I write this story for one reason. What happened to Abby is not the breeder’s fault – they probably weren’t even notified that her owner had died. Please, make sure that should something happen to you, that you know who will care for your dogs and how they will be placed. Make arrangements, write dog wills, and most of all, make sure they are loved and treated with the respect due a beloved family member. We expect to outlive them, but in reality, sometimes they outlive us. Make sure they will be cared for well.

Mother of a Champion

Her first litter was in 1998. She was very proud of those young pups and a very good mother. She cleaned her nest daily and taught her pups to sleep in clean spaces. She taught them to play and did all the things a good mother should do. In 1999, she again had puppies and she dreamed that the three boys and five girls would go to very special homes. After all, her mate is a dual champion of record. Time passes and she hears rumors that indeed, one of her babies is a champion and runs like the wind. How could she be so lucky?

Life rocks along and one day she finds that she is moving. Where will she be going? Who will care for her? Who is this strange man spiriting her away? When she gets to her destination she finds…yes, it’s him!! One of her sons lives with this sweet man and his wife. She has her own bed and is warm, healthy and happy. And, she can see her lovely son each day. How could she be so lucky?

But one day, the man does not show up for her nightly meal. His son, she knows him, but he has never fed her before… Where is her human? Something dreadful must have happened. All the humans are crying and there are many people with human food arriving – people she doesn’t know. The son and the human’s mate are very sad. Has her luck run dry?

She mourns her lost human, and the humans no longer take her out to play. The human’s mate is ill and can no longer care for her. There is someone new to take her son away. But alas, they leave her behind. Later that day, another comes for her, someone she doesn’t know. Could she again be so lucky?

At first her new life seems fine. She’s allowed to live in the house and has learned to go outside to do her business. But, in truth, her luck does seem to have run out. She’s eight now and should be enjoying the retirement but instead they are taking her visit another male. What? This isn’t a Vizsla? What kind of dog is this? However…she knows what to do. She done it three times before but she is getting older. Surely this will be her last lively litter of puppies. Not realizing that mix breeds cannot compete, she dreams of having one more champion. Maybe she can be so lucky.

Time passes on and the pups go to their new homes. But this home decides that she needs to move again. This time she isn’t so lucky. It happens time and time again. She has pups, and then someone new comes to take her away. She is passed around and treated like she is nobody. These humans do not know how lucky they are to live with the mother of champions.

Finally, one day, a man takes her home with him. There are lots of Vizslas here and love abound. Again she has her own space and is warm and well fed. But she knows in her heart this is not her retirement home. This wonderful man is rescuing her from her fate, but this will not be her home. But someone is searching for her as she wandered from place to place for two long years. She has had multiple puppies of various breeds much too late in life – this, mother of our champion.

On August 17, 2006, Burnie picked her up and we will find her a forever home. She doesn’t care for gun fire and she’s not going to be very comfortable in a shooting range, but she will be safe and she no longer will be expected to make puppies. She bore her last litter as she turned eleven. I will find her a retirement home befitting the mother of a champion.

Please, let me introduce to you Wildwest Abby, the mother of CH Rebel Rouser Tascosa Gunslinger, SH. She’s earned her place in my heart. And yes, she’s very lucky!!

UPDATE: Abby is doing fine in shooting range. I guess it’s the combination of the field and gun that spooks her. We received DNA confirmation today (August 30, 2006) that yes, she is indeed, Wildwest Abby, Taz’s long lost Mother. She thinks it’s fine that two homes want her. She is going to live with me part time and with another Vizsla lover here part time. Who knows…she might even make the trip to Nationals this year. Gotta love this ole’ gal.