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| So many tears shed. There is no comfort in finding solace in one another’s sorrow, but being able to share pain is healing. I would just like to share some of my joys in owning Tuppy, the dog who made a boxer person out of me. Of course, I could never have been a boxer person if it weren’t for Armando Miro. I lived in St. Thomas. There are no fences in St. Thomas-not even for goats. I made phone call upon phone call and was finally given Miro’s number. I think when I flew up to meet Tuppy, Miro realized there were some things more important than fences. I like to take that into consideration when I meet prospective owners, too. So that’s how a Nobody happened to own this plain, but gorgeous champion-bred Traper daughter. From the day she arrived on St. Thomas, Tuppy knew her boundaries. She would sit, head cocked, center driveway, watching the car go off in the morning. When we came home, there she sat, head cocked, center driveway, waiting. When we moved to Maryland the split rail just blocked her view; but she would sit, head cocked, in the yard, watching the car go off in the morning and when we came home, there she sat waiting. As soon as she saw the car, she would jump for a better view -- six feet up, all four feet in the air--never over, just up. Tuppy, the famous jumping dog--How great she would have been at agility! She never knew fences were for jumping until a 6-month old pup from her first litter whispered in her ear (obviously the ‘instinct for jumping gene’ came from the father.) She was a wonderful mother (considerate, too -- all her pups were born during daylight hours). She was never a champion to the AKC, only to me. She was never a dam of merit, although we did try. Fate is not kind. Nor are the ravages of old age, the dimming of the spirit, the weakness of the body, the failing function of its organs. Nothing seemed to be working anymore, and then her tail stopped wagging. For days I fought the heart/head battle, then I held her tight and let her go. She will always be remembered as Tuppy, the famous jumping dog who made this mere mortal a boxer person. | ||
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aka: Tuppy June 17, 1986-October 21, 1999 |
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| God stopped by our house on
Saturday. He came Himself. He didn’t send an angel.
I had told him Shazam wasn’t well and that I didn’t
feel strong enough to make that final decision for
him. God made the decision for me and took Shazam
home with him. I wish they’d waited until I got
home, but that wasn’t meant to be. He needed his
wings as there was no strength left to use his legs.
I knew that morning when he cried for the first time
in these miserable last three weeks that it wasn’t
pain but sheer frustration at not being able to
move. He raised his head to greet me good morning
and he hungrily took his breakfast from my hand. He
looked at me and said how much he wished he could go
to the show, but he had to stay home because he had
a date with God. They left just before I got back.
Shazam was pointed at the National Capital KC show 4th of July weekend 1991. He finished that October with limited showing and four majors, three of them Specialty BOW’s. He was my first Champion. Who could have known then how difficult this show business could be? We loved each other unconditionally. There is a big empty spot in my heart and it hurts so much. I wish you all could have had the opportunity to see him at ABC 2001. The performance that placed him second to Biff in the ten and over Veterans (they were both 11) was truly Oscar material. I will treasure that tape forever. Do please be aware that grade 2 mast cells may not kill, but they do cause things that do. We had a small tumor removed from Shazam’s neck last December. He has been taking the recommended prednisone/benedryl treatment since; but in April we noticed small lumps forming along the incision line. We opted not to put him through further surgery. On June 13, he started to pass blood both orally and rectally. We were told he had ulcers, a complication of the tumors. The tumors would have to go before the ulcers could be gone. Three months of Chemo? We opted not. He had a double transfusion on the 21st which he’d used up by the following week. He had medication for the ulcers; medication to coat his intestines; medication for diarrhea; medication for nausea; but the inevitable was not to be postponed. Ultimately, he bled to death. If his death causes you to ask the right question at the right time, his life will have new meaning. |
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CH TT’s Shazam at Wit’s End aka: Shazam May 13, 1990 – July 6, 2002 |
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| The puppy of my dreams, who at three
months of age was Best in Match with an entry of
over 100 at the Cincinnati Boxer Club’s grand event
at ABC, 2005. Who, at just under 6 months took
a Group 1 at an all-breed match in Salem, VA.
Who, before she was 18 months, had collected all her
minor points, as well as a Potomac Boxer Club Grand
Sweeps and a New Jersey Boxer Club Best Puppy.
Who was just coming into her prime, ready to catch
her illusive majors when she presented with lymphoma
the day before New Year’s Eve; diagnosis confirmed
January 5. My beautiful Dandee, the darkest of
brindles with the blondest of attitudes was taken by
the angels as she slept Saturday night.
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aka: Danny February 6, 2005 March 3, 2007 |
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| My handsome Raist, the family favorite from his moment of birth. The dog we loved so much that when his show career was at an end, we placed in one of those outstanding homes one happens upon from time to time. He had the time of his life for four short years living with his daughter, Martha, and his boy child, Doc. He was a great ambassador for the breed, and he now lives forever on a hill overlooking his farm. He would have been 9 on September 1st. He hadn't been able to keep any food down for about a week; blood work normal; nothing on x-ray; ultra sound showed his stomach invaded by a tumor. Raist was a great giver of memories. One day he and Martha were hanging out with their boy child and his father when a large dog appeared out of the neighboring woods and attacked Martha. Dad couldn't separate them, so Raist felt obliged to assist by body slamming the attacker with his shoulder in a mid-air collision. Before the invader could catch its breath, he was picked up by the scruff of the neck and slammed into a tree. Now unconscious, Raist considered finishing off the enemy, but Dad said that was enough, so he went back to his spot in the shade. Oh well, Dad, I guess you can take it from here. Such a gentleman! Raist, may you live forever in all the fond memories of those whose lives you’ve touched. | ||
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aka: Raist September 1, 1998 ~ July 5, 2007 |
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| I lost a friend last week, Jazzez Golden Girl of Wit's End, my Ella. I remember as if it were yesterday when she was born. I had 2 surviving pups from a c-section, and one died after three days. I took Ella in my hands and held her to my face and gently shook her. I told her if she would only live I would love her forever and she would be my sister. So she did, and she was. We were so looking forward to joining the double digit club in February! She was never sick a day in her life; happy as a clam. Last Thursday night she ate her dinner, watched a little television (from my lap, of course) ran upstairs at bedtime, was first in the bed to insure she got prime spot and fell asleep. She didn't wake up. How did she die? I don't know. I do know that she and Graham are entertaining each other with their wit and wisdom somewhere not far from here and that I have immeasurable gratitude for the time I had with them while they were here with me. I also feel blessed that she was permitted to catch the bus without the pain and tears associated with the ride, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that where love is concerned a lifetime is never long enough. | ||
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aka: Ella February 7, 2000 - October 30, 2009 |
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| Oh, Arthur, what a Mama’s boy you were! Couldn’t get close enough could you? I remember you best for how very kind you were to the senior rescue we once took in. That would have been the day Graham remarked that he never thought he would see the day that we had more dogs than children (we had 7 boys between us). But you certainly took over with that old girl. You were kind and gentle (totally out of character); her knight in shining armor. Good for you old man! Always the picture of health, my poor Arthur’s warrantee seemed to expire when he hit his 10th birthday. He had a couple of mild seizures; then one night following a good dinner, he had a seizure and died in my arms. Knowing Arthur, it was just as he’d planned! | ||
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aka: Arthur May 26, 2000 – July 29, 2010 |
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| My Kismouse. You really missed
your buddy Arthur, and I know you wished you could
have followed his example by rushing to the bridge
with no muss, no fuss, no bother. Instead, you
had to succumb to the dreaded DM, which you suffered
with for almost a year before Mom made that horrid
decision. I am so sorry my Kis. Rest
well, my Darling. We will all be together
again in time. Good night my sweet Kismet. Run
free at last and know that I love you to pieces! |
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aka: Kismet June 27, 2001 – February 7, 2013 |
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| I've lost another piece of my heart. Why why why.... She just had a full physical... blood work, thyroid...the works. She was a little arthritic but got around just fine. Just had a procedure for a corneal ulcer that wasn't healing as quickly as they would have liked because of a small tumor on her lower lid. I just don't know. We cheered the team on last night and went to bed early. | ||
| One For The Money
At Wit’s End aka: Olivia December 3, 2004 - July 6, 2015 |
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| She was my everything, even to the end she did everything I ever asked of her, including showing in Veterans at the Regional cluster this past weekend. She barely made it the final go-round but persevered and set up beautifully despite that unbeknownst to us she was bleeding internally. Winning Image took this picture the day before. Isn't it wonderful?? Who will punch me in the arm now to remind me to do all the things I need to do?? Blitz, Blitz, Blitz....My comfort since losing Graham; my snore partner, my best puppy fostering helper, the mother of TWO Top Twenty contenders. I love you so very much. | ||
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Wit's End Total
Eclipse CGC DOM Therapy Qualified BFF aka: Blitz October 15, 2008 - November 11, 2017 |
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| BISS
GCHG Wit's End Night Reveler, SOM aka: Joshua August 24, 2012 – August 21, 2022 |
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| Those of you who know me know that I am rarely short on words, but here I am not knowing what to say, so let me just cut to the chase. Joshua died yesterday. Saturday night his legs just didn’t want to support him, but he managed to get to the bedroom, not up on the bed. Sunday morning, with great difficulty, I was able to get him to the kitchen before he collapsed and was never again able to get up. I knew it was decision time and asked a couple friends to join me after church to help me walk my mind through it. While we talked, he would lift his head to look at me. His eyes were clear and painless. If they said anything, they told me that he was extremely annoyed that his legs weren’t doing what his legs were supposed to do. He just seemed so full of life, I couldn’t take it from him. So I pulled a Scarlet O’hara to see what tomorrow would bring. My friends left, and he seemed to be sleeping, even had a little snore. Then he took 6 huge deep breaths, coughed three times and died. He always did whatever I asked of him. He made the decision for me. He didn’t get to the birthday party I’d planned for him Wednesday. No doubt God decided to hold the party at his house. These two pictures show him doing what he loved best. One shows him at the National in June; the other shows him at a local Hospice In-patient care where he offered love and caring to families and patients. He was our “official greeter” and gave out free hugs and kisses. A victim of hemangiosarcoma, following major surgery in April which gave him an awesome quality of life and new adventures for the time remaining to him. | ||
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