Saturday, August 28, 2010

Hard Times - Burni-Man and Ivan-da-Ho

Victor and I figured that 2010 would be a hard year to get through - since we have several elderly dogs residing here, it is inevitable that there would be times of sorrow and tears. Unfortunately we had two boys that we did not foresee losing anytime soon, which make the tears flow even harder. One of the greatest burdens of a dog-lover is that of having to say goodbye.

Ivanhoe leaning on Lynn
Ivanhoe was an expert leaner


Ivanhoe had been diagnosed with a spinal injury earlier in the year. He was put on a steroid regimen and limited activity in the hopes that it would remedy the situation and he could regain full use of his left rear leg. After several months, the treatment proved ineffective, although at first it looked as though we may have some success, especially when the hyperaesthesia ceased and he seemed otherwise comfortable.

But then his condition deteriorated and Ivan was euthanized on the morning of July 17. His spinal injury had become too great to bear and he completely lost use of both hind legs. The steroid regimen therapy just could not do enough for him. He would have been 10 years old this month.

I regret that I was not brave enough to accompany him. I made the appointment for when I would not be there and was out of town and Victor took him in and stayed with him. I could not bear to say goodbye to another special boy this year.

BIS RBIS Rarities IABCA Ch. Kristull Ivanhoe
August 10, 2000 - July 17, 2010

We have some lovely descendants here carrying on his beauty, both inside
and out - some of whom assisted him in winning the inaugural Stud Dog
class at Silkenfest in 2009.

Ivan's page on the Gryffyn's Aeyrie web site

Farewell Ivan-da-ho - I wish we could have done more.


Burni showing at the May 2009 Midwest Borzoi Club Specialty


Burni had been diagnosed the other week with possible cancer that had spread to the lungs. He had developed fluid in the chest cavity - although not a pyo- or chylothorax. The specialist thought there were metastatic cells in the fluid as well. A sonogram showed the heart in good condition, although some small dark areas in the lungs. That was when the $$ ran out - and that was with the doctor not charging me to draw and analyze the fluid.

Burni came home and seemed to rally briefly, but then his condition deteriorated. Victor took him in the morning - once again, I was too much of a weenie to go in.

Burni was the last Nikki son we had here. All that is now left is her daughter Duri. I had planned a breeding with Burni that never got consummated - so it's back to square one for Bugg. The only dog down from Burni (or Flareon) that we have here is Lars. I wanted more (and prettier). :(

Burni had some nice highlights in his time in the ring: Best in Sweeps at a BCOA TSE, judge Kanne Bowers - he got his first major that next day at the tender age of 9 months; WD/BOW at the RMBC specialty years ago under Karen Dumke; finished both his Canadian and Mexican championships with group placements; Award of Merit at the BCOA Specialty (July 2003); Best in Vet Sweeps at LSBC's first and second specialty shows; Best Opp in Vet Sweeps at the May 2009 MBC Specialty.

But most of all - he won my heart.

Am. Can. Mex. Ch. Gryffyn's Aeyrie Caliburn, JC
December 22, 2000 - August 28, 2010

Burni's page on the Gryffyn's Aeyrie web site

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Could It Be....?

Recently there was media coverage regarding a grizzly bear attack in Yellowstone National Park. The bear was captured and killed the next day and a posthumous exam performed to help give insight into its behavior. Of note was its extremely poor body condition - it was very thin. The investigative team determined that the bear's vegetarian diet (of approximately two years) combined with a parasite load contributed not only to its poor physical condition, but to the predatory behavior which culminated in the attack.

A bear specialist is quoted as saying:

“She obviously was hurting for higher value foods. What caused her mentally to do that, we don’t know. There are a lot of bears that are nutritionally challenged at times that don’t exhibit that type of behavior.”


Which brings to mind the following question...is this what is wrong with animal rights fanatics? Are their vegetarian or vegan diets resulting in aggression towards those of us who enjoy our animals, their raising, breeding and training as well as the daily interaction? Is it the lack of "higher value foods" that causes their almost savage attempts to rend apart the animal-owner bond that we enjoy and the endless pursuit of eliminating pets or any animal usage from the earth?

Thankfully, grizzly attacks are rare.

Unfortunately, the attacks of the animal rights fanatics are not, and well on the increase.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

In the Garden of Remembrance

I decided to play along and participate in an online photo contest that is being put on by a published of various web design and programming books (SitePoint). They recently released a book on digital photography (geared towards web usage) that I would like to get, and it is offered as a daily prize. So what the heck - may as well try the contest! The first assignment was to photograph either a grouping of office supplies or a fast food restaurant. I opted for the latter since I don't really have any office supplies lying about, except some dusty rubberbands and some hair-entwined paperclips. So I had to make myself leave the comfy confines of the house and ventured down to the generic part of town where all the fast food joints are.

On the way back, I decided to swing by the old cemetary since for ages I have told myself that I wanted to go and take some photos there since there are some interesting old monuments and statuary there. I barely scratched the surface and will return in the future - here are some of the photos from today's visit...





BTW, this is the Pecan Grove cemetary in McKinney, TX - one of the oldest cemetaries in North Texas, located on property granted by the Republic of Texas in 1845.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Pupdate: Tyler-Myla Pups Nearing 3 Months of Age

3 of the pups say HI to Bekka and Boo through the fence


Got some snaps of these kids yesterday at just short of their 3 month "birthday" - stacks and candids of them out in the yard.

http://www.gryffynsaeyrieborzoi.com/gallery/tyler-myla?page=6

They were quite bold about being introduced to the yard - usually we have to carry pups to the back door and these wee beasties followed us out, ready for new adventure. Of course, being greeted by triple digit temps was not the preferred plan - but they still hit the ground running!

Myla's owner Rick will be here later this week to pick up Myla and choose pups!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Surprised?

HumaneWatch.org ran this advertisement in the April 1 edition of the USA Today paper. Kudos to them on working to expose the truth behind HSUS and its actions and agenda.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Requiem for the King

He fought a good fight, but we had to say goodbye.

He was my first champion to finish exclusively from the BBE classes, my first Canadian champion, and my first GRC/SGRC, in addition to being the #1 LGRA Borzoi in 2000. He ran a lap in the Legends portion of the LGRA Nationals a little over a year ago - the photos show him still kicking up a dirt trail at over 10 1/2 years of age. He was also a son of my beloved Nikki, my first Borzoi, who passed a little over a month before her 14th birthday. He still has 3 siblings alive - brothers Merlyn and Lance and sister Gwyn. He has given me some wonderful children who remain here (Sassi, Magik and Deckard) and grandchildren (J/T, Shugah, and our recent Warriors litter).

He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in March of last year after a leg break. The experiences surrounding that event beginning in January and going until May brought way too much drama and stress and much too long to detail, and culminated in the amputation of his left rear leg. It gave us 10 more months with him and until recently he would zip along in the yard to do his business and would go over and visit his "grandkids" over in their pen. Funny enough he didn't visit the Silken pups - just his daughter Sassi's.

Arthur taking an Award of Merit at the Rocky Mountain Borzoi Club specialty show
Arthur taking an Award of Merit at the Rocky Mountain Borzoi Club specialty show - Judge: Jon Steele, Auroral Borzoi


He would have been 12 years of age before the end of this month. I am despondent that I will no longer see him grin or get to give him a hug - he was a most special boy.

Am. Can. IABCA Ch. Gryffyn's Once N Future King, JC SGRC
3/21/1998 - 3/9/2010

It's never long enough.