Bridgette Belzerae Shannon S.R.UD.JH.NA.WCX.TDI.
O.F.A. - GOOD C.E.R.F.
golden-female
birth-12-17-88 SF457261SIRE:GOLD'N LOCKS GOLDEN POOH DAM: GOLDEN PAWS LIZZIEMAN MALOY
Pedigree History
In the year of 1987 I was diagnosed and treated for
cancer. During my stay at my hospital I had my dogs taken
care of by friends. My animals were always in the house at
night and had me to give them all the attention goldens need.
The situation of my illness created a problem for my dogs.
They were outside in my kennels all the time. My 2 year old
male (Bridger) became especially restless. He jumped my fence
and disapeered in January of 1988. On "Good Friday" of 1988
Bridger was found floating in a pond. He had fallen through
the ice earlier that winter.
I decided to call the original owner of the pup Bridger.
He had just sold a group of pups that spring. He kept a nice
female. I told him my story and Randy Malloy of Oskaloosa,
Iowa gave me this new pup. She was named Bridgette, and has
become one of the top females in the state of Iowa for the
1990's!!!!!
Her accomplishments include a ranking as the 8th highest
scoring golden in the USA for novice-agility in 1995-96,
several places in novicel-open and utility shows, and solid
performances in field tests.
Here is an article from the Oct. 1996 Iowa City Golden Retriever Club news:You Gotta Have Heart by Julie Caruthers How do you determine if someone has heart? Certainly, great
atheletes who overcome injury, illness or humble beginnings
to win Olympic medals have heart!? Firemen or Police officers who risk their very lives to
protect the lives of people they don't even know have heart. Mothers and fathers who put everything they own on the line
to back their children's dreams certainly have heart. I could go on and on whith many different people who have
heart and why I think so. Today, I would like to tell you
about a dog, a Golden Retriever. It doesn't take very much
consideration to determine that this animal has heart. And
after reading her story I'm sure that you will have no
problem agreeing with me. First of all, the name of this Golden Retriever is
Bridgette. She is owned by Steve Myrtue, a fellow Iowa City
Golden Retriever Club member. A couple of years ago Bridgette
and her son Gyver escaped from Steve's fenced yard and
vanished. Steve and all of his friends in the area seached
and found no sign of the dogs. They went up to every home and
farm in the area and asked for information regarding Steve's
loving pets. Bridgette and Gyver epitomized the Golden Retriever
temperament. They were loving and kind and never looked for
trouble. Steve was devastated at their loss. Fliers were posted, we had mention of the dogs in the club
newsletter, there were ads in the paper. The local
authorities were contacted and basically everyone was looking
for the two Goldens. Finally, when the pressure became too much, a local farmer,
who had been contacted days, before, admitted to shooting the
dogs and burying them on his farm. When steve asked for proof
he received no help. The farmer said that the dogs were
chasing his cattle. Those of us who know Bridgette and Gyver
know that this would not happen. They may have been in the
pasture with the cows, but they were less likely to chase or
try to kill one of the cows than one of the other cows was. Living in Iowa, as we do, Steve understood to some point
that the farmer thought he was protecting his living, but
when he would not tell him where the dogs were buried or give
him the collars, which had tags on them, we all quextioned
his story. After about two weeks, steve had given up all hope and
pretty much believed that what the farmer had told them was
true. His beloved pets were killed and buried to hide the
evidence rather than be opened by this situation. Not long after Steve was in his backyard and it was almost
like seeing a ghost. There was Bridgette. She was in horrible
shape. Bridgette had been shot several times. She had wounds
in her head and one of her legs was so bad that Steve feared
that it was beyond repair. He scooped her up and took her to
the vet where the battle to save her life and hopefully her
leg too. It was wonderful when Steve brought Bridgette to our Club's
anual single series. Everyone was glad to see her well enough
to attend. She of course didn't run, but she did let everyone
pet her and express their love. She was patient and listened,
but we could all see that Bridgette was just as ever so
thankful to be back with her loving master. Before the accident Bridgette was in the training for field
and obedience and had already recieved some of her titles.
There was question now as to whether or not she would ever
compete again. Steve was thankful for her return and her life
first and foremost. Still, you could see they both longed for
the days when they went together and played all the games
retrievers love to play. Guyver never returned. Steve feels
that the farmer shot both dogs but only killed and buried
Guyver. He most likely thought that Bridgette had gone off to
die somewhere. He didn't realize the determination and heart
of this Golden Gal. My story has a happy ending. Bridgette did get better and
she did go on to compete with Steve in the things that she
loved. She earned her utility degree in obedience. She showed
her Golden temperament remained even after such pain by
learning her TDI. She returned to the field and earned her
Working Certificate excellent and Junior Hunter titles and
she even added a new game to her repertoire. Bridgette earned
her AKC Novice Agility title. All of this she and Steve did
one year after she had been shot and left for dead and also
in one years time. If you subscribe to GRNews and recieved your last issue you
will see Bridgette's name in the Novice Agility standings in
the number 8 position. A great honor, a great tribute to this
wonderful breed and just reward for someone who definitely
has HEART!!! Congradulations Steve and Bridgette!!!!!!
