I would like to Thank Jennifer Wehking for allowing me to purchase first Shelby, and then others. For her guidance and teaching me the in's and out's of dog showing. From how to take a dog into the ring, to how to enter a show and so much more, she was there. Thank you Jennifer!
I want to thank my family, Tommy, Stephen & Katie, for putting up with my passion. Caring for nine Cavalier King Charles Spaniels takes a lot of my time. They are proud of the me & the dogs, & share in the excitment of a win, new trick or just the joy they bring!
Thank you to my sister Becky, Greg, Collin & Caleb. Being a close family we always visit each other several times a year back and forth. Going from one dog to nine creates change. Change for them when they come to visit here as well as when we travel to TN. Several times in the RV with all the dogs along! Thank you Becky for understanding the love I have for my dogs. You are my best friend and I could not have made it through the last five years without your support and understanding. Your the greatest!
To my daughter-In-Law Mandy and my son Stephen, who have taken the job of staying with and caring for, my nine Cavaliers when I have to be away. Including an occasional litter of puppies! It is such a Blessing to know they are well cared for, by someone who knows each by name! This job would overwhelm many, Mandy & Stephen don't see it as such a big deal. Thank you, I love you both!
To friends who helped me ring side when I was blessed enough to have several of my Cavaliers win their class, needing to go back in at the same time! I couldn't have done that without you! Thank you!
To the professional handlers who have given me advice & tips when they saw me struggling with something, I am deeply grateful! Often to stressed to remember a name, I remember the kindness. Learning is a process. Dog shows are a blur of activity. When you are new you have to focus so much on everything you are doing, that you miss a lot of what is going on around you. I am finally beginning to relax a little and see past the end of my lead! I look forward to the next five years and what all I will learn. Gwen you saved me from an embarrasing moment at the Nationals, thank you!
To Lu Dunham and Helen Jessie who on 9-11-05 accompanied me to the vet in the middle of the night for an emergency C-Section on my Phoebe, who was carrying 10 puppies. Three born at home one DOA, 7 born by c-section one DOA we were able to revive 5 of the remaining 6 from the effects of anesthesia. Had it not been for those extra two sets of hands (helping me revive puppies and get them going) I may have lost more than one. Seven were alive and well! They were also there 27 hours later as I held my sweet Phoebe as she passed to the Rainbow Bridge. In no condition to drive, Lu drove me to UGA so that I could take Phoebe for a Necropsy. Helen bottle fed puppies all day long until we returned. Thank you for being with me and helping me get through one of the most difficult days of my life. Phoebe's puppies were all hand raised and did well they can be seen in photo "Album 2" . Please take a moment to share in the joy & love I have for her by viewing her "In Loving Memory" page.
To Ruthann Garretson for "trusting me" with her Poppi for my large orphaned litter! Poppi had a singleton who had just been weaned. Thinking the pups could pull her milk back in, I was allowed to take Poppi home. Not amused, she never took to them, would not clean them and her milk never did come back in<grin>. The puppy's were tube fed until they could eat from a dish at three weeks old. Poppi provided something I could not (the natural suckling a young pup needs) but only if I stayed by her side! She was such a character to have a round! She made me laugh at a most difficult time in my life. I will always be thankful to Ruthann and to Poppi!
To Susan & Steve Lewis, for driving all the way from the North side to bring me feeding tubes, Dextrose Sodium Chloride, benebac and other supplys from my vet. This was done so that I wouldn't have to drive an hour both ways with seven orphaned pups. Thank you for going out of your way to help me out!
Last but not least, I thank my heavenly Father who has made this all possible. For his guidance and his comfort during the times over the last five years that were not so wonderful! For giving me what I have been told, is an eye for good movement. For helping me know which puppies to pick and bringing me good homes for the others. The list of things to thank God for is endless, I thank Him!
