 as well as earning a High Scoring Working Breed award from Novice A on her 3rd leg at a big all breed show.

There is no telling what she would have accomplished if Addison’s had not struck and abruptly ended her career. Cass loved to learn. We kept on training and, shortly, she knew the courier and utility exercises. Directed jumping and finding hidden items were her favorites. She knew all of her beloved stuffed toys by name. That presented a real challenge to invent hand signals for each when she became deaf in her last years. At the end of a busy day she loved nothing more than to cuddle up with us in bed or on the couch.

There are no words to express our sorrow at losing her suddenly to lymphoma.

Cassie…. “If tears were stairs and memories a lane,
I would climb right up to heaven and bring you home again”… author unknown”

What can I say about the most remarkable dog I have ever had? Little did I know all the different paths Sampson would take me on. He was my first show dog and earned his championship at 13 months. I entered my first ever AKC event with him in Rally and he eventually earned his RA title. He then went on to earn his TD title at the 2011 specialty. We were working toward his NW2 title in Nosework. He was always willing to do whatever was asked of him.

But the most important thing in our lives was his therapy work. He visited Overlook Medical Center and visited the staff bringing them so much joy. He also visited the Development Learning Center, a school for autistic children. He would patiently stand there and wait for one or more of the children to come and just touch him.

As Garth Brooks song, The Dance says  “I could have missed the pain but I’d have had to miss the dance” and oh my the dance was so very wonderful. Run free my beautiful boy. We will meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. You are always in my memories.

Sweetheart, you will be with us forever.

Thank you for lighting up our lives for 14-1/2 years, and for the happy wiggle dance you did whenever we walked into the room.

Love,

Mom and Dad