CassieTribute

Cassie was my first Belgian and my first Champion, and as such, she holds a special place in my heart. The "Mystique" in her name came from the top winning GSD of the time, Ch. Altana's Mystique. I'd hoped it would bring us luck and foretell a great show career for us. It didn't, but I didn't mind.

Cassie has never been the best at anything she's done, although she's certainly far from the worst. She was never a group placer, hasn't won a High In Trial (YET!), hasn't produced wonderful puppies (or ANY puppies<g>) or done anything else that would get her noticed. What she excels at is being my buddy and one of my best friends. With a different handler she could have been an OTCH dog, but she didn't mind when life kept interrupting our advanced obedience training. She still has plenty of pep and the desire to work so I hope to get her into the Open and Utility rings in the next couple years. Cassie has always enjoyed agility, although even with the wisdom of age she still doesn't understand why she has to touch those goofy contact zones! Sheep? No thanks, it's just not her "thing".

Thank you Beth Lachnitt for taking a chance back in 1992 on a new Belgian owner halfway across the country, and thank you Jackson & Country for producing my perfectly imperfect, but perfectly wonderful, special girl. As Cassie enters the twilight of her life, I realize her true value more and more each day, and our love and affection for each other grows with each passing year. Maybe the classic song says it best: "...with all your faults, I love you still, it had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you."

Below is what I wrote to be read about Cassie during the Parade of Champions and Titleholders at the 2002 BSCA National Unfortunately, the piece was lost and was not read during our appearance. But after all these years, nothing has changed.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched....they must be felt with the heart"
Helen Keller

Cassie
August 23, 1992 - October 19, 2006

UCD Ch. Liket's Ebony Mystique CD RE NA NAJ CGC FMD NAC NJC NGC FDCh

Right, Cassie during the 2005 Parade of Champions - almost 13 years of age

At left, one of my favorite pictures of my first three Belgian Sheepdogs - Cassie, Walker & Grace. I always called it the "drunken Cassie" picture, because Cassie (far left) looked liked she was a bit tipsy! (either that, or brother Walker had bo!)

So long, my sweet Roo......'til we meet again

What can you say about a dog who has been so many of your "firsts"? Cassie was my first Belgian Sheepdog, first dog I showed in Conformation, and my first AKC Champion. She was the first dog I put Agility and Rally titles on, and technically, the first of my dogs to earn the FMD (Future Messenger Dog) title (she beat Grace by a few minutes). Cassie was my first big dog, and my first experience with a "snarky" dog - those sweet, generally nice dogs who occasionally have issues with another dog invading their space.

Late in her life, she was also one of the first BSDs to earn an AKC Rally title (earned on January 7, 2005, just seven days after Rally became an AKC sport) and one of the first to earn the Rally Excellent title (RE) - earned at almost 13 years of age in May 2005 at the BSCA National in Wisconsin.

That appearance in Rally was Cassie's last competition - she was permanently retired after earning her RE. I had "retired" her a few times before, but she enjoyed showing so much - whether Obedience, Agility or Rally - that I brought her out of retirement in her senior years to get her NAJ (earned at age 10!), the FMD and her AKC Rally Titles.

Cassie was a natural retriever, which made life easy for me at suppertime! Anytime I needed someone to gather the metal supper dishes, I simply said "Cassie, bring your supper dish". She'd pick up every dish she could find, and proudly deliver each one right to my hand. Like many herding dogs, Cassie was happiest when she had a job to do - whether it was gathering supper dishes, showing in conformation, or competing in obedience, agility or rally. When I had minor surgery the end of 2003, and knew I'd be too sore to move the first couple days, I kept only Cassie & Mandy with me - the other dogs were sent to the dogsitters. Mandy was an easy keeper (small, gentle and no lifting), and I knew Cassie would make a fine temporary Service dog. As expected, she worked like a pro. When I dropped something - such as a couple stamps knocked off the counter - I'd ask her to 'bring it'....and she did. I could almost see the proud smile on her face as I took the object from her mouth.

But Cassie was more than competitions and titles and tricks and training. Cassie was the most valuable thing of all - my best friend for 14 years.