About Us (The Kids & Me)
My obsession with animals, I suppose, began in the womb. I've been told I have been chasing after animals, primarily dogs, since I could walk.
A Tribute
The first dog I had the privilege of sharing my life with was Suzie a Smooth Fox Terrier. Suzie was 5 years old when she was given to me in 1959 when I was 9 years old by a dear gentleman who retired to a Nursing Home because of his health. Many wonderful childhood years were spent with Suzie until her death in the summer of 1967.
Pixie - Suzie
In 1961 I found the cutest 6 month old Fox Terrier/Chihuahua mix roaming the streets of St. Louis. Of course I could not ignore her homelessness and invited her to join our family. Later I found her owners and since they considered her a problem, they were quite happy to give her to me. Pixie was my dearest friend untill her death in June 1975.
I met my husband in 1971 and that same year I gave him a German Shepherd puppy for his birthday. It didn't take long for Thunder to become the apple of both our eyes. We were as devoted to him as he was to us. His intelligence and beauty were beyond compare.
When Thunder died in October 1982 from spondylosis of the spine we were both devastated. The house was eerily quiet. After two months I could no longer tolerate the silence. I had not been without a dog in my home since 1959.
Thunder Smoke IV
We both made the decision to get another dog although it would not be a German Shepherd. It was too soon and would be disloyal to Thunder.
Which brings me to our first Schipperke. Skipper (how unique?) came to us 2 weeks before Christmas 1982. He was 5 months old and came from a Pet Shop. What can I say but that I was desperate and Schips do tend to resemble a black German Shepherd when they are puppies.
I always thought of Skipper as a weird little dog in part because I was use to a Shepherd and then I figured he was a Puppy Mill dog.
Dawns Aeolian Skipper
Skipper "Pretending he's a Parrot"
It didn't discourage me however because when I make a commitment to an animal it is until death do us part. Skipper left us in February 1998 at 15-1/2 years of age.
Ericha, a female German Shepherd, came to me in 1984 from Vom Prussberg Kennels in Texas at the age of 12 weeks. She was slated to be my obedience dog but that was not meant to be. Ericha became dysplastic at 14 months old. I had hip surgery performed and she became a beloved pet until her death from Kidney failure in July 1993 .
Ericha Vom Prussberg
My little love, Fanny, arrived on the scene in 1985. This was the little girl that would take me into the obedience ring and that she did. Fanny finished her Companion Dog title in just 4 shows.
Not only did Fanny get me started in obedience but she also got me interested in breeding and Conformation. Fanny was bred to Ch Perkie's Piccolo Pete in 1988 and produced one puppy, Abbot. Not a good start, so we repeated the breeding the following year which produced my first male Champion (Bam Bam) and a pointed bitch ((Bristol).
Dawns Itty Bitty Fanny, CD
Fanny was with me for 14 wonderful years until November of 1998. I still feel her presence by my side and also see her in her children, grandchildren and in my most recent Champion, Fanny's great granddaughter, Ch Dawn To Dusk's Demi DeLure.
