The day I have been treading came yesterday when Strider crossed the
Rainbow Bridge. I know it was time but the decision was so hard as he
was such a big presence in my life. It started the Sunday after
Christmas when I woke up to find his rear totally paralyzed. Luckily I
have a wonderful vet and called her at home. She came right over.
After an exam and discussion, she thought in all probability he had a
ruptured disc. We had been playing ball the day before and he had
skidded going downhill on the wet grass and she felt the disc swelled
up over night. He was put on huge doses of pred and after two days he
was up and moving. Although he continued to be weak in his rear, he
still had the go go Strider spirit. His pred was gradually reduced
from 80 mg a day to 30 mg. He had acupuncture and cold laser every
other week which really helped him. Although playing with his Jolly
Ball was out of the question, he still was the ruler of the house. If
he would only walk instead of run, it would have been better for him
but then being calm and walking was just never in his DNA. This last
week, he appeared to be getting weaker and not responding to an
increase in pred or acupuncture. Yesterday when I got up, Strider
could not.
Although it was the hardest decision I have ever made, I knew by the
look in his eyes that it was time. Thanks to his two vets, Dr. Eleanor
Dunn and Dr. Lauren Knoble, he peacefully made his passage to the
Bridge laying in his favorite spot next to my chair in the living room.
Strider was my heart dog without question. I have loved all the dogs
before him, but he was so special in my life. He was without question
the smartest dog I have ever been blessed with. He took me on rides I
could never imagine. He was my first BISS dog and excelled in what
ever performance venue we tried. I will never forget his BOB at
Eukanuba over many specials that were expected to win. We had already
checked out of our hotel as we knew we were heading home right after
breed judging! He was a producer of beautiful puppies and stamped them
with his wonderful shoulder, high whithers, strong back, and clean at
both ends. But it was his total love and devotion to me that made him
my heart dog.
My thanks to so many for giving me wonderful memories. To Bobbie Kindy
for breeding him and to Art Sinclair who went to look at the litter
and called me and said "you want this one". It was Art who showed him
from start to finish including making him the #5 GSD (80 BOBs) and we
seldom showed outside of Northern Calif. and then bringing him out of
retirement to get his GCh from Veterans! And it was Art who finished
so many of his Champion kids. Thanks to Tracy Radigan for his
conditioning and grooming when he was being shown. Thanks to the
breeders who bred to him especially the late Janice Staley, Gloria
Birch and Cappy Pottle; Chriss Simmons and Diane Mehra. Without them,
he would not have achieved his ROM.
Although his son and two daughters are with me, the house is strangely
quiet as he was a very big presence.
RIP my heart dog ----
DAE Multi BISS, Multi Grp. Winning Am. GCh & Int'l Ch Rohan's Reward
ROM TC CGC HT RE CDX NW1 CHIC GSDCA Health Award of Merit.
12-19-2003 to 9-17-2015
Kay Springer
