Nineteen
years ago the boy on the left, Devonson,
was born into my hands. I got Goose bumps when I
held him.
Vickie
Haywood
TheDogPress
December 2006 -
He was sired by a dog, who at that time was just
a nice mini stud dog from Raleigh, owned by my
handler friend and fellow club member.
When the litter was 6 weeks old I took them to
see the stud owner, Mike Lamb. I carried them
inside in a laundry basket and he immediately
picked up this boy and said "Boy! You sure can
tell he's Devon's son." His father went on to
become one of the top producing mini's of all
time, he left his mark. His Name was Ch Kiyara
Name your Pleasure.
Devonson stayed with me and became a Group
winning, multi group placing, puppy Champion.
At the tender age of 11 months he arrived home
from the handler and we said well what now?
The "what now" became a CD, a CGC and a TDI
therapy dog. One of the most wonderful
therapy dogs I have ever had.
Beside the big boy on the right is
Loganberry. Loganberry as you may
remember from my last column was that great
senior therapy dog.
Devonson was much more. He was a kids
therapy dog and a true ambassador for his breed.
He participated in obedience classes as a
teaching dog, class room therapy, classroom
education, parades, fairs, and played the part
of TOTO in the local production of the Wizard of
OZ. He was featured in the first all
Poodle Issue of Dog Fancy Magazine.
Devonson gave a last gift to a wonderful friend
and mentor who passed from this life to the next
some years ago.
Rick Koester lay dying in his bed in Moncks
Corner SC that year. He had been diagnosed with
terminal non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Rick was one of
my dearest friends who gave so much of himself
to me. I took a drive on a Thanksgiving Saturday
with Devonson at my side. We arrived and as the
door opened Devon grabbed the present we had
brought, a huge green froggy that played
Christmas tunes and lit up. He leaped to the
hospital bed in Rick's Moms living room and lay
down beside him, mouthing the froggy to make it
play.
For many hours that day he stroked Devons fur,
kissed him, loved him, laughed at his antics.
We played music he loved and talked of many
things.
When I left, long after dark, I knew I would
never see my friend again alive in this world.
As I closed the door I heard him say, "that
wonderful poodle gave me the best hours of pain
free peace I have had in weeks.
That is a true Gentleman poodle." Rick
lost his battle only a few days later, but he
gave me a gift I will always have.
When Devonson left me and went to wait for me at
the rainbow bridge with Logan who went before
him, I was sure I had lost a part of me I would
never experience again....
Fast forward to 2004. I had an opportunity to
breed one of my Champion bitches to the number 1
mini poodle in the country. He was bred by none
other than my old friend Mike Lamb, owned by a
new friend, and I did the breeding.
On December 23rd of 2004 a litter of 5 were
born. There was only 1 boy... he gave me goose
bumps.
He is still with me. He is 19 years and 7
generations removed from Devonson.
Only time will tell if he has the attributes to
make him a great therapy dog. Right now my
sights are set on canine freestyle. He has
another year at
least to grow up before he might finish his
championship but that is not foremost in my
mind.
What is foremost is that The DOG GOD works in
mysterious ways and somehow managed to return to
me a poodle who is so very much like his 7th
great grandsire that I do double takes from time
to time. It is so much more than just his
looks, it's his mannerisms and personality. He
is my constant companion.
At this time of year we all take time to reflect
on our lives, the "ones" we miss so terribly, be
they dog or human, and we should be counting the
many blessings we have of life, health and the
wonderful dogs we share our lives with.
Take
the time to reach out to friend, a dog, or
someone in need. They are all around us.
Sometimes we don't even know they are in need.
Memories.
Happy Christmas
101004
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