Kaasha Filius Flitwick

9 March 2010 to 15 October 2010

Filius was such a special little man. Less than two months after arriving back in Perth Filius picked up a mystery virus. Unfortunately he didn't make it through the illness. We miss you sweet boy.

Australian Champion Kokani Better By Design
 
19 December 2001 to 15 December 2009
 
After surviving being bitten by a Tiger Snake in January 2009 we sadly lost Blade to bloat on Tuesday, 15 December 2009.
 
Blade was our beautiful big Teddy Bear. He gave the greatest and gentlest hugs possible. He was a multi Best in Show and Runner-up Best in Show winner. He was a great dog to have around the place and was Mark's best mate.

Rest in Peace beautiful boy.

Look after the rest of your family that has gone before you. I'm sure the Big Lumph will be waiting and be nice to Banner!

To have loved and then said farewell, is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you have stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly.
For all of these things I am grateful and thankful.
I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.
Today I am as I was in my youth.
The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the Sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures.
I can run, jump, play and do all of the things that I did in my youth.
There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.
We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever.
You live in our hearts as we do in yours.
Companions such as you are so rare and unique.
Don't hold the love that you have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever.
For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.
Your Pets In Heaven

Australian Champion
Colorado's Life Inthe Fastlane (Imp USA) ET

10 January 1996 to 5 July 2008

Old age has finally got the better of our beautiful old girl. 

Carlie was imported from America by Les & Robyn of Sugargum Kennels.  She came to live with me for around 12 months to give me a taste of what it's like to own and live with an Aussie - I loved it, and I loved her.  After spending some time back at Sugargum Carlie again returned our family, spending several years living with my parents and then spending her last 15 months with me.

Carlie was a fantastic puppy sitter and was the perfect pet.  Like most Aussies she lived her life to the full and made friends wherever she went.  She lives on in her children and grand children.  Carlie was the mother of my special boy Banner, who passed away in March and who I'm sure is now looking after his Mum as best he can.

Carlie's presence will be sadly missed, I'm just glad her final moments were with me, in my arms.  Rest in Peace beautiful old girl.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they
can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm
and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and
vigour, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone
by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly
stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His
eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying
over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally
meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the
beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your
pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

~ Author Unknown~

Australian Grand Champion
Sugargum Star Spangled
CD AD JD ET HIT

24 September 1999 to 14 March 2008

What a dog! It is hard to believe that he is gone. Our beautiful Banner Boy passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Banner was a beautiful and very precious boy. He was always happy to see everyone and always greeted us with a gentle cuddle after jumping ceiling high up and down at the gate waiting for it to be opened. He was a ‘jack of all trades’ and to an extent I guess a master at none – but he had a hell of a time trying everything.

He gained his ET with ease being biked by my friend Peter. On enquiring why his collar was muddy but Banner was clean I was informed that Banner didn’t want to get wet and dirty and had stopped at a big puddle covering the track. Peter didn’t realize he’d lost his dog until he got to the other end and then had to go back and get Banner, who was sitting patiently waiting, and take him around the puddle.

Banner had the potential to be a really good obedience and agility dog. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to follow through with all of his training and in the end he retired after his CD AD and JD titles because he became too much of a ‘boy dog’ and just wanted to pee on everything. I can’t remember the amount of times he would squat and walk at the same time in the obedience ring. He didn’t actually stop working though! He kept me on my toes with the agility never knowing whether he was going to appear quickly out of the tunnel or whether there would be that dreaded pause because he’d stopped for a sniff again.

When we moved to Victoria Banner got the opportunity to try his paw at herding – he had a blast! This year we had planned to continue on with his herding training – not to be.

Banner’s greatest triumphs were in the show ring. He came to me as a dog who ‘would never do enough winning’ and never looked back. He titled with ease and had many great wins during his show career including several Best in Shows and Pedigree Showdog of the Year for the Northern Territory in 2005. He loved doing junior handler classes with the kids and loved the attention he got at shows.

Finally, Banner was one of the most placid, easy going and kindest gentlemen of a dog I have ever had the privilege of being owned by. He was a clown and ever so loyal. My beautiful big teddy bear.

A life too short but lived to the full every minute of every day. I’ll miss him so much.

So this is where we part, My Friend,
And you'll run on around the bend,
Gone from sight but not from mind,
New pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
But they be they and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought
Will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you go to your final rest,
Take with you this -- I loved you best.

Australian Champion
Cacharel Ursuline

22 February 2003 to 10 September 2007

Leala was our very, very special girl. She spent about the first two years of her life pain free and things went down hill from there. She was not a case of bad breeding or irresponsible breeding, nobody can be blamed for her short life, she was just one of those bad luck dogs that cops everything. The Lumph was here for a good time, not a long time and she made the most of every moment she had with us. She was a fabulous show dog and a supurb pet. She was my best and most loyal friend and my protector and my soul mate. Always there to bowl me over as I walked through the door and always there for a cuddle at bedtime and first thing in the morning. We miss our beautiful Big Lumph. You'll live in our hearts forever.

Don't think of me as gone away,
My journey's just begun.
Life holds many facets,
This earth is only one.
Just think of me as resting,
From the sorrows and tears,
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days or years.
Think of how I must be wishing,
That you could know today,
How nothing but our sadness
Can really pass away.
Think of me as living
In the hearts of those I touched,
For nothing loved is ever lost,
And I was loved so much


*****

Every day in some small way
A beautiful memory
Comes my way.

A silent thought, a secret tear

For a wonderful lady

I loved so dear..


******

Aneeak Atz Our Lil Angel

21 June 2001 to 17 January 2005

Angel was a new addition to our kennel. We had only had her for around four to five months. She had settled in beautifully and Mark was having a great time showing her. In only around 8 shows Angel had already clocked up about 80 challenge points and was almost titled. She was sadly taken from us on Monday 17 January 2005. She'll be sadly missed.

Run Free, Play Hard Angel.

Kasey CD

June 1989 to 17 October 2002


Kasey was my first obedience dog and the first dog I got after I left home. She was a German Shepherd with what we referred to as "flying nun ears". Kasey spent the last few years of her retirement with my parents and sadly decided she'd had enough on 17 October 2002 at the age of 13.

Kasey was an extremely loyal dog and although obedience wasn't her thing we still managed to attain the CD title. Kasey loved agility but unfortunately felt it was more fun to choose her own course so in 6 years of trialling we never managed to put an agility title on her.

Kasey was one of the best friends a person could ever ask for and will be missed terribly. She's now joined her best mate "Chester" and I'm sure they romping around together at the Rainbow Bridge.

Kismet Liten Spicey CDX ADX ET

20 August 1993 to 5 September 2001

Chester sadly left us on 5 September 2001 after a battle with cancer. He was only 8 years old. He will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Chester was the old man of the family. He was struck by cancer when he was 7 and had a huge operation to have it removed. This was successful for around 9 months but it then came back. After he became ill in 2000 Chester was retired from all competition. He appeared to have made a pretty good recovery after his major operation and I was considering bringing him out for Agility Jumpers events and Flyball events when they commence. Chester had excelled at obedience and agility but had to retire before completing his Agility Dog Masters title. He has also been in a couple of television programs and advertisements but the highlight was appearing in the stage production of Annie which was at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth during January 1998.

I miss you baby.

*************************************************

The Spirit of the Shepherd Dog

I was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of a shepherd dog
Was lying at my feet.

He looked at me with dark kind eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of his being
I saw love there too.

His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story
About a place so far away

I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.

His tale did put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day

I live among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind

My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my shepherd kind

I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be

The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And Milkbones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found

There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed

For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me

I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side

At night I sleep in an angel's arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee

So when your life on Earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait.

Author Unknown