Tributes

AKC Champion Cobbercrest /
ASCA Altered Champion Moonstruck
Beyond Belief CGC

"Boaz"

March 14, 1995 ~ summer, 2007

Boaz was my first show Australian Shepherd. He came to us as a young dog with a sorry past. Happier around kids, he loved my daughter and would do anything for her. This fellow was happiest when he had the chance to work. He sired a litter that my daughter kept a puppy out of. They all had a great time showing and playing together, until just as in the song Puff the Magic Dragon, children grow up and move away. Poor Boaz was lost. A friend knew of a Junior who was in need of a dog. The Junior had known Boaz for years & we felt comfortable sending him to her. Boaz loved his new home and family and the feeling was mutual. It was there that he passed on. After his rough start, he lived a long happy life and was well loved. Thank you to Anna Gibbons of Fantasia Australian Shepherds for all your help showing him and to Glenda Carius for taking such good care of Boaz.

Storm on Christmas

The following photos were taken by my daughter
 Fully Alive Photography

Storm's nose has almost doubled in size since Christmas.

Zions Blue Rider on the Storm     "Stormy"

U-Ch, IABCA Ch Fantasia's Lets Make a Deal CGC     "Emmy Lou"

1/5/2008

Yesterday I lost 2 good friends.

Emmy had an extended illness that was getting progressively worse. Summer of 07 was quite rough. Since some days were still good, I delayed any decisions.

Then I got a phone call around October 07.

In the first litter I bred,  (under the "Zion" kennel name) was an adorable blue merle male puppy that went to live with the best puppy people one could ask for. His name was Storm, for as my daughter put it when she named him, he had big black storm clouds on his back. The new owners loved the name & kept it. I got to see  Stormy over the years & hear about him from the owners. It is a great thing to know your puppies and their people are so happy together. Sometimes I got the opportunity to doggy sit Storm. He would enjoy visiting with the other dogs some, but mostly he missed his family. That phone call was his family. Things had changed in their live and they asked if Stormy could come back here to live. I said of course. He was the most wonderful sweet dog you would ever meet. He was different when he came this time. He was more relaxed and Emmy this time fell in love with Stormy. Party adored him like little kids love their grandparents. All was great.

The Thursday night before Christmas I fed all the dogs their supper. Everything was normal. Friday morning, however was a different story. Something was wrong with Stormy's nostril. I immediately thought "cancer", and hoped it was just an allergy to some ProBios glucosamine vitamin treats I had bought for him and Emmy just a few days before. I stopped the treats immediately. Stormy had been a good drinker, but was also not drinking enough. I watched him closely Friday. Saturday was a bit worse. I did research on the internet for nasal cancer and there were no symptoms. The symptoms arrived Sunday. I called his people & we talked. I took Storm to his vet as soon as they would let us Monday morning. The vet said right away "nasal cancer". We discussed options. Due to the type of cancer and Stormy's age, he felt chemo was not really a good option. He suggested a shot of cortisone. It has been known to shrink tumors. I agreed this was better than putting him down as this point. I really loved this dog from the first and now that he'd come back I didn't want to loose him, especially to something like this. By the Saturday after Christmas, the tumor had shrunk and the sneezing had almost left. He was feeling sooo good, drinking normally, and having a ball playing with the other dogs.

By New Year's, I got concerned again. I called his people again and we discussed what would be best for the boy if it came to that. Then, I called the vet. The tumor had shrunk in height, but was now spreading. I had read that nasal cancer was fast acting, but this was ridiculous.  The vet said we could try some topical cortisone. I decided to wait as Stormy was still feeling wonderful. The tumor then grew much more rapidly, the sneezing picked up again along with other complications. I knew that topical was not enough. As soon as I got home from work Thursday morning I called a different vet who would come to the house Saturday morning, which was the earliest he could. We had decided that the best thing to do for Stormy now was to stop the pain. The choice was also made for Emmy. She was so attached to Storm and was getting rapidly worse. Well....by Friday night, the tumor had grown again. It was changing by the day markedly. Poor Storm was not feeling the best. He was eating and drinking fine though. Saturday morning was odd. The tumor had grown once again. I hoped the vet would arrive before Stormy had to go thru anymore.

A friend came over to be with us and my husband was here. I was so thankful the vet came to the house. Stormy didn't have the pain of travel and Emmy didn't have the fear of leaving home. As far as such things go, it went well. Nasal cancer is the most insidious thing I have ever experienced.

The other dogs are also feeling the loss. Sky must have sensed something when Stormy came as he was afraid of him this time when he came and Joy has been mourning the change in Storm since the cancer showed up. Party is off playing show dog, which is a good thing for her.  As heartbroken as I am today writing this, I know that Storm is out of pain and Emmy is finally at peace.